Daily Archives: November 17, 2007
The Associated Press is reporting that the Mets ‘ended’ negotiations with free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba.
Meanwhile, in a report for MLB.com, citing a person familiar with the team’s negotiations, Marty Noble writes that Torrealba’s right shoulder might have been the cause.
…the more i think about it, though, the more i just can’t buy that it’s a shoulder issue…i mean, the Rockies, who watched him all season go in and out of the trainer’s room, offered him a two-year deal, so how big of a deal could his health have been…
Of course, Noble also explains, “Another person indicated the reason wasn’t related to the results of any tests other than a routine physical.”
…either way, what’s interesting is that the team and even Omar Minaya are telling people that talks are off, over, done, and will not resume…it is what it is…so, basically, no torrealba for you…
Tagged Yorvit Torrealba |According to the New York Post, Mariano Rivera is finally expected to sign a three-year, $45 million offer from the Yankees.
…hat tip to peter w for the link…
According to Ken Davidoff and David Lennon in Newsday, despite already agreeing to a three-year deal, talks between the Mets and free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba ‘collapsed’ on Saturday, meaning, ‘the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea.’
…do you hear that…listen…yep, it’s the sound of Paul Lo Duca laughing himself to death…
…so, so bizarre…i mean, all that remained was for torrealba to take a physical…so, either a) he failed, or b) he changed his mind at the last minute…
…Update…4:50 pm…
The Mets are publicly telling reporters that a deal was not reached with Torrealba, and that there are no ‘ongoing negotiations’ with him or his agent.
…Update…4:51 pm…
…it’s early, so, who knows, but, the only buzz i can pick up is that someone changed their mind, and that he did not fail the physical…or, if he did, no one will come right out and say…
…either way, back to the drawing board, omar…or, just bring back lo duca, who, i have to think, may not even be interested any more - given the way he has been talked about of late…
…it will be interesting to see how they approach this, though…i mean, unfortunately, it’s clear they are not very interested in lo duca…also, they obviously see Jason Kendall and Michael Barrett as less intriguing than torrealba…and since they tried to sign yorvit, and not make a trade, it’s clear the trade market is more costly than they had hoped…
…Update…5:42 pm…
Troy E. Renck, in the Denver Post, who is now reporting on the story, as well, essentially repeating what had been initially reported by Newsday, writes…
Tagged Yorvit Torrealba |“It’s unclear whether the Rockies will chase Torrealba as aggressively after being spurned. However, the negotiations were amicable, and Colorado still needs a starting catcher…Torrealba is a favorite in the Colorado clubhouse and has earned high praise from manager Clint Hurdle and the pitchers for his game-calling and blocking ability.”
According to Marty Noble at MLB.com, free agent David Eckstein - not Luis Castillo - appears to be the Mets primary target for second base.
…cerrone posted similar information earlier today about the pursuit of eckstein and it’s becoming more and more clear that he is the team’s first choice at second base…
Noble also mentions that D’Backs 2B Orlando Hudson is an option, but he who would require a trade and the Mets clearly prefer to save their chips 
for pitching.
…cerrone and i have differing opinions on eckstein - as he’d likely be my last choice out of the available options..…his ‘hustle’ just doesn’t equal his production and the stats support that…
…that being said, since the Mets lived with castillo for a few months this past season, and do not see him as a top priority, it makes me wonder about his health - or if they soured on him - since it appears eckstein and castillo are both looking for similar four-year, $30 million deals…
MetsBlog-reader Matthew sent in the following email question…
“Hey Matt, would you be able to trace the draft pick that the Mets had to give up to sign Tom Glavine five years ago, and find out who Atlanta took with it? Also, have the Mets offered arbitration to Glavine and are the Mets assured the Braves pick this year?”
…the Mets signed glavine in Decemeber of 2002, and had to forfeit their second round selection, pick 43, to the Braves, with which they selected LHP Jo-Jo Reyes…
According to Baseball America, Reyes, who was 2-2 with a 6.22 ERA in 10 starts for the Braves last season, was ranked as the their eighth best prospect entering 2007.
