Mets Demote Alvarez After Coaching Staff Debate

The New York Mets have demoted catcher Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse following internal debate among coaches regarding his offensive and defensive struggles after returning from hamate bone surgery. Alvarez posted a .236/.319/.333 line with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 35 games, and has also ranked poorly in advanced defensive metrics such as pitch framing. Luis Torrens will now serve as the Mets’ starting catcher with Hayden Senger called up as backup. The Mets, tied for first in the NL East, hope Alvarez's stint in Syracuse will allow him to refine his skills and reset for a possible postseason run. Service time implications may keep Alvarez in the minors for at least 26 days, potentially delaying his free agency by a year. The organization is prioritizing his long-term development to support their postseason ambitions.