Re-signing Rafael Furcal is now the Dodgers top priority, according to Tom Verducci of SI.com.  That said, MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays met with Furcal’s agent today.

Earlier today, the Boston Globe said the Royals and Braves were close to swapping Jeff Francoeur and Zack Grienke.

However, on Steve Phillips said at ESPN the rumor is false; as did Joe Hamrahi from Baseball Digest Daily; as did Royals GM Dayton Moore, according to MLB.com.

By the way, ESPN 2 will feature a Baseball Tonight Hot Stove Special today at 5 pm EDT.

…the talk from Vegas still seems to be that teixeira will need at least until the Holidays to lock in a new contract, i.e., Scott Boras has yet to create a market deep enough to get the deal he is promising to his client…

The Cubs are not looking to trade 2B Mike Fontenot, according to the Dayton Daily News, though Ronny Cedeno is available.

…sorry, ted…i know you are disappointed…

The D’Backs are seeking a second baseman or a pitcher in a deal for C Miguel Montero or Chris Snyder, according to Boston Radio WEEI, who believe the Red Sox, Reds, Marlins and Astros are all in the market for a catcher.

Speaking of catchers, the O’s are looking to swap out C Ramon Hernandez, and his one-year, $8 million contract, for a similar contract, for a utility player who can handle the infield and outfield, reports Roch Kubatko on his blog for MASN.

…if the Sox lose Jason Varitek, i wonder if Julio Lugo would make sense for Baltimore, with ramon going to Boston…

Last season, in 134 games for the Giants, the 33–year-old Molina hit .276 with 19 HR and 81 RBI, while throwing out 30 percent of runners who attempted to steal against him. 

Meanwhile, at FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes that the Orioles could ‘resume discussions with the Mets’ about C Ramon Hernandez, ‘but they will need to drop their demand for a top prospect in return.’

Hernandez will earn $7.5 million next season and $8 million in 2009 with an $8.5 million club option for 2010, after which he will be a free agent.

…first off, it’s interesting to note that both molina and hernandez are the same two catchers who were linked in rumor to the Mets two years ago, when both were free agents…instead, the Mets chose to trade for Paul Lo Duca…and now, two years later, with lo duca a free agent, we’re back to reading rumors about molina and hernandez…

 …at any rate, from what i can gather out of baltimore, the O’s are asking for a high-end prospect in exchange for hernandez because they are willing to eat a large chunk of his remaining salary…the Mets can certainly afford hernandez’s contract, and do not need baltimore to pick up part of the tab, which could warrant trading away a lower-level player, but that is not what the O’s want to do right now, as they try to re-stock their farm system…

By the way, Ringolsby also writes that the Rockies have re-opened talks with free-agent C Yorvit Torrealba, though they will not ‘back off’ their two-year, $7 million offer.  Torrealba had reportedly accepted an offer from the Mets this past weekend, before talks fell apart.

During a conference call with reporters yesterday, Mets GM Omar Minaya would would not answer when asked if Torrealba had failed or even taken a physical with the Mets, nor would he comment on whether an offer was ever actually made. 

For more notes from Minaya’s conference call, go here.

Haudricort also writes that…

“The Brewers probably would deal Estrada, and not ask for much in return, to another club if they sign Kendall.”

…i like the idea of estrada compared to the alternatives…sure, last year he was wretched as far as throwing out base runners, but some attribute this to the bone spur he recently had removed from his right elbow…he was significantly better in ‘05 and ‘06 at throwing guys out, plus he’s a switch hitter with some pop compared to the rest of the market and would likely come cheaper than Gerald Laird or Ramon Hernandez…

…posted by Matthew Cerrone…

…the buzz from milwaukee had also been that estrada could be non-tendered, meaning he will be a free agent sooner than later…of course, if a team really wants him, they can part with a player in trade, now, instead…

Today in Newsday, Ken Davidoff writes that the Mets are ‘not currently considering’ a return of free-agent C Paul Lo Duca.