…as far as the Mets this off-season, the Mets will get a draft pick from atlanta if the Braves and glvaine agree on a deal prior to December 1…if they do not reach a deal by then, the Mets will need to offer glavine salary arbitration prior to December 1 to recieve the Braves first round pick and a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds…if neither occurs, the Mets will not be awarded compensation…
For more on the draft pick compensation rule, click here.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Tom Glavine |According to MLB.com, citing the player’s agent, the Astros, Brewers, Padres, Angels and Rockies have also expressed an interest in talking with free-agent 2B Tadihito Iguchi, who was released the Phillies yesterday, and is seeking a three-year deal.
Iguchi played for the White Sox in 2005 and 2006, hitting .278 as a rookie, then .281 with 18 HR, and 67 RBI the following year.
However, he hit just .267 with nine HR while with the Phillies last season, after being acquired from Chicago in a mid-season trade.
Tagged Tadihito Iguchi |…yesterday, i wrote that i had recently heard from different people that David Eckstein had been seen around the tri-state area with the wilpons, doing their standard meet-new york, live-in-ct tour…
Today, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes that Mets officials dined with Eckstein in Greenwich, ‘in the hopes he’ll fill the second base vacancy in Flushing.’
…for what it’s worth, from what i can gather, eckstein grew up a Yankees fan, but has several close friends who are Mets fans…so, despite his own decisions as a young man, at least he keeps good company…i kid, i kid…
…i’m actually a big eckstein fan, and very much hope he ends up being this team’s second baseman…to me, he’s Lenny Dykstra on the infield, sporting a world series ring…
According to Rubin, Eckstein is seeking a four-year deal, similar to what was accepted by Julio Lugo with the Red Sox last winter.
Earlier this week, in the New York Times, Ben Shpigel wrote that Luis Castillo could also command a four-year deal.
…if they both want four years, and the Mets determine that Ruben Gotay is not the answer, which it’s pretty clear they do not, and they have to choose between eckstein and castillo, i hope they choose eckstein, if for no other reason than i am panic-stricken of castillo’s knees, regardless of whether he had surgery on them a few weeks ago…i mean, i have never seen a baseball player look like that, hobbling around all of the time, and i mean all of the time, be it on deck, standing in the field, rounding third or in the locker room, yet then be able to run hard, and well, on command…eventually, that’s going to catch up with him and the team who signs him…
…that being said, the Mets were reluctant to give lugo a four-year deal last winter, so i must imagine they are hesitant about giving a similar deal to either eckstein or castillo…
In 117 games for St. Louis this past season, Eckstein hit .309, with a .356 OBP, while putting the ball in play roughly 85 percent of his plate appearances.
…by the way, it appears the Daily News has revamped the look and functionality of their website…nice job, guys…i like it…
The agent for Paul Lo Duca has told the Daily News that the Mets never once made an attempt to re-sign his client.
Lo Duca’s agent, Andrew Mongelluzzi, among other comments, as quoted by the Daily News…
“There was not a lot of effort put into offering Paul a job, whether it was one year, two years, three years, four years. I don’t think Paul was the first choice when he got here, and I don’t think he was the first choice this year.”
…he wasn’t the first choice, i think that’s become quite clear…during the last week, i have heard over and over again the idea that the Mets wanted to sign Ramon Hernandez, but after acquiring Carlos Delgado and Billy Wagner, the wallet was empty, so they traded for a less-expensive alternative, in lo duca…
Tagged Paul Lo Duca |According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, free-agent LHP Tom Glavine is close to signing a one-
year deal with the Braves.
Glavine declined a $13 million option with the Mets, in what many viewed as the first step in returning to Atlanta to pitch for the Braves and be closer to his family.
Multiple reports suggest that Atlanta’s initial offer is valued at $7 million, which Glavine and his agent countered late last night.
…plus, when you consider the $3 million he got from the Mets when they bought out his contract, if glavine’s counter is, say, $8 million or so, he may come out fairly close to the $13 million he declined from the Mets…plus, he returns to his favorite team, gets to pitch with his best friend, John Smoltz, and be with his family…not a bad deal…
In the New York Times, Ben Shpigel writes that, ‘out of courtesy,’ Glavine is expected to allow the Mets time to ‘match or exceed’ Atlanta’s final offer.
Glavine’s agent has told reporters that he will make a final decision by the winter meetings, which begin Dec. 3.
…umm, tommy, if you really wanna be courteous, could you make that agreement with atlanta before December 1, this way the Mets can snag a first-round draft pick from the Braves…
…of course, if he waits, and the Mets offer him arbitration, and he signs with the Braves, they still get a pick, but it’s just much cleaner the other way…
Tagged Tom Glavine |
