SAN DIEGO — Add Rene Rivera’s name to the list of players the Mets might deal before Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
According to major league sources, the Mets are receiving calls about the veteran catcher, with the Cubs among the interested teams.
Rivera. who did not play in the Mets’ 6-5 win over the Padres on Tuesday night, has a .245/.291/.395 slash line with six homers and 20 RBIs in 46 games. If the Mets were to trade Rivera — who has emerged as a personal favorite target for Noah Syndergaard over the last two seasons — Kevin Plawecki and Tomas Nido would be the primary backup catcher candidates, behind Travis d’Arnaud, for the remainder of the season.
The Cubs have had a need for another catcher since unloading veteran Miguel Montero last month.
The Rays are among the teams with interest in Addison Reed and Lucas Duda, according to a major league source. Reed is expected to be traded by Monday, but the Mets are less certain about Duda, who had also attracted interest from the Yankees recently. As for Reed, the Dodgers and Red Sox are among the other potential landing spots.
Though Reed allowed a run in the ninth, he picked up his 18th save.
Asdrubal Cabrera, who is the strongest candidate among the Mets’ position players to be traded by Monday, has adapted to third base about as well as the Mets could have hoped. Cabrera started his third straight game at third base on Tuesday, as the Mets continue to showcase him at the position.
“He’s done exceptionally well over there,” manager Terry Collins said. “I think he’s really focused on showing his wares there, that might help also. But there was no question in my mind he was going to be fine.”
Cabrera did make his first error at third on Tuesday night.
Jeurys Familia, who began a throwing program during the All-Star break, is expected to soon progress to a mound. But Collins has no estimate on a potential return date to the Mets — other than Familia likely will rejoin the team at some point this season.
Familia underwent surgery in May for a blood clot in his shoulder.