…as i have written before, it’s clear that O’s C Ramon Hernandez is omar’s top choice, but, as has been reported, the asking-price for hernandez is going to be much higher than it should be…the same can be said 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 suggests Marlins C Miguel Olivo could soon be pitched to the Mets, as well…

Though he hit just .237 last season, Olivo hit 16 home runs each of the last two seasons, during which he also struck out 223 times.

…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…

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.

…kendall and barrett should not be an option…nor should olivo, since he could soon be non-tendered…if omar’s sense is that he’ll need every bullet to trade for a pitcher, then 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…

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…

…which is obviously why we are being inundated with Yorvit Torrealba rumors, and why it makes zero sense to trade for a catcher, at the same time the Mets are in dire need of trading for a pitcher…to part with a high-end prospect to get hernandez would be foolish…

By the way, the Sun also writes that the O’s intend to discuss a long-term contract with Bedard, who is eligible for free agency after 2009, before realistically exploring the trade market.

According to the report, while the Mets, Yankees and Angels have all expressed recent interest in trading for Bedard, the Dodgers are said to have been the most aggressive, with players such as Matt Kemp, Jonathan Broxton and Clayton Kershaw having all been discussed.

…from what i can gather, the offer is likely to be a three-year, $15 million deal, which is one year and $9 million more than was offered by his former team, the Rockies…

…i don’t get it…seriously, i just don’t get it…this could end up being one of the more perplexing moves of the Omar-Minaya Era…

Last night, on ESPN Radio, Andrew Marchand was first to report that the Mets will soon make a contract offer to Torrealba.

Of course, Mets GM Omar Minaya said yesterday that, while Torrealba is ‘on their radar,’ Paul Lo Duca is ‘still in play,’ according to John Delcos in the Journal News.

Nevertheless, according to multiple reports yesterday, Lo Duca’s agent had e-mailed reporters saying that the Mets apparently do not see his client as a priority, ‘at this time.’

By the way, in a recent report for ESPN.com, Keith Law does not rank Torrealba among the Top 50 Free Agents, while he ranks Lo Duca at No. 32.

Lastly, according to Shpigel’s report in the Times, if the Mets are unable to acquire Torrealba, they ‘could’ try to trade for O’s C Ramon Hernández, Rangers C Gerald Laird, or even D’Backs C Miguel Montero, who ‘could be a possibility, too.’

Actually, according to Mark Hale in the New York Post, citing an ‘MLB team exec,’ the Mets have been in touch with the Rangers about Laird, who tossed out 40 percent of runners trying to steal against him last season.

Also, in his report for the Journal News, Delcos lists the Mets as exploring a deal for Pirates C Ronny Paulino, as well.

Last season, the 29–year-old Torrealba started at least 67 games in a season for the first time during his seven-year career, which has been spent mostly as a back-up.

He hit just .212 with two HR in 193 at-bats while away from Colorado’s hitter-friendly Coors Field.

…i’m very confused…i am…it’s nothing against torrealba necessarily, it’s just he appears to be a career back-up, who put together some decent offensive stats mostly because he played in Coors, which is fine, i mean, good for him…but, how is that better than lo duca, or Ramon Castro for that matter…i can only assume there is something about yorvit that i don’t see, and so i have reached out to a few local writers and bloggers to help fill in the gap, assuming there is a gap…i hope to get these interviews up in the next day or so…

According to Olney, ‘the guy who makes the most sense’ is Orioles C Ramon Hernandez, ‘who is coming off a lousy year but could be revitalized playing for a contender, and in being reunited with former Oakland pitching coach Rick Peterson.’

Olney suggests the Mets engage the O’s in talks involving not only Hernandez, but also 2B Brian Roberts and RHP Chad Bradford.

…in reading olney, it’s sounding as though he feels a package from the Mets, which includes either Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez, could net them all three, considering that bradford and ramon make a good chuck of change, and roberts is a free agent after next season…

In 156 games for Baltimore last season, the 30–year-old Roberts hit .290 with 12 HR, 42 doubles, 57 RBI and stole 50 bases.

…like Luis Castillo, or David Eckstein, roberts would be a perfect fit batting behind Jose Reyes…hey, any shot Erik Bedard can drive them all to shea, and, you know, just stay for a start or two…

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…