The Mets are closing in on a three-year deal with free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba.
Melvin Roman, the player’s agent, told ESPN today he hopes to finalize the deal this afternoon. The Mets just confirmed they are close to an agreement.
Torrealba was Plan B after Jorge Posada re-signed with the Yankees.
23 Comments
Not back page headline news, but a solid boring move.
The Mets could simply not go into next season with, LoDuca an old catcher who was injured last year and most likely will have an injury this year. If Castro is the other catcher he also gets hurt every year. Torrealba I believe is a class B
FA which means we will not lose our 1st round pick by signing him. If I am wrong on that please correct me.
Torrealba can’t hit. And he’s not a good defensive catcher either. Why did they want this guy so badly? I don’t think signing a lousy player who won’t help you win is a solid move. Oh well. Someone has to catch.
Ramon Castro signs for 2yrs/$4million? And Torrealba get 3yrs/$15million? Castro needs a new agent. He is a much much much better hitter than Yorvit Torrealba. Did I mention that Torrealba is a lousy hitter who people only think is good because he’s been playing in Colorado? Yes it is true. And Castro is probably better defensively too.
If a solid move definition means that a player helps you win more games than you did previously, than I don’t see how this guy is a solid move.
If a solid move means that this guy doesn’t win you or lose you games, than I guess it is solid.
But for sure, it is boring….hohum….blah…who cares…
and I wish I could at least be a .250 backup catcher in 07.
and yes, at least it doesn’t cost us a 1st round pick b/c this guy isn’t even on ESPNs top 50 FA.
and I sure hope the Mets give arbitration to Glavine to get that pick.
Any idea on what LoDuca was asking for? I’m not doing cartwheels over this signing but as Casey Stengel said when the Mets made Hobie Landrith the number one selection in the 1962 expansion draft “You need a catcher otherwise you have a lot of passed balls”.
Omar needs to have his head examined. $5 mil per year for a guy who should be nothing more than a back up catcher. Riddiculous. Torreabla should be kissing Omar’s feet.
The Stankees get Arod to come crawling back to them in an unconditional surrender. The Mets sign a 2nd rate catcher for first rate money. Tale of two NY teams. Enough said.
Dan,
I’m pretty sure I saw somewhere that LoDuca wanted a multi-year deal (maybe even 3?)—- and re-signing LoDuca for 3 years would be an actively psychotic move for the Mets.
There simply weren’t any decent FA catchers.
I think this move is fine overall, doesn’t cost us any prospects or draft picks and we get 6 years younger at catcher. I’ll bet Castro gets much more playing time.
I think the bigger mistake would have been 4-5 years for Posada in the NL and/or trading away a decent prospect (that we could use in another deal for a real need) for R. Hernandez.
JT
JCT: I bet the Mets never even spoke with LoDuca to find out what he was looking for. They had no interest in resigning him, it’s pretty obvious. All I know is that Torreabla better become the second coming of Jerry Grote behind the plate or this will really be a waste of $$$
On LoDuca: If you were a mediocre employee and were openly
critical of your boss and your employment contract was finished. I don’t think you would have a job anymore.
Does anyone need more reason why LoDuca is gone.
btw: yes Torrealba is overpaid, but he is A NL catcher so
he does know the league something R.Hernandez does not.
Torrealba was brought in strictly for defensive purposes…He has thrown out 32% of baserunners over his career, including marks approaching 40% in 05 and 06…Last year was down for him as he had been experiencing some shoulder issues and his arm slot was way off.
Its not a major move, but thats ok. Omar isn’t done just yet.
I believe Paulie wanted 3 years 15 million.
I believe this move was based on chemistry in the club house. Yes, Wright loved Paul but after that comment he made about him not the only one speaking english, it ticked off alot of people.
Yorvit reminds me of Paulie meaning leadership and calling a good game. Defense goes to Yorvit based on his career stats not just last year stats. Hitting goes to Paulie but hitting wasn’t are problem down the stretch our pitching was.
I’m sorry, Paulie wanted 3 years 20-23 million.
Paul also made himself a major distraction with his outbursts and ejections. Yes, it’s nice for a player to be intense, but he was really pushing it at times.
I agree with Scott that he wrote his own ticket out of town and to top it off wanted a 3-year deal. Given that his skills and endurance were beginning to decline this was not a hard decision for the Mets.
