Mets, Yankees spring training: Mets seeking trade for backup catcher?

Despite Kevin Plawecki going 5-for-16 with a home run to begin Spring Training, Mets beat writer Adam Rubin has reported that the club is looking into acquiring a backup catcher before Opening Day.

Per Rubin’s source, the Mets are hesitant to limit Plawecki’s playing time behind Travis d’Arnaud and are displeased with other options in the organization.

When asked about Plawecki’s immediate future, Mets manager Terry Collins was noncommittal.

“We haven’t had that discussion as to where he’s going to fit the best,” he told reporters, “If the conversation goes to, ‘Hey, look, we need to have this guy ready to be an everyday guy,’ he may have to go play [in Las Vegas]. If we think we’re better off being able to get him two to three games a week at times, then he’s got a good chance of making the club.”

Plawecki hit just .219 with three homers in 233 at-bats in 2015 but was an above average defender that worked well with the Mets’ young starters last season.

Erik Goeddel is not expected to see game action until next week as he is still recovering from a lat strain, so that could open the door for non-roster invitee Jim Henderson to make the Opening Day roster.

Henderson pitched brilliantly in relief for the Brewers in 2012 and 2013 before getting hurt in 2014. Henderson was released by Milwaukee after 35 ineffective innings of minor-league work in 2015 in which he apparently lost his velocity, but Henderson is looking like his vintage self this spring.

In four innings of work, Henderson has struck out five batters and allowed only one hit, and he’s touched as high as 95 on the radar gun.

“He’s a guy who’s got outstanding experience,” Terry Collins said of Henderson, “The velocity has been very, very good. And his command has been good. So I like a lot I’ve seen so far.”

Yankees

No one would dare take the Yankees’ rotation over their crosstown rival’s, but the Bombers are brimming with confidence over what they have.

“I love our rotation,” catcher Brian McCann told NJ.com, “I think we’re throwing out a quality arm every single night. The upside is huge for our rotation.”

“I think overall we’ve pitched pretty well in Spring Training,” manager Joe Girardi said.

Girardi has been particularly impressed with the youngest starter of the bunch, 20-year-old Luis Severino.

“I was around Greg Maddux when I was a young player,” Girardi said before Severino hurled 3.2 scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. “There was a ton of poise, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. I feel like [Severino] is the same way.”

Chasen Shreve, who was a reliable middle reliever for five months before unraveling in September, is getting back into the form Yankee fans saw in the early part of 2015.

In 3.1 innings this spring, Shreve has struck out four and has not allowed a solitary walk or hit.

“Just getting my arm ready for the season,” Shreve told the Daily News, “Just trying to do what made me successful last year…looking at the glove and not worrying about the situation or who I’m facing.”