Jan 6, 2019 4 min read

The Indians have replenished their bare catching cupboard.

After trading top prospect Francisco Mejia and All-Star catcher Yan Gomes last year, the Indians had a void behind the plate and filled it Sunday by acquiring catcher Kevin Plawecki in a trade with the New York Mets.

The three-time defending AL champions sent right-hander Walker Lockett and infielder Sam Haggerty to New York for Plawecki, who played in 78 games – 64 starts – for the Mets last season. Plawecki batted .201 with seven homers and a career-high 30 RBIs.

The Indians were in the market for a catcher after dealing Gomes to the Washington Nationals in December.

“We’re excited to add Kevin to our major league catching mix,” said Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. “The guy’s earned a reputation as a really good teammate, a good receiver and leads a pitching staff really well. We also believe there’s some upside with him offensively. We like his ingredients to hit and think he can be a contributing member of our major league team.”

Roberto Perez will likely be Cleveland’s regular catcher, with Plawecki backing him up. The Indians are also excited about Eric Haase, who appeared in nine games for them last season.

“Exactly how we split that playing time remains to be seen as we get into spring training,” Antonetti said. “But we felt this was an opportunity to acquire another major league catcher that could help absorb some of the burden in losing Yan. I anticipate that Roberto would get the bulk of the playing time. But again, we’ll have to see how things play out during the season.”

Plawecki spent six weeks last season on the disabled list with a broken left hand. He threw out 23 percent (16 for 70) of potential base stealers and had two four-RBI games.

The 27-year-old played at Purdue and was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2012 before the Mets drafted him with the No. 35 overall pick.

After signing Wilson Ramos, the Mets didn’t have any roster space for Plawecki, who was out of options.

Antonetti said the Indians remain “very active” in trade talks as they try to replenish their roster and rebuild their bullpen.

For months, there has been speculation that Cleveland will trade one of its top pitchers, ace Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer. Antonetti made it clear that a move with one of them isn’t necessary.

The Mets made another deal on Sunday, acquiring infielder J.D. Davis and minor league infielder Cody Bohanek from Houston for outfielder Ross Adolph, infielder Luis Santana and catcher Scott Manea, all minor leaguers.

Davis, 25, has hit five homers with 12 RBI in 66 major league games with the Astros over the last two years. He won the Pacific Coast League batting title last year, hitting .342 (114-333) with Fresno.

Giants trade for former Dodgers player: The Giants have acquired switch-hitting infielder and outfielder Breyvic Valera from the Baltimore Orioles for cash, adding another former Dodgers player who new San Francisco president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi had in Los Angeles.

Valera batted .234 with eight RBI while playing in 32 games between the Dodgers and Orioles last season while also playing for both clubs’ Triple-A affiliates. He was traded to Baltimore in the Manny Machado deal last July 18.

Padres finish deal with Jays: The San Diego Padres will pay Toronto $1.5 million on Aug. 15 as part of last weekend’s trade that sent left-hander Clayton Richard to the Blue Jays for Canadian outfielder Connor Panas. That cash will cover half of Richard’s $3 million base salary in the final season of a $6 million, two-year contract.