The Mets have former Gold Glove winners at two infield and two outfield positions, with a clear intention of adding another behind the plate.
To that end, the message from several Mets yesterday was “Bring on Bengie Molina,” who is pondering a one-year offer with a vesting option from the club.
“A real good catcher can make a pitching staff better, so by having him, if we do get him, he’s going to help all of us out,” John Maine said at Citi Field, where the Mets hosted a community kids program. “It’s going to be a big plus if we get him.”
The Mets made a major splash last week by signing Jason Bay to a four-year contract worth $66 million with a vesting option for a fifth season and envision Molina bolstering a position that has been something of a sore spot in recent seasons.
The tandem of Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro was unspectacular in 2008 and ’09 before the Mets dealt the latter to the White Sox midway through last season.
Omir Santos made an early offensive splash subbing for the injured Schneider, but he is not viewed within the organization as an everyday catcher.
“[Molina] would be a huge pickup,” Mike Pelfrey said. “He hit cleanup for the Giants, so offensively that’s another good bat in the lineup and what he did with [Matt] Cain and [Tim] Lincecum . . . he’s obviously pretty experienced and must be pretty good behind the plate to handle those guys. I’m sure those guys aren’t easy to handle.”
Santos, Henry Blanco and Josh Thole would all figure into the mix for a backup job should the Mets add Molina, who won a Gold Glove with the Angels in 2002 and ’03.
Among the Mets, David Wright, Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran and Jeff Francoeur have won Gold Glove awards.
The 35-year-old Molina hit .265 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs last season.
“A guy like Bengie, getting a chance to play against him a few times a year, he’s got that veteran presence, he’s got that leadership for a young pitching staff and offensively he produces,” Wright said. “A guy who can catch, throw, call a game, and then produce offensively, you don’t see that too often.”
Maine, who was limited to 15 starts last season because of shoulder soreness, said he’s been throwing for about a month without any problems. He expects to be ready for the first day of spring training. . . . Pelfrey said he’s lost 20 pounds this offseason.