In the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes that free-agent C Ramon Castro ‘loves’ New York, and wants to remain with the Mets.
…be careful with this quote, though…i mean, if castro is offered a deal to be a starting catcher in another city, will he love the Mets so much that he’s willing to return as a back-up…i’m betting, despite his ‘love,’ he’d leave in a heartbeat…
According to Rubin, ‘Castro is expected to command a two-year deal somewhere.’
Meanwhile, according to Joel Sherman in the New York Post, the Rockies have interest in Castro, as well as free-agent C Paul Lo Duca and Jose Molina, in the event they lose free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba.
By the way, Rubin also provides a variety of other interesting notes from yesterday’s first day at the GM Meetings in Orlando, so check it out.
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Hey Matt,
Since the polls seem to be popular, why don’t you have a “Who would you rather have; LoDuca or Posada” poll.
I think most people would rather have LoDuca back… it’d be cool to see if I’m right.
Also maybe it’ll open Omar’s eyes enough to realize that signing a 37 year old catcher to a 4-5 year deal is absolutely INSANE
make it Posada at 4 years/huge $$ or any other option!
They should lock up Castro now and stop screwing around. Give him the 2 years and some extra $$. That is the best way to use their resources, instead of penny pinching and losing a valuable bench guy.
Doesn’t change what they do about getting a starter, but it does give them a nice safety net, and some flexibility.
Amen! Why are we wasting time with AROD when we should be signing Castro (and starting him next year) and concentrating on spending money on pitching?
starting castro on more than a on and off basis won’t work….
Spending money on what pitching? What’s out there? Carlos Silva? Trust me, the Mets can sign ARod, Posada, and still have enough money left over for plenty of pitching, including and in addition to Carlos Silva.
Agreed, Mister Koo. I can understand why some outsiders (which is what we all are) think that the Mets are blowing their chances to sign Castro by “wasting time” with ARod, but the two events are not linked.
Nor will “concentrating” on spending money for starting pitching suddenly make a top pitcher appear out of the ether. There are simply no aces out there to be had for mere money. If there were, the Mets would be in a strong position to sign them, regardless of what happens with ARod.
This kind of post–with one non sequitur linked to the next–is getting pretty boring.
One poster a few days ago (VCarver?) tried to project payrolls forward to argue that in 2010 or so, the Mets may find themselves committed to too large a payroll to make big plays on the FA market. Fair enough. At least the poster was trying to make a rational argument based on actual payroll limitations.
I think that even if the Mets find themselves in a bind three off-seasons down the road, Omar will show some ingenuity by off-loading blolated contracts. But I really doubt it will get that far, even if ARod AND Posada are siigned.
Posada isn’t getting 5 years or that kind of money from the Mets buddy.
The Mets will make a push for A-Rod, but definitely not the highest offer. Just like the Barry Zito situation. Omar didn’t believe that Zito deserved the money, and now, with A-rod, Omar knows that he has a great infield, especially on the left side with Wright and Reyes. He doesn’t have the motivation that the Tigers and Dodgers have.
The Dodgers are going to be the Giants of this year.
Of course we have no shot at Johan also.
I’m not solely referring to free agency — I’m simply saying the Mets should expend their resources (money and man power) on pitching – trading for it (or, yes, signing). Perhaps sign a number 4 or 5 Silva type pitcher to chew up innings and a trade for a top tier starter as the recpient of a Santana-type or A’s-type salary dump. Why waste time filling a positon we already have?
He mentioned Hudson for 2B. That would be nice. Trade Gomez for someone like that , fill a need without impacting the 2008 team, and lock down a key position for years (assuming the hammer out a contract extension).
man, what an infield if they got A Rod for 1B!
Even without him, assuming they find a LT answer at 1B, reyes, wright and Hundon would be a solid infiled for many years.
He mentioned Hudson for 2B. That would be nice. Trade Gomez for someone like that
This just in – the Dbacks don’t need another OF for the next 5 yrs. No way they’re trading a gg 2B for a guy who won’t ever play. They would want cheap replacements and probably a good pitching prospect (ie gotay).
I’d rather just let Gotay take that spot full time. I don’t see why ppl won’t give him the job. Christ, the guy hit 300 in his first year. How did reyes and wright get their jobs? – let them earn it was young players. I don’t want to see this team get locked up for the next 3 yrs paying an over-the-hill player who may or may not stay healthy
With Hudson’s performance, I doubt that he will cost us just Gomez.
I think he just had his career year anyway.
Castro has an arthritic back. There is NO WAY he can stand the pounding of being an every-day catcher with that condition. There is no cure for arthritis, and it only gets worse over time. Castro knows he’s a backup catcher, and the Mets are the place he feels comfortable and thinks he can get best paid for the role.
Makes sense for both Castro and the Mets to get this done, provided he does a little lifting over the winter to make sure those long fly balls with the bases loaded end up going OVER the fence…
Don’t sign Posada – please do not sign him Omar.
Sign LoDuc and Castro, increase Castro’s starts, not to the point where he is considered a starter, but more starts.
Castro’s face is huge, its like a circus how during the games.
Still, while backup catching is not a huge priority for this squad, it seems easy enough to scratch it off the list. I’d imagine this is the type of deal for this player that would require none of Omar’s time directly. Let the asst GM or some player personnel guy work it out and let omar do his thing with the top level guys.
Olney: Schilling re-ups w/ Boston
Good. Its the right move for him and Boston. Plus, we don’t need a stop gap like him here. We need a long term answer at the top of the rotation
I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive…I’d sign Pettite to a one-year in a heartbeat, if he’d ever do it.
I agree STICKGUY I want Hudson too, also in rumors on si.com said the Angels were weighing options on Ervin Santana, I’d like him too, maybe for Delgado and we pay 6-8 million. An infield of Wright, Hudson, Reyes, A-Rod would be pretty good if Wright can make the Youkilis shift. And a rotation of Pedro, Maine, Ollie, Santana- Pelf- Silva would be competitive
Now we are really thinking. I posted something about this at the trading deadline. Trade for Milledge, Pelfrey and Delgado(and lots of cash) for Santana and Figgins.
thing is LITTLEWILLIE that the D-Backs do need pitching, a Humber, Mulvey or both, they have two other great, young infield prospects and a boatload of outfield depth-prospects
exactly – but in no way, shape, or form does milledge/gomez/martinez have any value to them. it would cost pitching, which, coincidently would also be needed in order to get a top SP.
rather save those guys (pelfrey,humber,mulvey) for a big arm and let gotay play the field.
but who know’s….if omar can plan out his moves so that only certain pieces are traded, there may still be enough left over to be matched with our young OF.
guess my point is that I don’t want to bring back Lou Castle
We need Castro back if only to hear the Imperial March at the stadium!
Who is going to offer a guy with an arthritic back a starting job?
Sign Torrealba, resign Castro to split time with him.
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