Mets Release Catcher Barnes, Alvarez Takes Over

0:00On March 25, the New York Mets are finalizing their roster just before opening day and they've released catcher Austin Barnes. Francisco Alvarez will start behind the plate with Luis Torrance as the backup on the Major League team. In the Miners, Hayden Sanger and Kevin Perrata are the top options ready to step up if needed. Barnes joined the Mets on a minor league deal back in January. He impressed during spring training, batting 313 over 8 games with two runs batted in. Still, the team chose to move forward without him in their plans. Barnes brings a ton of experience after 11 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played in 612 games there, hitting 223 overall with 35 home runs and 162 runs batted in. He even won two World Series rings along the way. Now, Barnes should find another shot somewhere, probably starting in the Miners as teams shuffle roster's league wide. The Mets feel good about Alvarez handling the primary duties, but know what the veteran could provide if injuries hit.

1:04With opening day right around the corner, expect more moves across baseball. But New York's catching group looks solid for now. You've been listening to New York Mets News today, AI-powered team coverage.