Former All-Star catcher makes decision on future with Mets

Catcher Omar Narváez has exercised his player option with the Mets, as first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic. He’ll return to the club on a $7M salary.

The decision comes without much intrigue. New York signed the left-handed hitting catcher to a two-year, $15M guarantee last offseason. Narváez didn’t produce much during his first season in Queens, hitting .211/.283/.297 with a pair of home runs in 49 games. He missed a couple of months early on with a strained left calf.

That was a second straight down year for Narváez, who hit .206/.292/.305 during his final season with the Brewers. The consecutive mediocre showings made it unlikely he’d secure a salary nearly as strong as the option value. As a result, he’ll return as the No. 2 catcher behind second-year player Francisco Alvarez before becoming a free agent during the 2024-25 offseason.

The Mets have two additional option decisions over the next few days. Right-hander Adam Ottavino holds a $6.75M player option, while the club has a $6.5M provision on southpaw Brooks Raley.