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The agent for free-agent C Paul Lo Duca recently told the Bergen Record that he and his client are open to finalizing a deal with the Mets.
However, while the Mets have repeatedly stated that they have interest in bringing Lo Duca back, according to the agent, the team is still considering all of their options.
…in all likelihood, lo duca’s agent will meet with Omar Minaya this week in Orlando during the GM Meetings…
During a recent appearance on SNY’s Daily News Live, FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal told the show’s host that Lo Duca is as good as gone from the Mets.
However, the following day, in a report for the New York Post, Mark Hale quoted 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.”
Lo Duca, as recently quoted in New York Times, when asked about why he’d like to return to the Mets…
“One of the main reasons I want to come back is the fans. Especially with what I went through last year with all that stuff, the fans were always great to me. I love playing in front of these fans. That’s No. 1. No. 2 is that they have a corps that’s going to win for a long time. This is a team that’s always going to be in the thick of it every year. I want to be on a team that’s going to win. That’s why I want to be here. Plus, New York City, you can’t beat it.”
…i’m still a bit torn on this…i like lo duca a lot…but, in talking with people connected to the team, i sense ownership and some coaches and players have soured on him, as they feel he was too negative during September, i.e., the team looked to him as an emotional leader, during which he was down and out and depressed - much like you and i, frankly…to me, he was probably just reflecting his honesty, which is a big reason why so many fans like him, but i also understand how this can be bad…what’s more, i keep hearing that the team wants a catcher who works better with the pitching staff…and while i’m not totally sure what that means, the guy who is referenced as a good example of this is O’s C Ramon Hernandez, who is rumored to be available through trade, and who had worked quite well with Rick Peterson and their young pitching staff in oakland…
…if i had to guess, at this point, i’d say the Mets will pursue other options at catcher, while considering lo duca to be a fall-back position, knowing how badly he wants to return…personally, i’d just re-sign him…i think his heart, pride and intensity is something this club should be built around, but i will understand if they go a different direction…
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Of course he was negative during September, it was hard not to be…
LoDuca was the only one really telling it like it was…
PAUL – LO – DU – CA!!!!!
PAUL – LO – DU – CA!!!!!
PAUL – LO – DU – CA!!!!!
He’s going to the Yankees?
is paulie connected? like johnny franco?
I don’t understand the fascination with Ramon Hernandez OR especially Jorge Posada….. why didn’t we just sign Ramon when he was a FA years ago rather than offering two identical contracts to he and Benji Molina
And what’s with this finding a catcher who can handle the pitching staff better than Lo Duca….. wasn’t that Paul’s major selling point when we acquired him via trade and the fact that he never struck out.
They should bring Paulie back and forget the trade or Huge FA dollars on old man yankee
Direct the attention toward the fantasy that is A-Rod and as always, pitching
Bring Paulie back for one year deal with an option for a second year based on incentives. The guy shows alot of fire and if we dont bring back Castillo we need someone to bat second in the order.
Ugh… seriously, who cares about his fire. His batting average dropped considerably, and since he has no power, this turns him into a slap hitting catcher who doesn’t even play good defense. Personally, I would let LoDuca go.
And if Castillo walks Milledge should be hitting second.
I’d bring Paul back with the understanding that Castro would start a good amount. Let Paul play 100 games, and Castro the rest.
You’re assuming that Castro will be signed as well — he’s also a free agent — and that his back won’t be barking.
‘I don’t understand the fascination with Ramon Hernandez OR especially Jorge Posada’
Chances are they will both be better players than LD in 2008. That’s the bottom line. Smart teams pay big bucks for premium talent [Posada]. Dumb teams trade young starters with upside for proven mediocrities making 7MM [Benson] or re-sign already marginal catchers in their decline phases.
‘personally, i’d just re-sign him…i think his heart, pride and intensity is something this club should be built around, but i will understand if they go a different direction…’
Nah. He’s a lousy ballplayer. We’re in the business of winning. If that heart doesn’t result in production, it’s worthless. If it was about heart, i’d want Edgardo Alfonzo at second base.
Look, we’re all guilty of getting too attached to certain players [For me, its Cliff Floyd] but he’s a 36 yo one dimensional catcher whose already poor defensive skills are only going to erode further.
Ugh. If the Dwarf wants to come back, make it a one year deal. PLEASE.
There is so much wrong with this post I don’t even know where to begin.
1) The Mets traded Ty Wigginton and Matt Peterson for Kris Benson, then traded Benson for John Maine and Jorge Julio, and Julio for El Duque. So they essentially traded Wigginton and Peterson for Maine and El Duque. Where, exactlly in this transaction do you see the Mets trading young starters for proven mediocrities?
2) Smart teams make smart transactions. No doubt that Posada would be better than LoDuca in 2008 – but do you really want to be paying him $12 million in 2010 when he’s 39?
3)”he’s a 36 yo one dimensional catcher whose already poor defensive skills are only going to erode ” Sorry, I’m confused. Are you talking about Posada or Loduca? Cause I’m pretty sure you just described Jorge Posada.
The truth is, the Mets would be much better off signing LoDuca to a one year deal with an option, at around $7 million per year, than siging Posada to a $50, 4 year deal, or trading talent for Hernandez.
