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New York Mets Prospects: 5 Options For Kevin Plawecki In 2015

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New York Mets Prospects: 5 Options For Kevin Plawecki In 2015

Kevin Plawecki
Brad Barr - USATODAY Sports

Heading into 2015, catcher Kevin Plawecki is undoubtedly one of the top prospects in the New York Mets farm system and on the verge of being ready for the big leagues. However, with Travis d’Arnaud solidifying himself as the Mets’ catcher of the future during the second half of the 2014 season, there may not be room on the Mets’ roster for both of them in 2015. Here are five options for what the Mets can do with Plawecki in 2015.

5. Use HIm As A Trade Chip

Sandy Alderson
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

5. Use HIm As A Trade Chip

Sandy Alderson
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

As a player who has the potential to be a starting catcher in the big leagues, Plawecki is one of the best trade chips Sandy Alderson has. There's still time before the season to make a trade, and if the Mets pull off something big, there's a good chance Plawecki will be involved. If not, he is still someone who could be used as a trade chip during the summer if the Mets have a chance to make an upgrade at the trade deadline.

4. Move HIm To First Base

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game - World Team v United States
Getty Images

4. Move HIm To First Base

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game - World Team v United States
Getty Images

This isn't a great idea, but it's possible. Plawecki has played a few games at first base in the past couple of years in the minors, but that was mainly to keep his bat in the lineup. Plawecki being able to play first base, even as a backup, could help his value, but it's not a long-term solution. Plawecki is a top prospect because his bat plays as a catcher, but he does not have the raw power to be an everyday first baseman.

3. Make Room By Trading Travis d'Arnaud

Travis d'Arnaud Mets
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

3. Make Room By Trading Travis d'Arnaud

Travis d'Arnaud Mets
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

Plawecki himself would be valuable in a trade, but after the second half he had in 2014, d'Arnaud would be even more valuable. If the Mets believe that Plawecki can be an everyday catcher in the big leagues, trading d'Arnaud becomes a realistic possibility and a way the Mets could add an impact bat elsewhere on the field based on d'Arnaud's project value on the trade market.

2. Keep Him in Triple-A All Year

Kevin Plawecki
Facebook.com/Brooklyn Cyclones

2. Keep Him in Triple-A All Year

Kevin Plawecki
Facebook.com/BrooklynCyclones

Plawecki isn't yet on the 40-man roster, so there's no reason to rush him to the big leagues, giving the Mets the option of keeping him in Triple-A all year. There's a good chance he'll be ready for his major league debut before the end of the season, but unless d'Arnaud goes down with an injury, there may be no reason to call him up. This gives the Mets time to decide how to proceed behind the plate in the long-term.

1. Make Him Travis d'Arnaud's Backup

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game - World Team v United States
Getty Images

1. Make Him Travis d'Arnaud's Backup

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game - World Team v United States
Getty Images

The Mets feel good about current backup Anthony Recker, but if they want, they can certainly make Plawecki their backup at some point in 2015. The issue is that if Plawecki is d'Arnaud's backup, he won't be playing regularly and his development could be hindered. The other side of the coin is that Plawecki may be a better option as the backup than Recker, and would make the Mets a better team in the short term.

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