New York Mets Trade for Catcher Kelly Shoppach

At the trading deadline, the New York Mets drew the ire of the fanbase by not making a single transaction to help bolster the team.

About half a month later, the Mets have finally made a deal, albeit a fairly minor one at that—they have acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Boston Red Sox, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.

In return, Boston receives future considerations or a player to be named later.

Shoppach, 32, was hitting .250 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 48 games at the time of the transaction. In 140 at-bats, he had 11 walks and 60 strikeouts.

The backstop, who The Sports Network calls “a natural leader behind the plate,” will be used to spell current starting catcher Josh Thole, who has been thoroughly mediocre at the dish in 2012.

Shoppach provides power, which Thole is severely lacking, and plays solid defense, while calling a good game. On the downside, he’s a free-swinger who strikes out too often, while posting often-uninspiring batting averages.  

He will largely be used against left-handed pitchers, against whom he has shown considerable clout in the past. In 492 career at-bats against southpaws, he has 31 home runs per Yahoo! Sports.

The .227 career hitter has hit as many as 21 home runs in a season, which he accomplished with the Cleveland Indians in 2008. That was the high-water mark of his career, however, as he has averaged only eight home runs and 24 RBI a year since, while batting only .206.

With the acquisition of Shoppach, the Mets now have an organization loaded with veteran catchers. At the major league level, they have Thole and, at present, Rob Johnson. Mike Nickeas and Lucas May are in Triple-A.  

In other news, the team has outrighted LHP Garrett Olson to the minor leagues, per The Sports Network. The 28-year-old appeared in one game for the team and allowed four earned runs in 0.1 inning for a 108.00 ERA.