sportingnews
The Athletics might be inclined to retain Shea Langeliers as their primary catcher as the franchise prepares for its move to Las Vegas. However, the American League West club has yet to secure the power-hitting backstop with a contract extension. Should the two parties fail to reach an agreement before the 2028 season, Langeliers could emerge as a highly sought-after trade chip.
In that scenario, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly forecasts that the New York Mets should express interest in the soon-to-be 29-year-old All-Star. Kelly points to the recent example of William Contreras, who demonstrated the immense value of having a potent bat at the catcher position. "With [David] Stearns trying to save his job in 2027, acquiring Langeliers with two guaranteed seasons would be a very nice move this offseason," Kelly wrote.
Langeliers has consistently displayed his power, hitting 22 or more home runs in each of the last four seasons while accumulating 10.6 bWAR over that span. Alongside Hunter Goodman and Cal Raleigh, he ranks among the top offensive catchers in baseball. Kelly's proposed trade has the Mets sending catcher Francisco Alvarez to the Athletics in exchange for Langeliers.
"It would make sense for the A's to target Francisco Alvarez in return for Langeliers," Kelly explained. "Alvarez, like Langeliers, doesn't get great marks behind the plate. But he has immense offensive upside, with 63 home runs since the start of the 2023 season. He's also only 24 years old and can't become a free agent until after the 2029 season, a year later than Langeliers."
The Mets may need to include a prospect to finalize the deal, but the cost would likely be justified for a player with Langeliers' proven offensive track record and relative youth.
Key Analysis
Acquiring Langeliers would give the Mets a significant offensive upgrade at catcher, a position where they have struggled to get consistent production. While Alvarez shows promise, his defensive limitations and inconsistent performance make him a viable trade candidate. Langeliers' power and contract situation (two guaranteed seasons) align with the Mets' win-now mentality under Stearns. The trade would also provide the Athletics with a younger, controllable asset in Alvarez, who could develop into a cornerstone player as the team relocates to Las Vegas.
Originally reported by sportingnews.