According to Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports.com, citing ‘sources,’ Mets GM Omar Minaya and Ass’t GM Tony Bernazard met with Posada and his agents for roughly three hours yesterday.

Yesterday, Rosenthal wrote…

“The Mets are expected to re-sign Paul LoDuca if they fail to lure Jorge Posada from the Yankees.”

…added to by Matthew Cerrone…

…i certainly hope people do not look at posada re-signing with the Yankees as a failure for the Mets, who made him their ‘top priority,’ according to one report, but who, in reality, they never had a chance to sign, not even with a five-year deal i suspect…

…at any rate, i still have to imagine we’ll be put through the process of a few trade rumors and chit-chat about Yorvit Torrealba, but in the end i hope the Mets see the light and just bring back lo duca…

Of course, one week ago, during a recent appearance on SNY’s Daily News Live, Rosenthal told the show’s host that Lo Duca is as good as gone from the Mets.

Meanwhile, according to Peter Abraham, this morning at his blog for the Journal News, Posada wants to stay with the Yankees, though he will meet with the Mets today.

…jeez, whatever, just re-sign lo duca already…seriously…let’s go…i would much, much rather two or three years of lo duca over five years of posada, and i suspect i am not alone in this…

…as i have written before, i sense ownership and some coaches and players had soured on lo duca a bit, feeling that 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 being honest, which is a big reason why so many fans like him, but i also understand how this can be abad thing…

…hopefully, the Mets realize posada is just using them, and that other free-agent options are a mistake, and that a guy like Ramon Hernandez is not necessary, and so lo duca has been and will be the best choice…

…thanks to asher s for the link…

Journal News

According to Abraham, whose colleague caught up with Posada for an interview during half time of the Knicks game, the catcher is close to a deal with the Yankees, which does not hinge on ‘money,’ but ‘the best situation.’

In a report for the newspaper, Abraham notes that the Mets, Blue Jays and Marlins are among teams that contacted Posada since he filed for free agency.

Last week, at FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal wrote that Posada can expect a ‘monster offer’ from the Mets.

According to Mark Feinsand in the Daily News, Posada is seeking a four-year deal, with his major concern being the length of the deal.  However, yesterday, according to the New York Post, the Yankees will make a new three-year, $40 million contract offer to Posada tomorrow.

…so, when posada tells the Journal News that he is more concerned with the ‘situation,’ i’m thinking he’s talking about the number of years on the contract…the thing is, from his point of view, i can’t understand why, even if the Mets give him the additional two years, why he’d want to spend them, at age 40, switching positions and learning first base, as he’ll have to do with the Mets…

…all signs continue to suggest posada wants a fourth year…and so, as i keep saying, it only makes sense that he will use the open market, i.e., the Mets, to bump up the Yankees offer, which he’ll most likely accept…

According to Feinsand, the Yankees offered the 36-year old catcher a three-year contract, but Posada is seeking a four-year deal worth $52 million.

Over at SI.com, Jon Heyman reports Yankees GM Brian Cashman is expected to increase the team’s current offer in hopes to sign Posada before he hits the open market on November 13.

Earlier this week Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com noted the free agent catcher could expect a ‘monster offer’ from the Mets once the signing period opens.

…the buzz around baseball continues to suggest posada, like Mariano Rivera, will eventually re-sign with the Yankees, and as cerrone has mentioned, while using the Mets as leverage…

According to Hale, the agent for Paul Lo Duca has said that while he and the Mets continue to talk, “I think there’s a lot of work to do to get a deal done.”

Hale suggests that the Rangers could look to trade 27–year-old C Gerald Laird, who could be expendable since Texas acquired C Jarrod Saltalamacchia last season.

…laird is interesting, but, from what i can gather, he’d likely cost Lastings Milledge or Carlos Gomez, which is a lot to ask for a guy who hit just .224 with nine homers in 407 at-bats last season…

…nevertheless, as i have said before, i still think the Mets will first look in to acquiring a catcher via trade, such as laird or Ramon Hernandez, all while stalling on lo duca and monitoring the availability and interest level of Jorge Posada and Yorvit Toreallba…by the way, i sense the Mets are not nearly as interested in torrealba as most reports lead on…my money is on either lo duca or a guy like hernandez…

Of course, last night, upon arriving in Orlando for the GM Meetings, Mets GM Omar Minaya told the Associated Press that he is ‘optimistic’ about the possibility of re-signing free-agent C Paul Lo Duca, adding, “The fact that we’re having dialogue is good.”

If the Mets are to offer a five-year, $70 million deal, compared to the Yankees, who have reportedly offered three years, $40 million, Rosenthal wonders if Posada is capable of leaving $30 million on the table.

