PHILADELPHIA — Wilson Ramos isn’t about to jinx himself and start discussing free agency, but he will admit the Mets have the kind of starting pitching talent in place that might be appealing to a veteran catcher.
“I like to work with those kind of rotations they have because I feel like I can help with my experience,” the Phillies catcher said Monday at Citizens Bank Park. “Every time I am behind the plate, I try to help my guys on the mound. I love when we put zeroes on the scoreboard. That is my priority.”
An All-Star this season for Tampa Bay, the 31-year-old Ramos arrived to the Phillies at the trade deadline and has sizzled with a 1.024 OPS in 22 games. Overall, he has posted a .314/.365/.504 slash line this season with 15 homers and 67 RBIs. He is also well-respected for his defense and the manner in which he handles his pitchers.
The Mets’ list of priorities heading to the offseason will include improvement at catcher in a thin market. It will be the next general manager’s call how much of the team’s resources should be allocated toward the position, but Ramos could be hard to ignore.
Mets officials had discussions with the Rays this season about Ramos — before Devin Mesoraco was acquired from the Reds for Matt Harvey — but the asking price was deemed too high, according to sources.
In recent weeks, Kevin Plawecki and rookie Tomas Nido have shared the catching duties as Mesoraco remains sidelined with a bulging disk in his back. Travis d’Arnaud has been on the disabled list since April, after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the Mets will have to decide whether to tender him a contract for 2019.
Mesoraco, a free agent, is not expected to return. Plawecki has shown improvement this season but is largely not viewed from within the organization as the answer on a full-time basis.
For now, the Mets are evaluating the light-hitting Nido, who could be auditioning for a backup role for next season. Nido was behind the plate Monday night with Zack Wheeler pitching for the Mets.
“I think Nido earned the right to probably catch more games, given what he’s done the last three or four times he’s caught,” manager Mickey Callaway said.
It’s understandable Ramos doesn’t want to speak about his upcoming free agency: In 2016 with the Nationals, he was within weeks of hitting the open market when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and needed surgery. The setback cost him a bundle, as he settled for a two-year deal worth $12.5 million from the Rays.
“I was close to free agency, I hurt my knee and that made me feel so sad at home,” Ramos said. “I felt at that moment I was losing my career, so right now, I am concentrating on finishing my season healthy, strong, and we’ll see what happens after that.”
“At this point a lot of agents come to me and say they want to talk,” Ramos said. “I tell them that I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to see numbers, I don’t want to see marketing, nothing. I just want to make sure I finish my season strong and go home and after that and then we’ll talk.”
Ramos’ health history could give the Mets pause — he has also battled hamstring issues this season that necessitated a DL stint. On the flip side, Ramos’ knowledge of NL East hitters, from his tenure with the Nationals and Phillies, would be a plus.
“I know this division well,” he said. “That is why I feel so comfortable [with the Phillies].”