Sometimes it’s not about who the better player is NOW. It’s about being stuck with an old player in a year who’s making way more than he’s worth. I’m not saying LoDuca’s great, but we’d be better off signing him and spending the money elsewhere.
‘Where, exactlly in this transaction do you see the Mets trading young starters for proven mediocrities?’
In this instance, I was referring to the Orioles and alluding to Duquette’s poor trades with the Mets.
‘Smart teams make smart transactions. No doubt that Posada would be better than LoDuca in 2008 – but do you really want to be paying him $12 million in 2010 when he’s 39?’
No, but what choices do the Mets have? They lost Flores in the Rule V. Pena won’t be ready for years. There are no viable internal options.
A declining Posada is still likely to be a 100 OPS+ guy. The Mets could use that certainty. The marginal wins are extremely valuable to them.
I suppose a trade for Ramon Hernandez, Salty or Jeff Clement might work also.
‘Sorry, I’m confused. Are you talking about Posada or Loduca? Cause I’m pretty sure you just described Jorge Posada.’
Posada hits for power and draws walks. LD has pitiful power and draws very few walks. LD is extremely one dimensional.
If LD experiences a BA collapse, he kills your team. Posada can hit .250 and still be a contributor because he has excellent secondary skills.
‘The truth is, the Mets would be much better off signing LoDuca to a one year deal with an option, at around $7 million per year, than siging Posada to a $50, 4 year deal, or trading talent for Hernandez.’
I’d take a chance on Posada. But we’ll agree to disagree on that.
Agree to disagree.
For the record, Posada has always been known as a terrible defensive catcher. He is an awful ball-blocker, and has never been known for dealing well with pitchers. I’d be shocked if he were not a huge liability behind the plate by 2009.
Truthfully I’d rather not have LoDuca or Posada. I’d rather have a guy like Castro or Torreabla than either of these aging catchers. I am tired of the Mets having old catchers behind the plate – it’s time for a younger, more athletic catcher, even if that means sacrificing some offense.
That being said, if the Mets feel they have no real options in terms of a younger C, I’d rather they spend less money and commit to less yeas for LoDuca.
that what sucks about C this off season – there are no good options. PLD will suck no matter how cheap he is and to top the yankees offer you will overpay in year and $$.
barrett will be cheap pick up with lots of potential but still some risk that his down year was not a fluke.
Torrealba sucks in the extreme. he hit about .215 outside of Coors Field last year and he’ll be expensive coming off a career postseason. He is without a doubt the worst move the Mets could make.
I don’t want to trade for Hernandez who is better than LoDuca, but not that hot himself. (It’s rather easy to be better than .75 OPS+ LoDuca.)
Sign LoDuca for one year. If you make smart moves in ‘09, you will be able to live with a weak hitting catcher. Or you could go with Johjima in ‘09 and strengthen that position.
‘09 is full of options if the Mets don’t strangle themselves with ARod or Posada this year.
Texas newspaper over the weekend suggested Laird and Salty were available. They have a stud catcher in AAA.
http://metsfever.blogspot.com/2007/11/beltran-for-salty.html
The Braves might never again deal with Daniels if he trades Salty to the Mets.
As I see it, Castro>Paulino>Torrealba>Laird. Salty would be better than any of these guys in 2008 except perhaps Castro.
Salty’s a bit young, but good. With him and Castro in the bigs and DiFeliz playing his mentor role in the minors our catching situation could look well for years to come.
And counting coups on the Braves always brings a smile to my heart.
I think they should sign Lo Duca to a one year with a club option. Then obtain a catcher between 25-28 whos major league ready but inexperienced. Let Lo Duca groom him and if he takes the position over, then you have Paulie coming off the bench going deep into a count and making contact against a relief pitcher. Even with the drop off to .275, which was as much the position in the batting order as it was his age is better then most catchers.
Posada is never coming here, he’s using us for negotiations and to get him it would be a ridiculous contact ( in years).
Castro isn’t a starter every time he takes over he goes down. the way he lets his weight go during the season his back will never hold up. He came into camp in great shape and was crushing the ball. but by the time paulie went down the hotel food had taken its toll two weeks and he was out just like last year.
Is it just me or is this an absolute no brainer? The Mets need to improve in a lot of places, but catcher is not one of them. The difference in production of a Ramon Hernandez for Lo Duca is negligible. We have a solid offense, and even if we wanted to improve it, catcher is not the place to make changes.
Lo Duca is relatively durable, thrives in NYC, and will be somewhat inexpensive. Take the dollars and spend them elsewhere- not on catcher.
The fact that this is even a point of discussion is mind boggling to me. Unless he really is causing a disturbance in the clubhouse, sign Lo Duca quickly and move onto the more pressing issues of the off-season.
The difference in production between Ramon Hernandez and LoDuca is negligible? Are you serious? Hernandez is more of a power threat than LoDuca and that alone would make him more of an impact hitter than Paulie.
9 home runs for Hernandez last year. I’ll go with negligible. It is not worth making a trade.
(I’m sure some fool is thinking of trading Milledge for Hernandez. He’s not even worth Gomez. Saltiamachia might be worth Milledge. Might.)
So you’re basing this off of one off season?
And who said anything about Milledge or even Gomez?
Hernandez should be obtainable on the cheap.
My bad. He seems throughout his career to be roughly double the power hitter LoDuca is.