Skip to content

Mets, Ramos agree to 2-year deal

Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Mets reached an agreement with free agent catcher Wilson Ramos on a two-year contract. The deal is worth $19 million guaranteed, according to James Wagner of the New York Times.

Ramos will earn $8.25 million in 2019 and $9.25 million in 2020, while the Mets have a $10-million club option that includes a $1.5-million buyout for 2021, according to Wagner.

Prior to landing Ramos, the Mets had been one of the most aggressive suitors for Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto. Trade talks apparently cooled due to the Mets' reluctance to trade young stars Amed Rosario, Michael Conforto, or Brandon Nimmo, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Additionally, the Mets recently met with free-agent backstop Yasmani Grandal, but did not want to lose a compensatory draft pick by signing him after he turned down a qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Rosenthal.

After missing most of 2017 due to injury, Ramos, 31, split 2018 between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, slashing .306/.358/.487 with 15 home runs in 111 games.

He should get the bulk of the reps behind the plate for the Mets in 2019, though Kevin Plawecki, Travis d'Arnaud, and Tomas Nido are all in the running to serve as his backup.

By adding Ramos, the Mets are poised to open the season with something resembling the following lineup:

Player Position
1 Brandon Nimmo RF
2 Todd Frazier 3B
3 Robinson Cano 2B
4 Michael Conforto LF
5 Wilson Ramos C
6 Jeff McNeil 1B
7 Amed Rosario SS
8 Juan Lagares CF

Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes should return to the team following heel surgery at some point in 2019, while Dominic Smith could figure in at first base.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox