NEW YORK -- The Mets made a move to shore up their catching depth on Friday, signing switch-hitting backstop Jose Lobaton to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Lobaton, 33, hit .170 with four home runs and a .525 OPS in 51 games for the Nationals last season. An eight-year veteran of the Padres, Rays and Nats, Lobaton spent the past four seasons in Washington, appearing in the postseason in 2016 and '17.
In New York, Lobaton provides the Mets a measure of depth behind Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki, who will split time at the position. The Mets' only other catcher with big league experience is Tomas Nido, their ninth-ranked prospect, per MLBPipeline.com, who -- like Lobaton -- figures to open the season at Triple-A Las Vegas.