According to multiple reports, the Brewers will pay Mota’s $3.2–million salary for next season.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Estrada hit .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBI in 120 games for for the Brewers last season.

In the Daily News, Adam Rubin speculates that if the Mets ultimately trade for another catcher, ‘they could always decline to offer Estrada a contract in December, which would make him a free agent without any money owed.’

…so, at minimum, this deal costs the Mets nothing if they cut estrada, because the Brewers are paying for mota, or it costs the Mets roughly $1 million, since estrada will likely earn around $5 million in arbitration, should the Mets keep him…either way, it gets rid of mota, and gives the Mets a temporary, two-headed solution at catcher should a more substantial acquisition for a catcher never come down the pike, such as O’s C Ramon Hernandez, who i am sure omar still has his eye on…

…one thing is clear, though, omar has no interest in trading any young player if he’s not bringing back that front-line starter, which has me getting very, very excited for the winter meetings…

For more out of the Mets blogosphere, check out Brooklyn Met Fan, Mets Fever, TMaBtS, and It’s Mets for Me.

Omar Minaya, on the acquisition of Estrada…

“Johnny adds depth to our catching situation. He’s a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career.”

In 120 games with the Brewers last season, Estrada hit .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBI.

He threw out just 7.6 percent of runners attempting to steal, the worst among NL catchers.

Estrada underwent arthroscopic surgery on October 4th to repair torn medical meniscus in his left knee. He also had a bone spur removed from his right elbow.

…so long and good riddance, Mota…looks like the mets may have found their catcher…i’ve never been thrilled with estrada’s patience at the plate, but with the options presented, this is a potential low-risk, high-reward type of move…

…oh yeah, see ya paulie…

He retired three of four batters in the following inning, as well, after which Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Randolph, talking to reporters after the game, regarding Sosa and Heilman, and the bullpen…

“Well, that’s the nature of relief pitching…You don’t give up on guys because they have tough outings, or go through a tough stretch.  Our bullpen is what it is – and those are the guys who have been there most of the year…

“So, whether it’s Mota or Sosa or Aaron or Feliciano, those are the guys who are gonna get us there.  Any time they pitch well it’s good for their confidence.  They’ve been doing a good job all year.  Every one runs in to a rough patch once in a while, hopefully they’ll get through it and start to get more confidence.”

…it really was a huge spot for sosa, and for the team…also, it’s the exact spot that had burned the club so many times in the previous five games, so to get through it, pile on more runs after that, and never look back, well, it was huge to say the least…probably a very big moment in the overall season, when we look back…

Right-handed hitters are batting .230 against him, with an .833 OPS in 124 at-bats. Mwanwhile, left-handed batters are hitting .230 against him, with a .670 OPS in 87 at-bats

…his getting out lefties does not impress me, as most lefties have trouble against right handed pitchers who have an effective change up…

The first batter Mota faces is batting .302 against him. Opponents are batting .328 against with him with runners in scoring position. With two outs and runners in scoring position opponents are hitting .406 with three home runs in 32 at-bats

…i really don’t know if it could get any worse for a relief pitcher in the above situations…

…i mean, i understand he is in the bullpen and needs work, but at what point does Willie Randolph stop ‘trusting’ mota…and will his performance this season affect willie’s decision if mota makes the post-season roster…

…it’s funny, when other relievers have struggled, such as Jorge Julio and Ambiorix Burgos, willie pitched them in spots where they couldn’t hurt the team to see if they could work out their issues…so, it’s puzzling why he hasn’t also done this with mota…

…this post isn’t meant to pile on the already mile-high mound of loathing for mota…i’m just pointing out what a head scratcher it is to see mota enter games in certain situations…i mean, Scott Schoeneweis recently spent 11 straight days in the bullpen without being used…if schoeneweis received that type of treatment, why can’t mota…

Aaron Heilman got the first two batters out in the eighth inning, but then walked a batter and allowed a single to Mark Teixeira.  Pedro Feliciano entered to face the left-handed hitting Brian McCann, who walked. 

Guillermo Mota relieved Feliciano, and allowed a game-tying single through the hole between shortstop and third.

Mota struck out Andruw Jones to end the inning.

Willie Randolph, on the overall bullpen, while talking to reporters after last night’s game…

“We need to do a better of job of, you know, when you get a team in a situation where you’ve got two outs and an 0–2 count you’ve got to put people away.  Obviously, Aaron has been throwing the ball well, and Feliciano, it is very uncharacteristic of him to walk guys…You can’t walk guys in that situation…

“They’re a good hitting ballclub, but we’ve got to do a better job overall of coming in and going after people and not letting that happen.  You can’t let that happen in a situation like that.”

…honestly, i think he’s talking more about mota, though the message certainly applies to every one…i mean, he actually goes out of his way to mention how well aaron has been throwing, and he essentially gives feliciano a pass on precedent…but, he never mentions mota…

Mota, on the situation, when talking to reporters…

“In that situation, I don’t just want a strike out, I want a ground ball or a fly ball and get out of the inning.  I thought I made a good pitch, but he hit a ground ball that went through the hole.  So, it’s a base hit.”

…he has a point…to his credit, he got the ground ball…a few more feet over, and the inning is over, and the lead is protected…it’s not like he walked the guy, or gave up a double in the gap…

…nevertheless, he is totally incapable of executing a big pitch in a big spot…yes, it was a ground ball that unfortunately got through the hole…but the pitch was supposed to be an outside change-up, and it sailed back over the plate, because he has no command of that pitch…he did last season…he does not this season…

Randolph, on the crowd booing Mota, while talking to reporters after the game…

“He shouldn’t get caught up in the crowd.  The crowd’s gonna react…For the team, and for us, he just needs to get over the hump, and, obviously, when he gets in those situations it helps build your confidence.  I’m gonna keep going to him.  I mean, he still has some of the best stuff in our bullpen and he needs to continue to work to be more consistent.  And, again, right now, he’s just going through one of those situations where he can’t seem to get a break.  But, that’s gonna turn around for him, it’s gonna change.”

…good for willie, he’s so supportive, but i doubt he honestly believes what he is saying…i mean, he has to say that…i will never understand how some fans expect him to hit these interviews with brutal honesty, as if that would be the wise way to motivate his player…at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what willie says in these interviews…they’re meaningless, to some extent…what matters is how he physically handles the player…and that’s where the real gripe should be…

…look, i understand the Phillies were losing 11–0, and the division is more or less over…and so i understand bringing in mota last night, because a) he was the third option that inning, so who else was coming in, b) he did get the ground ball he needed, it just found a hole, and c) if successful, it could help the pitcher’s confidence…

…but, again, like i said a few weeks ago, at some point, this needs to stop…maybe not now, because of the division lead, and maybe not tomorrow, but if mota has not ‘figured it out,’ or is not ‘over the hump,’ sooner that later, he needs to just fade in to the distance…i mean, there are only 18 games left on the year…he’s had plenty of time to get straight, and the clock is quickly ticking here…

…i haven’t started thinking about post-season rosters, but if one of John Maine or Oliver Perez will be out in the pen, then mota must be left at home…he just hasn’t earned a spot…it’s that simple…willie and company can talk all they want about how he still has good stuff, bad luck, etc, but at the end of the day he is not getting the job done…and there is no room for error in October…