Luis Torrens -- General News

The New York Mets have agreed to a two-year contract extension with catcher Luis Torrens worth $11.5 million, keeping him through at least 2028. Torrens, who turned 30 when the news broke, will earn $2.28 million in 2026 through arbitration before salaries exceed $5 million annually in 2027 and 2028.

Torrens has established himself as one of baseball's premier defensive catchers. Since the 2024 season start, only seven catchers have caught more would-be basestealers, and Torrens leads all backstops with 250+ innings with a 47% caught stealing rate. His pop time to second base averaged 1.87 seconds last season (fourth-fastest in MLB) and 1.86 seconds this year (fastest in majors, albeit in limited attempts). He was a Gold Glove finalist in 2024 despite appearing in only 86 games as catcher.

Acquired from the Yankees in May 2024, Torrens quickly proved his value as a backup to starter Francisco Alvarez. Over parts of three seasons with the Mets, he has hit .225/.281/.347 with eight home runs in 152 games, providing consistent production when Alvarez dealt with injuries. The extension solidifies the Mets' catching depth while compensating Torrens for his transformation of a former organizational weakness into a strength.

The New York Mets locked down veteran catcher Luis Torrens on a two-year, $11.5 million extension, preventing him from reaching free agency after the 2026 season. Torrens, 30, was acquired from the Yankees in a cash deal in May 2024 and has spent the past two seasons with New York. The extension provides roster stability behind the plate as the team continues to develop Francisco Alvarez, the starting catcher who is under contract through 2030.

Torrens is primarily valued for his defensive contributions rather than offensive production. Across his nine major league seasons, he has compiled a 79 wRC+ with 18 Defensive Runs Saved during his tenure with the Mets. In 2025, operating largely as a backup due to Alvarez's injury recovery, Torrens appeared in 283 plate appearances with a .226/.284/.345 slash line while accumulating 11 DRS. This season, he has struggled to a .200/.200/.267 line through 31 plate appearances in 13 games.

The extension addresses the Mets' backstop position for the next two seasons while Alvarez remains the organization's long-term answer at catcher. The deal reflects management's confidence in Torrens' defensive capabilities and his familiarity with the pitching staff, despite his below-average offensive production by major league standards.

Luis Torrens is seeing an uptick in playing time with the New York Mets, having earned three consecutive starts as catcher. According to Tim Britton of The Athletic, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has been prioritizing run prevention in his lineup construction, which has contributed to Torrens receiving more opportunities. The 30-year-old catcher's positive rapport with the pitching staff, particularly with left-handed pitcher David Peterson who has shown marked improvement when Torrens is behind the plate, positions him potentially as Peterson's personal catcher going forward.

However, Torrens' offensive performance has been significantly underwhelming this season. Through 42 plate appearances, he has zero home runs and carries a .476 OPS—the worst mark of his career since his rookie season in 2017. This offensive drought presents a notable contrast to his increased defensive and pitch-management value, creating a situation where his playing time is driven primarily by his non-offensive contributions rather than offensive production.

Luis Torrens agreed to a two-year, $11.5 million contract extension with the New York Mets on Saturday, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon. The extension ensures Torrens remains with the organization through the 2028 season.

The 30-year-old catcher has experienced offensive difficulties early in the 2026 season, posting a .467 OPS across 31 plate appearances. However, his defensive abilities compensate for his lack of offensive production. Torrens is expected to maintain his role as the backup catcher to Francisco Alvarez while both players remain with the Mets.