Catcher - 2006

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

That's an interesting kind of strategy Omar's got going: He's basically saying, our team is good, but there's only one opening. Take it or lose it.

I do hope the offers aren't the same. Molina is fatter, slower and older than Hernandez.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I feel like the Mets have played this before --- offered two guys a job at once to see who jumps at it first. Maybe when they signed Looper.

[nymr83]

it could work, who knows.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Go go Hernandez!

Apparently, there's a split between Mets executives. Some feel that Hernandez is a better fit because, well, he's a better player and is younger, whereas others feel Molina's a better fit because of his post-season performance and "intangibles."

I read this in one of the rags--forget which one.

[Frayed Knot]

" ... others feel Molina's a better fit because of his post-season performance"

A really dumb reason on which to base a decision.

[nymr83]

="Frayed Knot"]" ... others feel Molina's a better fit because of his post-season performance" A really dumb reason on which to base a decision.

Beltran anyone?

[Zvon]

So we'll end up with either:

Molina,
Hernandez,
DeLuca,
or Hall.

Omars ready to go either route, free agency or trade.

Im happy with the way Omar runs the ship, so far. Very happy.

[metirish]

From Newsday today...

]While negotiating with free-agent catchers Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina, the Mets also have held trade discussions with Tampa Bay about catcher Toby Hall. The Mets have offered a package headed by young second baseman Anderson Hernandez; the Devil Rays want pitcher Aaron Heilman.

[Valadius]

NO.

Toby Hall is nowhere near worth an Aaron Heilman.

[Vic Sage]

Molina,
Hernandez,
DeLuca,
or Hall.

The only name on that list i'd be happy about is Hernandez. The others have more downside and less upside.

[seawolf17]

I'll take (e) none of the above. I don't think any of them are the answer. I don't know who is, but I feel like throwing money and/or prospects at any of those four guys doesn't solve the problem.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Hernandez is the guy I'm rooting for, too.

[metirish]

Whiule I am not in love with either of them I am hoping for Hernandez, Molina is said to be sensitive, the media out west dubbed him Bengie Molasses and he flipped,he didn't talk to them after that...kinda funny really.

[Elster88]

Let Piazza come back. More than enough bats in the lineup.

[nymr83]

Elster88 wrote: Let Piazza come back. More than enough bats in the lineup.

i dont want to offer him arbitration and have to pay him 70% of last year's contract, if he'll take say 3 million plus major incentives (along the lines of 2 mil for 300 plate appearences, another 2 mil for 500 and maybe 1 mil for winning the catcher silver slugger)

[Elster88]

Throw out the 300 PA incentive even, and toss in an MVP incentive of 25 million.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Marty Noble on MLB.com:

]The club still needs to define its catching assignments and now is more inclined to do so by trade than by signing either of the high-profile, high-priced free agent catchers -- Bengie Molina or Ramon Hernandez. The Mets believe neither would be enough of an acquisition to warrant the projected price tag. They have made offers to each, but the offers were designed to determine what the catchers won't accept. In the unlikely event Molina or Hernandez accept the Mets' offer, the club would be pleased. But the more likely and preferred scenario is to trade for a catcher who will share the assignment with Ramon Castro and put the money not spent on a new backstop toward importing a free agent reliever. The Mets have their eye on Toby Hall of the Devil Rays to share the work with Castro, but the Rays are hesitant about dealing unless Heilman is involved.

[seawolf17]

Ooh. Deja vu all over again.

[Elster88]

Heilman for Toby Hall, huh?

Omar: *giggles and hangs up*

[Centerfield]

I just wanted to say that since I am against including Heilman in a trade for Manny, I also think trading Heilman for Toby Hall is not such a good idea.

[Guest sharpie]

I think trading most anybody for Toby Hall is a bad idea.


(on edit): My 3,000th post gives me David Wright but since the pondering of rankings seems to be a glacial process my guess is that I'll see him again at a higher ranking. He is currently 100 players worse than Ty Wigginton.

[smg58]

Hall can field the position, but he would constitute a significant downgrade in offense for that position from last year. The Mets would really have to undervalue Heilman to consider this worth doing.

What about some rookie catchers that are likely to be available? Shoppach has been mentioned a lot, but perhaps Ryan Garko (the Indians), or Dioner Navarro or Russ Martin (the Dodgers), could be had as well. Castro's presence would give the Mets the luxury of having patience with the younger player.

[metirish]

I like that idea 58, no reason Castro can't do the bulk of the catching....

[Guest Matt Murdock, Esq.]

]no reason Castro can't do the bulk of the catching....

oh, i could think of a few reasons. here are some ...

as he approaches age 30, Castro has accumulated over 675 career ABs and produced career averages of:
BA = .222
OB% = .304
slg% = .387

This is a guy who can hit LHPs a little bit, but can't hit RHPs at all. He's strictly a platoon guy, at best. Yes, he had a better season than expected last year, but all that means is a return to the mean this year.

