NEW YORK -- The Mets added to their catching depth on Thursday, bringing back a familiar face with whom their pitching staff -- and particularly National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom -- was comfortable. The team re-signed Devin Mesoraco to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training, where he will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
"Devin is greatly respected among our pitching staff and is extremely well prepared," general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement. "We are hopeful he can contribute in 2019."
Acquired from the Reds for Matt Harvey last May, Mesoraco hit .222 with 10 home runs in 66 games, but he missed much of September due to a bulging disc in his neck. Still, Mesoraco returned to catch deGrom's final two starts of the season, and he was behind the plate for 21 of deGrom's 25 starts following the trade.
Now back in the Mets' organization, Mesoraco probably won't have the opportunity to catch deGrom as regularly in 2019. The Mets signed Wilson Ramos this winter to be their starting catcher, and they intend to employ Travis d'Arnaud as a backup. But Mesoraco will theoretically be the first catcher the Mets call in the event of an injury to one of those two. He could even make the Opening Day roster as a third catcher, freeing the Mets to use d'Arnaud in pinch-hit situations and at other positions.
Like d'Arnaud, Mesoraco is a former first-round Draft pick. He made the 2014 NL All-Star team in the midst of a 25-homer season, but he has struggled through injuries for much of his career.