According to Mark Feinsand in the Daily News, Posada is seeking a four-year deal, with his major concern being the length of the deal.

…omar clearly believes that the Mets need posada’s pride, focus, leadership and experience, because physically it just makes no sense to sign a 37–year-old catcher to a five-year deal, in the national league…zero sense…zero…unless, of course, you feel he can solve this team’s emotional and psychological problems, you know, keep them focused, help communicate between cultures, experiences, etc, and be a model of success that the club is aiming at…in that case, i can understand, i suppose…

Ultimately, Rosenthal writes, “The best guess is that Posada will remain with the Yankees, increasing his Hall of Fame chances rather than entering the unknown in the National League.”

By the way, during his appearances on SNY’s Daily News Live, Bill Madden noted that Yankees GM Brian Cashman flew down to the GM Meetings sitting next to Posada’s agent, Seth Levinson.

Meanwhile, in her blog, Coppolla Sisters, Trey Coppolla does a great job breaking down the catcher’s market, while concluding that the Mets should target Posada, but not if it means giving the fifth year on his deal.

…my sense is that, given last year’s failure, and all that is riding financially on the next two seasons, the Mets are not all that concerned with life next decade…next year is what matters most…and if posada can help this club win, and win in october, then they’ll the cross the 2010, broken-down catcher bridge when they get to it…the thing is, at $14 million a year, that’s a pretty expensive bridge…

According to Peter Abraham, at his blog for Journal News, this is a sign that Posada could be headed back to the Yankees.

In yesterday’s Daily News, citing ‘Mets sources,’ Bill Madden and Mark Feinsand noted how the Mets have made Posada their top priority at catcher.

Meanwhile, in a recent report for FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes that the Mets are expected to make a ‘huge push’ for Posada, as well.

However, in yesterday’s Newsday, Ken Davidoff quoted a friend of Posada’s as saying the all-star catcher is just using the Mets ‘big time,’ as leverage in talks with the Yankees.

…as i have said, this story will play out as follows, as far as i’m concerned: posada will most certainly check out the Yankees first offer, which will probably be for three-years; he’ll hit the open market, flirt with the Mets, get the Yankees to give him the fourth year, which may as well be titled the DH-year, and then he’ll re-sign with the only team he has ever known…

“There’s a buzz working its way through the media, if nowhere else, that Jorge Posada doesn’t want to play for Joe Girardi.”

According to Davidoff, though, citing ‘several people,’ the ‘rift’ between Posada and Girardi is an ‘overstatement.’

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s Daily News, citing ‘Mets sources,’ Bill Madden and Mark Feinsand noted how the Mets have made Posada their top priority at catcher.

However, today, Davidoff quotes a friend of Posada’s as saying the all-star catcher is just using the Mets ‘big time,’ as leverage in talks with the Yankees.

…heh, some friend…umm, buddy, nobody likes the guy who stands over your shoulder during a poker game and announces your hand to the table…thanks, man…

Nevertheless, according to Madden and Feinsand, the Yankees have discussed an offer of three years, $40 million for Posada, who will most certainly seek a fourth year on the deal.

Lastly, for what it’s worth, yesterday on SNY’s Daily News Live, SI.com’s Jon Heyman was adamant in stating that Posada will eventually re-sign with the Yankees, adding, “He’ll never leave Derek Jeer’s side, they’re attached at the hip those two.”

…this story will play out as follows, as far as i’m concerned: posada will most certainly check out the Yankees first offer, which will probably be for three-years…he’ll hit the open market…flirt with the Mets…get the Yankees to give him the fourth year, which may as well be titled the DH-year, and then he’ll re-sign…unless he just wants out of the Yankees for some reason, in which case the Mets have a shot…because, if it isn’t the Yankees, it’ll be the Mets, since all buzz points to him needing to remain in new york for personal reasons…

According to Madden and Feinsand, the Yankees have discussed an offer of three years, $40 million for Posada.  However, the two reporters cite one source as saying Posada will want ‘more.’

…hmmm, ‘more’ money, or ‘more’ years…also, is he capable of playing first base, or some other position, because in the national league, as a 36–year-old catcher, i think we all know he will eventually have to come out from behind the dish…i suspect even the Yankees, with the designated hitter, are having that discussion…the thing is, for the Mets, who may need to give him four years, maybe five, a position switch will absolutely be necessary…

In 144 games this past season for the Yankees, Posada hit a career-high .338 with 20 HR, 90 RBI and a .426 OBP.

Posada has played in at least 137 games during each of the last eight seasons.