If he's "doing the bulk of the catching" for us, we're giving up a slot in the order. And with Nady in RF and Matsui at 2b, that leaves slots 6 thru 8 at below average production, in front of the 9 slot. And if Floyd gets hurt again (a likelihood), the O could be in signficant trouble.

Of course, Toby Hall is not much better than Castro, so giving up Heilmann for him is absurd.

If they can't or won't sign Ramon Hernandez, they should just get a cheap spare part like Fick from SD, to platoon with Castro.

What about that guy in Minny, Matt LeCroy? they've got Mauer now, so he's expendable. And he can hit.

Actually, one of the top offensive catchers in the NL last year is a FA, so i hear...

[smg58]

I'm not sure I'd necessarily want Castro doing the bulk of the catching, but he seems to be starting to get it as a major league hitter, and he would provide an acceptable degree of insurance in case we brought a young guy in who struggles a bit.

[Guest rpackrat]

It's hard to know what Castro is really like as a hitter., He had nice numbers in 2002 and 2003, albeit in limited playing time, before having an awful 2004. He was just fine for us last year. He mashed lefties and was merely OK vs. righties. I'd like an upgrade, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if we started the season with Castro as the regular catcher batting 7th or 8th.

[Guest abogdan]

Mets are close to acquiring LoDuca:

]The Mets are believed to be close to a deal in which they would send a minor-league prospect to the Marlins for catcher Paul Lo Duca, according to a major-league source. The identity of the Met prospect was not immediately known � but it's hard to envision it being Lastings Milledge, the jewel of their minor-league system.

LoDuca has 2 years and $12.5 million left on his deal.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Lending credibility to the above LoDuca rumor (the report did come from the New York Post after all) is this from the Times:

]Mets Are Said to Be in Talks for Marlins Catcher By BEN SHPIGEL The Mets have extended offers to the top two free-agent catchers, but it is becoming increasingly likely that they will fill their catching void by trading for Paul Lo Duca. They are involved in "very serious" discussions with the Florida Marlins about acquiring Lo Duca, according to a baseball official who was granted anonymity because he did not want to jeopardize the negotiations. The official said he did not know whom the Marlins would receive, but at this point they may not be picky. In cutting payroll, they are searching for young, cheap talent, along the lines of the two midlevel prospects they acquired from Minnesota on Friday in exchange for second baseman Luis Castillo. If the proposed deal is completed, the Mets will have a solid replacement for Mike Piazza without spending the money it would take to sign Bengie Molina or Ramon Hernandez, the two catchers who have received offers from the Mets. Those two are expected to command salaries of about $8 million. The 33-year-old Lo Duca will make $6.25 million in 2006, and his statistics are comparable to those of Molina and Hernandez. Lo Duca, a three-time All-Star, batted .283 with 6 home runs and 57 runs batted in last season, and he is a career .285 hitter. Molina batted .295 with a career-high 15 homers and 69 R.B.I.; Hernandez hit .290 with 12 homers and 58 R.B.I. Lo Duca is known for beginning seasons well, but his career trends indicate that he slows after the All-Star Game break. Like Carlos Delgado, a former teammate whom he could soon rejoin, Lo Duca is regarded more for his offense than for his defense, but he is still a sturdy defender. He moves well behind the plate and has a strong arm, but often an inaccurate one. Over the last two seasons, he has thrown out only 37 of 165 base stealers. Lo Duca was born in Brooklyn, and Mets General Manager Omar Minaya has spoken warmly about players from New York because he says they are well suited to deal with constant scrutiny. The Diamondbacks and the Rockies are also said to be interested in Lo Duca.

[Frayed Knot]

And at the same time, Jon Heyman is writing in today's Newsday that:

"while the Mets have concerns about Benjie Molina & Ramon Hernandez, they don't love Pual Lo Duca either. The D-Backs may be more likely for Lo Duca"
(he also added that the Mets were too concerned about Luis Castillo's hip to take a shot at him)


I'm not particularly thrilled with Lo Duca but he wouldn't be a bad option as a part-time catcher ... merely an overpaid one. It would leave us with a tandem where one is better offensively (Lo Duca) and the other defensively, and depending on how each plays the split could be anywhere from 30/70 to 70/30.

A trade would also save the draft pick - a 2nd pick since we've already lost one via Wagner - which would almost certainly be lost by signing either Molina or Hernandez.

[Centerfield]

Lo Duca is regarded more for his offense than for his defense, but he is still a sturdy defender.

Which LoDuca? I'm assuming they're not talking about the one who hit 6 HR's and had a .712* OPS last year.

Plus he'll be making $6.25 million and cost us players?

You know, we wouldn't lose any draft picks if we re-signed Piazza either.


*As a point of reference, Mientkiewicz OPS was 17 points higher (.729). Piazza, Molina and Hernandez all posted OPS in the .770's.