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Mets Sign Rene Rivera To Minor League Deal

By Steve Adams | March 27, 2019 at 5:04pm CDT

March 27: The Mets have announced the signing.

March 25: The Mets have reportedly reached a minor-league agreement with free-agent catcher Rene Rivera, who recently opted out of a deal with the Giants. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported the Mets’ interest over the weekend (Twitter link), with Jon Heyman of MLB Network reporting today that the sides were in talks (via Twitter). Andy Martino of SNY reported that there was an agreement (Twitter links), with Joel Sherman of the New York Post noting it was a minor-league deal (via Twitter).

This’ll be the second stint with the Mets for Rivera, who also spent time with the club from 2016-17. The reunion comes as something of a surprise; this time last week, indications were that Devin Mesoraco had a strong chance of making the Mets’ roster behind Wilson Ramos. At one point, Mets skipper Mickey Callaway suggested that the Mets could even carry Ramos, Mesoraco and Travis d’Arnaud to open the season.

However, d’Arnaud is now slated to begin the season on the injured list, and Mesoraco’s status is up in the air; as Newsday’s Tim Healey reported this weekend, Mesoraco has decided not to report to Triple-A after being reassigned to minor league camp by the Mets. He’s still under contract, so they’ll need to either grant him his release or place him on the restricted list. With both Mesoraco and d’Arnaud abruptly out of the mix for an Opening Day roster spot, Rivera could leapfrog defensive-minded 24-year-old Tomas Nido as the favorite to serve as a backup to Ramos early in the season.

Rivera, 35, split the 2018 season between the Angels and Braves, hitting a combined .233/.275/.419 in 91 trips to the plate. Rivera routinely posts elite caught-stealing rates and is a perennially solid framer as well, which would make him a quality backup option for the Mets at least until d’Arnaud mends. Over the past five seasons, Rivera is a .225/.280/.372 hitter in 1183 plate appearances.

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New York Mets Transactions Devin Mesoraco Rene Rivera

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26 Comments

  1. itslonelyatthetrop

    6 years ago

    This could pay off big time. He calls a great game.

    1
    Reply
  2. david klein

    6 years ago

    Guess he’s willing to go to Buffalo

    Reply
    • dagsmith

      6 years ago

      Hopefully he gets on the plane to Syracuse as buffalo would be a problem. I like Mesoraco more but if is unwilling to play in the minors he is limiting his value. I’ve never ridden all the minor league buses but i can understand his point of view.

      Reply
    • dti812

      6 years ago

      Wouldn’t you? Beats working for a living

      Reply
      • spinach

        6 years ago

        Does it beat not working, his actual alternative?

        Reply
  3. The Oregonian

    6 years ago

    Half expecting the Giants to release Posey and bring in Mesoraco now

    1
    Reply
    • bobtillman

      6 years ago

      No need to release Posey…they can get Swihart for him….if they add in some International Bonus Slots…..

      2
      Reply
      • aussiegiants53

        6 years ago

        Hahahaha brilliant! Pull the trigger

        Reply
  4. Ruben_Tomorrow 2

    6 years ago

    The Mets see him as an upgrade to Mesoraco?

    Reply
    • kahnkobra

      6 years ago

      defensively, he definitely is

      Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      6 years ago

      Pitchers around the league love Rivera. He’s moved around a lot partly because he’s mostly been too poor with the bat to start, but also because he always has a market for his services.

      Reply
    • jk2me1310

      6 years ago

      well mes won’t report to AAA, so he’s not offering them much in value right now.

      Reply
  5. busmannyc

    6 years ago

    Would love to see Sandy Leon behind the plate for the Mets

    Reply
    • busmannyc

      6 years ago

      He calls a great game and makes pitchers feel comfortable on the mound. Not afraid to force pitchers to pitch inside and knock batters on their butt

      Reply
      • Steven Chinwood

        6 years ago

        He’s atrocious at the plate.

        2
        Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      6 years ago

      Farhan Zaidi doesn’t care

      Reply
  6. Gwynning's Anal Lover

    6 years ago

    If Rene signs, he’s going to get hurt.

    Reply
    • FullMontilla

      6 years ago

      That sounds like a threat! LOL

      2
      Reply
  7. firstbleed

    6 years ago

    Catcher carousel all over the MLB at the moment!

    Reply
  8. yougot2believe

    6 years ago

    I like the move. Rene was pretty much the personal catcher for N.Syndeergard with his time here and he calls a great game and has a little pop in his bat but the issue with him is he doesn’t hit enough. If he did he would have a lot more offers and we would of never traded him to begin with. Hopefully he finds his bat. Welcome back Rene!!

    Reply
    • spinach

      6 years ago

      They didn’t trade him they waived him but point taken.

      Reply
  9. Oxford Karma

    6 years ago

    If Wilson Ramos isn’t behind the plate 135-140 games, the Mets are done anyway. They should put Mesoraco on the restricted list if he won’t report. He won’t take up a roster spot and they can sign Rivera.

    Reply
    • spinach

      6 years ago

      How many guys catch 135 games?

      Reply
  10. dti812

    6 years ago

    Welcome back Rene, good to see you.
    Tomas, we hardly knew ya’

    Reply
  11. txman22

    6 years ago

    Always loved Rene. Has some pop in his bat & will surprise you now & then. Could push Travis off the team at a big savings in salary. Travis’ days with Mets should be over sooner than later. Feel bad for Devin but that’s baseball business.

    Reply
  12. dti812

    6 years ago

    Welcome back Rene, all the best!
    Let’s go Mets!

    Reply

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