CARLSBAD, Calif. — The free-agent catching market is so thin the Mets already have a preferred option at the position.
According to an industry source, the Mets are showing strong interest in Martin Maldonado, whose representatives convened with team officials this week at the general managers’ meetings.
The 32-year-old Maldonado, who split last season between the Angels and Astros, lacks offensive pop — he posted a .627 OPS last season — but with the Mets placing an emphasis on starting pitching in 2019, he fits the description of somebody adept at handling a rotation, blocking balls in the dirt and throwing out base runners.
Wilson Ramos, who played last season with the Rays and Phillies, could be a fallback option. Though Ramos is among the game’s top offensive catchers, there are questions about his durability — he spent significant time on the disabled list last season — and many in the industry view him as a better fit for an American League team that can utilize him at DH part time. The Mets also convened with Ramos’ agent this week.
Another big name on the market is Yasmani Grandal, but it’s unclear at this point if the Mets have legitimate interest. Grandal will likely command the biggest contract among free-agent catchers this offseason, and opinions are mixed within the organization about him.
J.T. Realmuto is the biggest name among catchers on the potential trade block, but the Mets are also realistic enough to know the Marlins have plenty of suitors for him and can dictate the market on the All-Star. The Marlins have two years of club control remaining on Realmuto, who has indicated he wants a departure from Miami and will not sign an extension with the team.
The Mets have Kevin Plawecki, Travis d’Arnaud and Tomas Nido under club control at catcher, and new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen tried to avoid sounding desperate before departing the GM meetings on Thursday.
“There’s a lot of discussion surrounding the catchers,” Van Wagenen said. “We are in the fortunate position that we don’t have to do something in the catcher market. I think Travis by all accounts is doing well from his rehab standpoint. There may be a catcher’s carousel that takes place with other teams. We will continue to be talking to free agents at that position and others and also exploring trades, but right now I feel confident we can go into camp with that position covered.”
D’Arnaud, who played only four games last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery, is a non-tender possibility. But the Mets could also tender a contract to d’Arnaud — he earned $3.475 million last season — and look to trade him.
Van Wagenen was asked if there’s clarity on whether d’Arnaud, who has a long history of injuries, will be ready for Opening Day.
“All I can go off of is the feedback the player is giving us and the communication he is giving his agent,” Van Wagenen said. “But I think all indications are he should be ready and hopefully be without restrictions until we get toward Opening Day.”
The Mets are looking to add multiple bullpen pieces from a list that includes names such as Craig Kimbrel, Adam Ottavino, Andrew Miller, David Robertson and Joe Kelly. And as The Post reported Thursday, there is Mets interest in a reunion with Asdrubal Cabrera to provide infield depth.
Van Wagenen, who last week left CAA — where he was a top agent— to become Mets GM, will now look toward next month’s winter meetings in Las Vegas to close deals.
“I’ve been coming out here to these [GM] meetings for many years from the other side of the table, so in many ways it was surprising how similar it was in terms of meeting with all 30 teams, talking about players and exchanging ideas,” Van Wagenen said. “I think there was a lot of consistency from what I experienced before and it’s almost double duty, because now I was meeting with all 30 teams, plus I was meeting with the agents working with players. From my initial takeaway it was pretty similar but a lot more active.”