The Mets are looking for a catcher and, if they can't land Ramon Hernandez, who they've expressed interest in, they may target Boston's Kelly Shoppach, tweeted MLB.com's Peter Gammons.
If Shoppach, who backs up Jarrod Saltalamacchia, is dealt, Boston would call up 24-year-old Ryan Lavarnway, Gammons noted. Lavarnway's having an impressive season with Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .306/.395/.455 in 71 games. He had a torrid June, hitting .405/.469/.667 in 21 games, with four home runs and 18 RBI, and, after playing 17 games with the Red Sox in 2011, his numbers indicate he's ready to contribute at the MLB level.
Shoppach is batting .269/.358/.527 on the season, in 33 games, and is playing out the one year, $1.35 million contract he signed with Boston last December.
The Mets are looking for help because catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas aren't getting it done offensively. Thole has played 57 games and sports a .628 OPS, and his backup, Nickeas, has played 37 games, and checks in with a .487 OPS. However, the Mets don't want to give up much of anything in return, at least for Colorado's Hernandez, who has another year left on his contract, and will earn $3.2 million in 2013. At the right price, Shoppach might be a better fit.
