The New York Mets failed to make a move during the July 31st trade deadline, but on Tuesday afternoon they acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later.
The Red Sox placed Shoppach on waivers last week and called up their minor league product Ryan Lavarnway. The Sox tried dealing the catcher away, but found out they would barely get anything worth it in return.
Shoppach had a decent season granted that he barely saw action since Jarrod Saltalamacchia has owned the catching position in Boston.
In the season, Shoppach is hitting .250 with 5 homers and 17 RBI. Last September, he was a part of the fighting Tampa Bay Rays team that won on MLB's Game 162 in 2011 and advanced into the playoffs
He will be a cheap option for the New York Mets who have struggled to have a decent hitting catcher in the majors. If there is one the thing Mets have needed after the departure of Mike Piazza and Paul lo Duca, it has been an offensive catcher.
This season, their weaknesses lie in their bullpen as well as the catcher position.
Josh Thole has not been the hitter the Mets would have liked him to be. He has a .260 average with one homer and 18 RBI. Their other catcher, whom they called up to play on May 9, has also struggled. Rob Johnson is hitting .250 in 52 at-bats this season.
Shoppach has thrown out 7-26 runners, good for almost 27 percent of base stealing threats.
