Buzz: Mets Like Jorge Posada
According to Mark Hale in the New York Post, the Mets have interest in free-agent C Jorge Posada.
…as they should…i mean, he’s the best catcher on the open market…the problem, however, is that he is rumored to be seeking at least a three-year, $40 million deal, which a) is a lot for a 36–year-old catcher, and which b) is a contract the Yankees have already reportedly offered to him…
In 144 games this past season for the Yankees, Posada hit a career-high .338 with 20 HR, 90 RBI and a .426 OBP.
Posada has played in at least 137 games during each of the last eight seasons.
…i have looked at posada’s stat line a lot so far this off-season, and what keeps sticking out to me is not that he hit a career-high .338 this last season, it’s that he couldn’t crack .277 during each of the previous three years…not that these are shabby numbers, especially for a catcher, it’s just that i worry about him taking a sharp nose-dive, be it physically or statistically, which is realistic given his age and the historical decline of catchers…i guess i am just tired of the Mets signing free agents who are on the back-side of their career…
Meanwhile, during his weekly appearance on SNY’s Daily News Live, FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal told the show’s host that Paul Lo Duca is as good as gone from the Mets.
However, Hale quotes Lo Duca’s agent as saying…
“Omar reached out for us and let us know that the Mets were interested in bringing Paul back. And we’ve had some preliminary discussions, but nothing in substance.”
According to Rosenthal, the Mets will likely look in to free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba, among others.
In yesterday’s Denver Post, Troy E. Renck noted that the Mets and Marlins have interest in the 29–year-old Torrealba, who hit .256 during the World Series for the Rockies.
In 113 games for the Rockies this past season, Torrealba hit .255 with eight home runs and 47 RBI, while striking out 73 times in 396 at-bats.
…as i have said before, though, i still think the Mets will first look in to acquiring a catcher via trade, all while stalling on lo duca and monitoring the availability and interest level of torrealba, as well as posada, who i have no doubt will eventually re-sign with his Yankees, while using the Mets as leverage to get the best deal…
