According to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston, the Houston Astros signed catcher Omar Narváez to a minor league deal on Wednesday. Houston recently placed backup catcher Victor Caratini on the injured list and expects him to miss around three or four weeks.
SOURCE: The #Astros have agreed to a minor-league deal with Catcher Omar Narvaez.
Narvaez had a .376 OPS in 28 games with the Mets in 2024, and was released June 5th.
He was an All-Star with Milwaukee in 2021. pic.twitter.com/eW2zlRJlgV
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) June 26, 2024
Though the Astros have a quality starting catcher playing well, the team signed Caratini this winter because they wanted a quality backup. Yainer Diaz will continue to carry the catching load, but the Astros signed Narváez as backup protection with Caratini out.
Houston Astros Sign Omar Narváez To A Minor League Deal
Narváez entered this season with the New York Mets as the veteran backup behind promising youngster Francisco Alvarez. Despite struggling with injuries and performance in 2023, many naturally expected Narváez to receive most of the playing time when Alvarez underwent surgery in April.
However, Narváez continued to struggle with both his bat and his glove, leading to Tomás Nido quickly earning the top job. In 28 games this season, Narváez hit just .154/.191/.185 with -7 Defensive Runs Saved. The Mets eventually decided to designate Narváez for assignment before Alvarez even returned from the injured list.
Omar Narvaez has now allowed 30 stolen bases this season. He doesn't seem to have an answer for his struggles with the running game this season.
"Just trying to get rid of the ball as fast as I can."
— Abbey Mastracco (@AbbeyMastracco) May 5, 2024
Despite his struggles, catching represents a crucial position in baseball that lacks solid league-wide depth. The Astros, perhaps more than any other team, know the importance of having solid catchers. While Narváez has struggled recently, he is a former All-Star that potentially can be revived in a new organization.
Astros Game Plan at Catcher
As long as Diaz stays healthy, he will remain the starting catcher for Houston. However, if he goes down while Caratini is out, Narváez will at least represent insurance for a team looking to make the playoffs. The Astros called up Cesar Salazar from Triple-A Sugar Land to back up Diaz in Caratini’s absence. However, he is 28 with just 16 career games at the big-league level.
It’s unclear how comfortable Houston feels with Salazar and his lack of experience or pedigree on the roster, even in a backup role. However, the Astros signing Narváez indicates some clear concern. The 32-year-old will likely spend a week or so in Triple-A getting back into baseball shape after not having a job for a few weeks.
At that point, the Astros will likely evaluate his performance in Triple-A and Salazar’s in the majors. If Salazar struggles, Narváez could be recalled providing a veteran presence in the backup role before Caratini returns.
Main Photo Credits: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
