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Last night, Newsday was first to report that talks between the Mets and free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba ‘collapsed,’ concluding, ‘the talks are dead and Torrealba is not coming to the Mets.’
Shortly after, the Mets announced that a deal was not reached with Torrealba, and that there are no current negotiations with him or his agent.
…there is no definitive buzz on why this all took place…again, as i said last night, i do not sense he failed a physical, though that doesn’t mean the team didn’t get cold feet due to his history of shoulder problems…also, several readers have e-mailed me speculating whether he could soon be accused of having used steroids, which, again, is total speculation…the team is being very quiet about the whole situation, giving a lot of no comments and short, cryptic responses to questions on the subject…so, who knows…
…personally, i’m not too concerned with the why…i’m far more concerned with what’s next…
…it’s clear that O’s C Ramon Hernandez is omar’s top choice, but, knowing that, and knowing the situation with Paul Lo Duca, and now this situation with torrealba, the asking-price for hernandez is going to be much higher than it should be, i would think…last week, word from baltimore had been that hernandez will cost a high-end prospect…
…the same can be said, i would think, for Rangers C Gerald Laird, another ideal fit, who the Mets have reportedly inquired about, as well…also, there is new buzz from miami that Marlins C Miguel Olivo could soon be pitched to the Mets, as well…
…you know the story, though: the Mets prefer to sign a catcher, so to keep all of their prospects to package the best bunch for a starting pitcher…
By the way, free-agent C Michael Barrett is a Type-A free agent, meaning he will likely cost the Mets a compensatory draft pick. In 344 at-bats for the Cubs and Padres last season, the 31-year-old Barrett hit .244, drove in 30 runs, got in to a nationally-televised fist fight in a dugout with his teammate, Carlos Zambrano, and was then traded to San Diego.
Lastly, in 137 games between Oakland and Chicago, free-agent C Jason Kendall, 33, hit just .242 with three HR and 20 doubles.
…omar likes to work quick, so he can dedicate himself to the big tasks, like acquiring an ace…yet, as of now, he still is without a full-time starting catcher and a second baseman, and the winter meetings are roughly two weeks away…kendall and barrett should not be an option…nor should olivo, frankly…if his initial sense is that he’ll need every bullet to trade for a pitcher, than laird and hernandez should not be options either…meaning, as so many of us have been saying for the last week, lo duca is the best choice…
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Well, Barrett being a type-A free agent tells you all you need to know about the importance of the catcher position with respect to offensive numbers. I mean, the guy hit .244 and drove in 30 runs and managed to place in the top 20% of the position?
Let’s just get a guy who can call a good game and play strong defense. Forget the hitting – there are 2-4 good hitting catchers in the game.
I still think that it is very odd that Lo Duca being brought back is a clear option to many of us, but Omar doesn’t think so or he would already have been signed. Is there really something else to this picture that we don’t know or is Omar just intent on “improving” the team, like he did last offseason? Ugh.
he’s 36 and wants a 3 year deal I think that’s the only issue here.
And the fact that his skills are in decline.
He is fat, old, has had hamstring and hand problems, and he has a BIG mouth. I agree, I would call that decline. 3 years? I wouldn’t give him 3 weeks.
I understand not wanting to bring Lo Duca back because of his age, injury concerns and request for a 3 year deal. But then why would Ramon Hernandez be Minaya’s “top choice”, the guy is 31and turned in his worst season since 2002, playing in just 106 games because of a reoccuring groin injury. Look at Hernandez numbers, ,258 AVG, 9 HR’s, 62 RBI and reportedly the O’s want a top prospect in return for him. Is Baltimore crazy, this is why they never get any deals completed, becuase they always ask for too much?
I really hope Omar has another plan that nobody else is reporting, becuase right now other then bringing back Lo Duca, these other options are not very appealing.
I said earlier that teams can ask anything they want, but have to either accept what the market (the other teams) think he is worth, or keep him.
So they can want a top prospect, but if no team offers more than a Mike Carp level guy, they either take him or keep paying Ramon.
Agreed, I don’t get it. Lo Duca wasn’t the first fall back option after Torrealba? Many of us agree he should have been option one…. What did he do that was so bad Omar won’t bring him back?
LoDuca must have done something to tick off a lot of people last season.
