On August 10, Francisco Alvarez was on pace for 20 HR and 50 RBI, and he looked like he had taken a massive step up offensively. 

He was in the middle of one of the hottest offensive stretches of his career, looking increasingly patient, disciplined, and calm at the plate. 

His numbers included a solid .257/.344/.442 slash line with 13 HR, 29 RBI, and a strong .786 OPS, which ranked highly among MLB catchers at the time. 

On the other hand, Luis Torrens was enduring an offensive funk around the same period. 

Even though he is still widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the game, Torrens’ OPS sat at a weak .592 on August 1, while he had only launched 2 home runs and driven in 20 RBI. 

It looked like Francisco Alvarez would run away with the job, as he was dominating as the Mets’ everyday DH in late July and early August, while Torrens was staying put in his role as the team’s starting catcher on most days. 

Over the last month, the tide has significantly changed, and it might be time for a conversation.

Francisco Alvarez 

To put it in simple terms, Francisco Alvarez has been downright abysmal since August 10th. 

His numbers since that period include a significant drop-off in his slash line (.256 to .226 BA, .344 to .308 OBP, and .786 to .697 OPS).

The more concerning number is his strikeout percentage, as he’s fanned in 41 of his last 85 at-bats (48% K rate). 

That is a massive problem, considering that this is a hitter who is in his fifth MLB season and seemed to get his strikeout rate under control at the beginning of the summer. 

Alvarez’s defense has also been underwhelming, as his block rate is still in the bottom percentile (-8), though his framing and pop time have improved. 

An example of this came when he threw the ball away on a Daniel Duarte wild pitch, which caused Duarte to be placed on the 15-day IL with a left hamstring strain, officially ending his season. 

In addition, last night’s game was a disastrous one, as Alvarez missed two challenges and recorded a fielding error after he threw the ball into right field. 

Simply put, when Alvarez isn’t producing at the plate, his red flags are enhanced because of his defensive, ABS challenge, and blocking issues. 

Luis Torrens 

On the other side of things, Luis Torrens has been phenomenal offensively. 

Since the beginning of August, he’s recorded a productive .288 BA, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 5:13 BB, 10 XBH, and a 1.012 OPS. 

This has helped him pass Francisco Alvarez in RBI (40 to 37), OPS+ (99 to 96), and OPS (.716 to .697), despite playing in 131 plate appearances. 

Torrens has also maintained his elite defense and framing, as he’s produced 2.2 bWAR and a +13 DRS on the season. 

This hot streak might not last, but it’s another sign that Luis Torrens can be a quality starting catcher when called upon. 

The Conversation 

It is a known fact that, in a very weak league-wide system, the Mets have one of the best catching tandems in the majors. 

It is very rare to see a team have not one, but two capable starting catchers over the course of an entire season. 

Combined, Alvarez and Torrens have produced a .232/.306/.398 line with 26 doubles, 24 HR, 77 RBI, a .704 OPS, and a 2.6 bWAR in 2026.

For fans who want Alvarez traded, it makes sense, but there is no reason to cause another hole on this team when its catching situation is one of its strengths. 

In addition, there is no top prospect waiting in the minor leagues, while there is no need to spend money on another catcher when there are other holes to address on the roster. 

Having the pair possibly split or platoon games next season seems like a much smarter and safer route than trading one of them and having to find another catching option.