…fine, whatever…what is more interesting to me from this article is news that Rockies OF Matt Holliday could be traded if the team keeps losing or if a contract is not worked out…

In Newsday, David Lennon writes that Torrealba’s agent, Melvin Roman, may take legal action against the Mets for what he says was a fraudulent claim by the team when they stated that Torrealba had failed a physical.

…let sleeping dogs lie, roman…the fact that the Mets cut-off their discussions with torrealba so abruptly definitely raises a red flag…

In the report, the Post states that Torrealba did not fail his physical with the Mets.

…that’s what i had initially heard, as well…but, i’m starting to get a sense that this may not be entirely accurate…like i said before, either torrealba failed the actual physical, or he never took it because it was assumed he would fail…either way, same result…

…by the way, Paul Lo Duca is still a free agent…i’m just saying…

Robinson wonders if the upcoming Mitchell Report on steroids played in to the Mets decision, while noting that Torrealba was a teammate of several players who were called before the BALCO grand jury while playing with the Giants.

Robinson also wonders how the Mets will replace Tom Glavine’s reliability and says the Mets have some ‘work ahead’ to match the reloaded Braves.

…i enjoyed robinson’s broadcasts when he was with the Mets, even though he was a Fran Healy enabler…

…by the way, if you haven’t checked it out lately, msnbc.com did a beautiful job redesigning their site…

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.

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…

One of the 10 players listed that now could become of interest to the Mets is Rangers C Gerald Laird.

Law sees him as a player out of room in Texas, who is an outstanding throwing catcher with a good swing and average raw power.

In 120 games last season, the 29-year-old Laird hit .224 with nine HR and 47 RBI, while throwing out 39% of base stealers.

 …at this point, what other choices do the Mets have at catcher…following the Yorvit Torrealba debacle, Omar Minaya may only be left with entering the trade market for a catcher…if omar does enter the market, i wouldn’t mind going after a guy like laird who is a better defensive catcher than yorvit and has a higher ceiling at the plate…

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…

…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…

“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 multiple reports, the Mets also agreed to a three-year, $14.4 million deal with C Yorvit Torrealba.

…with those both deals reportedly cemented, here is side-by-side comparison of both castro’s and torrealba’s career statistics…

…offense…

…defense…