His “They speak English” comment?
Maybe he’s the most vocal player? A clubhouse lawyer? Questioning management?
Who knows….although he does seem to be an obvious choice to resign given the talent available.
It’s going to be a long offseason….
why do you say Omar is “still without a catcher”?
Didnt they just resign Ramon Castro? he’s a catcher right?
What they are looking for really is a platoon catcher,someone to basically split time with Castro. Why should we give up any prospects to get a guy to platoon behind the dish, when we have greater needs in the starting rotation and at 2B.
Let’s stop all this catching problem business. LoDuca is better than Torrealba, WITH REST! That’s why we have Ramon, who has shown he is an excellent back up and “blow” guy. Let’s get players and positions we need. NEED!. With more rest for LoDuca he will be great. Not too many catchers in MLB can play 160 games with efficiency. Let’s play Ramon for 50-60 and let LoDuca put OTB in the clubhouse while he rests and let’s get on with it!!! I really thing the X-Factor would be fantastic!!! He can play for three more years at second and you get a gritty proven winner who knows how to play baseball. He is Backman reincarnated. Pitching pitching pitching!
Lo Duca rested last year and had an OB% of .311 — if you call that great, and add a year of age to his rest-needing body, then I guess sign him for 3 years. I don’t think Lo Duca is great anymore.
I’ll continue to suggest that now is an ideal time to trade for a young promising catcher (or second baseman) with an equally young promising outfielder, namely Gomez.
The biggest hole in this suggestion, is that I don’t have a good idea of who the catching prospects are around the league.
You and me both believe this.
I thought Olivo was release or is FA
he’d be a decent stop gap option.. above average defensive catcher
he’s got some pop in his bat if someone can teach him how to take an outside curveball
he’s a good old friend of Reyes despite the brawl.
wouldn’t it be ironic if Olivo had to serve his 5 game suspension for his fight with the Mets as a member of the Mets.?
Why shouldnt Olivo be an option. Hes as good at the plate as anyone that were gonna get now and he has a rifle arm.
Maybe it is time for Omar to step up and be creative. If he wants Ramon Hernandez, then he should look to trade with the Orioles in some kind of expanded deal that includes a pitcher and/or catcher. I don’t think the Orioles are going to trade Bedard so how about going for Daniel Cabrerra, a huge, inconsistent talent that would be a perfect Rick Peterson special project. Put a package together for Cabrerra and Hernandez, maybe try to get Roberts as well and fill multiple holes. Then go out and sign Colon or Silva.
I’d like to stay away from Olivo, as he’s a defensive liability. His combination of errors and passed balls led the majors last year. Barajas would be a better stop-gap, in my opinion. He has some pop in his bat and is a good defensive catcher.
The one unknown in all of this discussion is just how a catcher handles a pitching staff. The Mets pitchers seem to really like Castro, but what is the rep of these others. Hell, if Piazza doesn’t mind splitting time with Castro, and isn’t expected to provide his former pop, I’d consider him. He’s at least as good as many of the players out there, if he still wants to catch.
I think the marlins young pitching staff has to take some credit for the past balls..
but he is consistently top 5 in caught stealing.
Maybe we’re going to send some prospects to the Marlins for Olivo and the D-Train? We would probably give up less than we would for Johann, who we might be able to sign at the end of next year anyway to replace Pedro if the Twins don’t lock him down now….
I was just thinking of the same scenario, my friend. Good call.
very creative..
we’ll soon find out if there was something bigger up Omar’s sleeve that made him bail YorTor.
may be giving Omar too much credit.
At this point it’s pretty clear that no good catchers are available. If I can’t get Laird for a reasonable price (no legitimate prospects), I sign Kendall and have him backup Castro. Kendall’s OBP was atrocious last year and it’s not likely to get better, but who knows.
After watching an interview with Loduca last night …I think he will be back as a Met..he was saying how he wants 2 retire a Met, and how he misses the team and certain players….he seemed genuine….I thin they will both compromise and he will be back in a week with us.
lots of options, and hopefully Omar is exploring all of them (fitting with my hope he goes back to being the “creative genius” that got him his own T Shirt slogan!)
Laird, Olivio, etc. are all viable options. And shouldn’t cost prospects of any particular note.