Not to mention the fact that they have the money. It’s the trade chips they need to watch.
JT
Great, now we have two backup catchers.
“The Mets could simply not go into next season with, LoDuca an old catcher who was injured last year and most likely will have an injury this year. ”
I agree with you Scott from Pelham on this one but how come this solid logic didn’t apply to LEFT field where we kept a more injury prone guy?
Scoop:Your assessment is accurate but since LoDuca was way on the downslide and out of control he had to go and since thanks to Omar doing lousy roster management we have absolutely ZERO catching prospects his choice was this guy or trade one or two of the very few prospects we have for a catcher. If he’s really going after an ace then I’m ok with this. If he’s going to say the price was too high again then this move just continues our return to the late 90’s form.
Sloppy you are 100% right they should have used the same logic with Alou, but the Mets do stupid things.
I guess the only logic behind Alou is when he is healthy he is
one of the best hitters in baseball, and the fact that he is better than anybody they could replace him with.
The Truth is they should have given Milledge the LF job full time in 2007.
This has always been my logic of why Glavine should not be a Met in 2008. Let’s use Humber, Pelfry or even Silva they are all younger and have more long term upside.
Its scary when there is so much agreement. the only change I’d make to your post I would delete Silva and definitley give the kids a chance to fight it out and try to develop. I’d get Silva only if the kids were traded for an ace.
Now that Bonds is indicted and Greg Anderson has tired of jail and snitched on him maybe Omar can have Bonds become Mota’s roomy. Oh this is when I miss work. When the stooly folds and the target is left standing naked before the DOJ!!!!!!!!
The Wilpons don’t like guys w/big mouths and LoDuca has got one. He wore out his welcome.
Silva-here is a case where a move could have ramifications down the road.
Let’s say we get him and it costs 5/55-5/60 (the reported figures). He comes in and does a little better than his past, say 15-12 4.25 ERA. But it is a little illusional b/c his WHIP is 1.5 and his BAA is .275, his W/SO is 1.3. So he could have gone 12-15 just as well.
At the same time Pedro is relatively healthy and goes 13-8 3.5ERA. Perez has a very good yr and goes 16-7 3.1ERA 200inn 200SO, WHIP/BAA are great.
Pedro and OP are free agents. Pedro wants to pitch for 3 more yrs. He’ll command 14MM/yr but it is only 3 yrs. And besides, he is old (and he use to be great!!). We (Wilpons) like old guys. Let’s keep him!!!
Perez’s agent is Boras. Boras takes him free agent. He commands 16MM/6 yrs (at least). Then, the Muts cry foul…boo hoo …we don’t have the money…sniff…sniff. And besides, we’ve got that powerhouse…SILVA!!!
Oh well, there goes your young SO lefty who has finally figured it out.
I feel the Mets will still be looking to make a trade but needed the assurance of two catchers, though I would be more comfortable with Castro and DiFelice than Torrealba and Castro. As it stands now, I think it will be an open competition for the starter, despite the money disparity.
There is no way that Torreabla does not get every chance to play the majority of games. It would be very unusual for the Mets to have a 5MM catcher (or any other player) sit on the bench. The Wilpons don’t like to pay someone that kind of money to watch a game. Torreabla will play unless he is awful-which based upon his past is not an unlikely possibility.
7MM for two backup catchers. I hope this helps to lessen the chance they sign Castillo and his bad knees to a 4 yr deal (reportedly what he wants).
The scuttlebutt among agents is that the Mets are serious about signing David Eckstein to play second base.
In 117 games for St. Louis this past season, Eckstein hit .309, with a .356 OBP, while putting the ball in play roughly 85 percent of his plate appearances.
I think this is being done b/c he supposedly will only command a 3 yr deal while Castillo will command a 4 yr deal. I like it b/c he will do anything to win a game. Maybe he can keep Reyes head in the game too. He’ll be a good #2 hitter.
What was plan “C?” Jerry Grote? Next, they’ll be paying .150 hitters five million per.
Jerry Grote 2007 or 1967? I’d take Grote over Castro or Torrabla any day if we could use the time machine and get him from 67.
Just hope this is being done so that the few players we have to trade can be traded for a good pitcher or two instead of a C or 2b.