The New York Mets raised eyebrows last weekend when they handed catcher Luis Torrens a two-year contract extension, immediately sparking questions about the future of Francisco Alvarez.
While Alvarez is not expected to be moved anytime soon, recent lineup decisions suggest the Mets currently trust Torrens more behind the plate.
Since the extension was finalized on May 2, Alvarez has already appeared more often as a designated hitter than as a catcher, with the team using him at DH in three games compared to just two starts behind the plate.
The presence of MJ Melendez as an emergency catcher has allowed New York to make those lineup adjustments more comfortably.
The larger concern is whether the organization’s growing commitment to Torrens reflects diminishing confidence in Alvarez.
Although the 24-year-old still flashes impressive power, his offensive consistency remains a work in progress. Even after the Mets parted ways with hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, Alvarez has continued to look more like a bottom-of-the-order hitter than the offensive force many expected.
Statistically, Alvarez has been most productive near the bottom of the lineup. Entering Friday’s matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he owned an .869 OPS hitting ninth, with his production generally declining in higher lineup spots.
Despite occasional power bursts, his overall offensive profile has yet to fully develop into that of a middle-of-the-order threat.
Defensively, the concerns are even greater. Alvarez was praised for his work with pitchers during the 2023 season, earning compliments from veterans like Max Scherzer, but his progress behind the plate has stalled.
He has already led the league in passed balls twice and once again sits atop the category in 2026 with five, despite making only 26 starts at catcher.
The Mets have increasingly used Alvarez as a DH not necessarily because of his bat, but because his defense has become a liability compared to Torrens, who is widely viewed as one of baseball’s top defensive catchers.
However, the shift creates another problem — if Alvarez isn’t catching regularly, it becomes harder for him to improve the defensive weaknesses that continue to hold him back.
With frustrations growing among fans and the organization seemingly leaning more heavily toward Torrens, speculation has already started about whether Alvarez could eventually become a trade candidate either later this season or during the offseason.
