What went wrong with Torrealba?
-
- November
- 18
They agreed on the money. Each wanted the other. So what went wrong?
Torrealba had shoulder problems, but the Mets had to know that. Maybe it was as simple as failing a physical.
He has bulked up. The Mitchell report is has unnamed players on it.
It has to be something, and it can’t be good.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, November 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am by John Delcos.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Advertisement
John,
Could it be a better deal came along at the last minute and the shoulder is the excuse…. maybe a package for a pitcher and catcher. Several teams are shopping both pitchers and catchers…..
http://metsfever.blogspot.com/2007/11/something-better-came-along.html
Ed’s thought about a deal coming along is intriguing, and, I hope that he is correct. I do recall that during the post season the announcers were saying that for the second half of 2007 that Torrealba threw out only one in the last twenty or thirty some odd runners. The fact that his agent is not openly claiming foul leads me to believe that the problem with Torrealba’s health and/or shoulder was enough to be a deal killer, especially with the money that was being offerred.
John- What went wrong? Please find out and let us know.
ed: you just can’t break a deal because something better came along, the players association or his agent would be going ballistic. Maybe the Mets could not get insurance on him because of his shoulder even though he could have passed the physical. Whatever plan c is I still doubt it is LoDuca, unless he will take a 1 year deal with a club option on year 2
As I said they maybe using the shoulder as an excuse, if Omar moves on to second base or a lefty off the bench then my guess would be a trade was discussed and will take time to develop. He usually does things systematically from least to most, getting everything done to focus on the most important spot. Besides I think the contract was only verbal and there was a case where the players union lobbied that a player can back out of a verbal, somebody a few years back got cold feet and the union won…. I was just specualting anyway even if there was a shoulder issue a) they knew about b) Unless it was completely blown out, this is mud on Omar’s face he’s burnt a bridge with Lo Duca and looks desperate to the league for a catcher- not his way of operating.
I agree with Stillsane. If Omar pulled out of the deal for a better one, the agent would have been talking bad about the Mets all over the media. Every single season tickets holder would gotten an e-mail. This leads me to believe that the agent is trying to keep the issue on the down-low. Therefore, it has to be either a medical problem or he could be involved in the Balco incident.
is has ?
I doubt it was the physical because the Mets won’t say it was. It’s very mysterious though.
This is very unique. The reporter is asking us what went wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I kinda like it but we are all just full of opinions.
Whatever the reason I’m glad b/c he can’t hit and he can’t throw and the Mets would be throwing away 15MM.
They ought to be able to find another guy like Castro and just platoon. Maybe Scheinder of Nats who bats lefty could be had for a lesser prospect. Omar could call up his buddy Acta and ask him to do him a favor since he did one for him w/Flores…
LoDuca has seen his better days. And given the Mets did not even ask his agent what he wanted can’t you all figure it out-Mets management did not want him around.
His antics are not seen in the same way some of you see them (as a positive). They are seen as a negative by The Wilpons. Only a guy like David Wright could do what LoDuca did the past couple of yrs w/the screaming and jumping up and down and get away w/it.
For example-Kris Benson w/his wife. If he was great he’d still be here. Since he was mediocre he is gone. And so is Loduca. He was prety good in 06, and mediocre in 07. And at 35 is going to deriorate more. His off field stuff is’nt worth the trouble to the wilpons.
So what catchers are out there for $$ that are about the same as Paulie? Or which catchers can be had in a trade that are significantly better? If not Omar needs to play nice and sign him to a 2 yr deal.
Willie said nice things about his catcher recently so it is not all bad.
I don’t see Torreabla enough to know if he has bulked up, I usually pay attention to Jessica Alba (absolutely stunning her first year in “Dark Angel”, lost her babyfat and went too skinny for my tastes after that). Certainly it is possible he will be named on the Mitchell report (what every baseball fan is waiting for. I want to know if any Red Sox players will be named on it. That HGH report on Paul Byrd did leak out in the ALCS). But I think it is Victor Zambrano. The Mets said when the trade was made they knew he had some shoulder problems but went ahead and made the trade anyways. It blew up big time. Perhaps now they want to avoid any slight hint of physical damage and avoid the public outcry (something the Wilpons care about very much).
Do people who post here actually read the papers?
For the last time it has been reported that LoDuca wanted 4 yrs. And given that the Torreabla deal fell through he won’t take 2 yrs.
Secondly, the Wilpons don’t like his big mouth (also reported in the papers).
Zambrano’s problem was his elbow not his shoulder. He had TJ, and the Mets ignored the reports of elbow pain. And then a yr later he left that game running to the dugout and had TJ again.
It is being reported that Castillo will sign a 4/25MM deal. Hope he had a good surgeon for those knees and hip.
I guess the Mets won’t be in the hunt for Orlando Hudson when he becomes a FA for the 09 season.
and before anyone starts mentioning Eckstein, he was reported to want a 4/36MM deal. So obviously, Freddy Coupon wanted to save $.
and before anyone starts mentioning Eckstein, he was reported to want a 4/36MM deal. So obviously, Freddy Coupon wanted to save $.
Or maybe Omar just wanted the more productive player.
You know between the two, the guy that has played the most games over the past two years. The guy who scores more runs, steals more bases, sees more pitches per plate appearence, and gets on base at a better rate.
Castillo last year as a stop gap, perfect idea.
Try this again..
Castillo last year as a rental, fine idea.
Bringing hm back is a whole different story. he is borderline too old already (since unlike A Rod, he is an OLD 32!) Plus the chronic bad knees and hips.
He for sure is on the downhill slide.
So, coming back for 1 year to hold the fort? OK. 2 years? Well, starts to clog up the position, but if you gotta do it to get him, OK. Just be prepared to jump on someone next off season that is the future of the position, and move Castillo somehow (bench if needed, or try to trade. Or cut!)
4 years for this guy? Insane, and Omar deserves to get roasted for it.
Better safe than sorry
Bronx guy, I never said Eckstein was better. I said he would cost more.
All the guys raving about bringing back the “youthful forty something” Alou, complain about bringing back the “old” 32 year old Castillo. Explain please!
Since we don’t have a single prosepect who plays the infield what the heck is the difference who Omar signed and for how long? Its not like the guy is standing in someone’s way is he?
Alou was 1 year at a position where we had no better option for 2008, and out best prospects need some more seasoning (or to play RF!)
He also is playing as well as ever, when he can stay on the filed! And, for what he delivers, the price was a bargain.
Castillo though is declining (from not a very high level), plays a much tougher position, and just got locked up for 4 years.
Now, Castillo for 1 year plus an option? That’s OK, it buys you time to get a real solution.
4 years? A choke collar.
I am happy that 2nd base is solved. The years are a problem for another day. Gotay cannot be happy.
Hopefully they can get Paulie for 2 or 3 years and overpay in the process so they don’t have to do a 4.
All the while trying to line up the starter we need…
I think Omar finally woke and said to himself: “What the hell am I doing giving a $5 million dollar a year contract to a career backup catcher for??? :-)