Signing Castro was actually a good move. It at least gives them a base to work with, so they have the flexibility to get a true starter, or a platoon guy. Basically, what they can find out in the market.
Assuming he doesn’t break down entirely, I could see Castro catching anywhere from 40 – 100 games next year (most likely not more than 80). Just can’t see him going into FT (120+ for a catcher) terrritory, so the other guy better be decent.
Laird could actually blossom in the right situation, he does seem to have offenzive potential. Might even be like Castro in that way.
Just get someone that can play the position and has some potential to not be an offensive black hole, and can reasonably be expected to stay healthy and get it done and move on.
one thing that I don’t really have a feel for is, other than the Mets, how many teams are really looking to make a move for a catcher?
You hear that the Rangers and O’s want a “high end” prospect for Laird and Hernandez.
But, competition drives the Market, and the sellers have to compete against each other. So, if the Mets are (for sake of arguement) the only buyer, and they are the only sellers, you play them against each other.
Make reasonable offers to both, and the first that accepts, gets the deal. And you make sure they know this.
Teams can get greedy, but have to understand that they could get shut out and stuck with the player.
So, if I was the GM, I would rate the guys in order of how much I want them, and determine what I would pay for each. Then, eliminate any that the perceived cost was too high.
What ever is left, you make the offer, either 1 at a time with a short window to accept, or if you have say 3 guys that are all equivinelt, make them at the same time (like with Molina and Hernandez 2 years ago).
SOmeone bites, you got a deal, and they know that they are competing for your business.
Now Omar is just being stubborn. You have a guy begging to come back in PLD, yet you are going to dedicate time and more money trying to persuade one of these below-AAA offensive players to come here.
Maybe we can get that guy Jesus Flores from the Nats…
I read above that Omar wants Ramon Hernandez from the Orioles? Isn’t he like 47 years old now. A couple years ago, ok. But do any of you guys really want to trade for this guy? Maybe as a very cheap FA signing, maybe.
As for catcher, let me just throw something out there. Are you guys dead set against a due of Castro and DeFelice. DeFelice is fne defensively; probably above average. The concern is his hitting. But I recall him coming up in August/Sept. and playing pretty well. Could his hitting have improved enough to make him an option as a “platoon” catcher on our team?
If Ramon Hernandez is 47 PLD is 53
All seriousness. RH is 31 in May .. PLD is 36 opening day
Defilce is NOT a Major league player. after he was how for his first 2 weeks he coudnt buy a hit the rest of the year.
I’m sorry, but do you people base a starting player on statistics or their name? Why would anyone choose to give up a first round pick to sign Michael Barrett, or trade prospects to sign Ramon Hernandez, when you have a catcher (Ramon Castro) who is better then both of them. Leave Castro and sign a backup catcher.
In fact, if I was Castro, with this crappy market, I would have just left and signed a deal to start somewhere else. What the Mets have done to him is rediculous.
That actually should tell you something about Castro.
Nonetheless, he still can play baseball well, so I could care less about anything else. Maybe he just really likes it in NY.
I think the mets should really be looking closely at Baltimore, and not just at catcher… The Orioles also have Brian Roberts at second base who the mets would love, chad bradford with two years left on a contract that baltimore doesn’t want to pay after bradford’s disappointing performance last year. They feel the same way about Hernandez and his contract based on recent performance. Last need is a pitcher. eric bedard or even daniel cabrera has talent. Blockbuster deal of Milledge, Gomez, Maine or Perez, and Pelfrey or Humber could get everything solved at once in one place.
Roberts, Hernandez, Bradford, and Bedard FOR Milledge, Gomez, Maine and Pelfrey.
Outside of including Maine, who I am conflicted about trading but whom without the above deal would never get done, I like this deal. If fixes a few things for us in one swoop.
you’d have to give up maine, and that may not even be enough. remember you’d be getting 2 starting players in the field, a quality reliever, and a top of the line starter. not a chance you get that for 4 prospects (milledge, gomez, pelfrey, humber). Pelfrey and humber would probably have to be exchanged for maine and maybe even heilman. the reason you haven’t seen minaya act is because of the high price. think about what you would want from the orioles perspective to part with this many quality players. we’re all gonna feel “conflicted” about any deal that is made. you have to give up quality to get it. that’s the problem with such a weak free-agent class.