METS SIGN RENÉ RIVERA TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

FLUSHING, N.Y., December 2, 2016 – The New York Mets today announced that the club has avoided arbitration and signed catcher René Rivera to a one-year contract.

Rivera, 33, threw out 18-of-61 (29.5 percent) potential basestealers in 59 games (54 starts) behind the plate for the Mets in 2016. Mets pitchers had a 2.77 ERA (148 earned runs/481.2 innings) in the 59 games Rivera was behind the plate. In his 54 starts, the Mets went 34-20.

At the plate, Rivera hit .222 (41-185) with four doubles, six home runs and 26 RBI in 65 total games in 2016. His six home runs were the second-most he’s hit in a single-season in his career.

In eight major league seasons, Rivera has caught 104-of-286 (36.36 percent) of potential basestealers, third-best among active catchers (min. 300 career games) behind Yadier Molina (41.69 percent) and Ryan Hannigan (36.81 percent). At the plate, Rivera has batted .213 (234-1098) with 49 doubles, 26 home runs and 118 RBI in 399 career games.

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