Posada

[HahnSolo]

I've heard on three occasions in the past couple of days from Mike and the Mad Dog, Buster Olney, and Boomer Esiason (I know, I should consider the sources) the following theory:

- If Jorge Posada doesn't get what he wants from the Yankees, the Mets will be there to offer him big money.

Putting aside the fact that I wouldn't consider it prudent to put big money in a catcher on the north side of age 35, does anyone believe this to be true?

I have this bad feeling I'm going to see a press conference with Omar and Willie talking about what a winner and gamer he is, while the Wilpons sport an annoying "we stole a vital cog from the Yankees" grin.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Given the alternatives, signing him to a one- or two-year contract might not be such a bad idea.

Whether the money is high or not is of little concern to me. I'd be more concerned if the number of years was too high.

[metirish]

I'd go three years but I fear that if the Mets really wanted him they would go four or five.

[soupcan]

At this point wouldn't re-signing LoDuca be the smart thing?

[metirish]

soupcan wrote: At this point wouldn't re-signing LoDuca be the smart thing?

Yes I would like that better, and he'd sign for a year I think.

[Vic Sage]

]At this point wouldn't re-signing LoDuca be the smart thing?

"smart" in what way?

In the "lets lock in the guy with the 81 OPS+ so we don't get stuck long-term with a guy that had an ops+ DOUBLE that (161, lifetime 126)" kind of way?

[soupcan]

Smart in that I'd rather give LoDuca a year and then revisit the catcher position in the next off-season rather than giving an aging catcher a multi-year major dollar deal.

Also if you don't re-sign LoDuca and you don't get Posada, what's your Plan C?

Brad Ausmus?

[Vic Sage]

before you decide on a plan C, i think you need to formulate a plan A. And i think Posada is a better Plan A than LoDuca.

[soupcan]

Depending on the years and the money?

[Vic Sage]

Posada is a better player than LoDuca, and will do more to help the Mets win next year, regardless of price or length of contract.

Let the money boys worry about the $$. Lets just focus on making the team better.

And with a new stadium, a regional sports network and record attendence, i'm not sympathetic to the Mets budgetary concerns.

[Farmer Ted]

Whether Posada leaves the Bronx depends on the MFY's faith in Jose Molina to be the full-time guy. They'll keep him.

[soupcan]

Vic Sage wrote: Posada is a better player than LoDuca, and will do more to help the Mets win next year, regardless of price or length of contract. Let the money boys worry about the $$. Lets just focus on making the team better. And with a new stadium, a regional sports network and record attendence, i'm not sympathetic to the Mets budgetary concerns.

So you won't be bitching and moaning about the fly-ball hitting, injury prone catcher that clogs up the Mets lineup and has to play because of his salary in 2010 and beyond?

[Vic Sage]

But that's just the point... its only a bad deal if you think you have to play a washed-up player just because of the contract. The Yanks just eat those contracts and get another guy. We should be able to do that, too, at least once in a while, with the windfall in revenues this team is facing.

Look, I'm not talking about a 7-year deal, or even a 5 year deal. but 3years/$40m for Posada is (in my view) "smarter" than 1 year/$5m for LoDuca, in terms of getting over the hump and deep into the post-season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

For the record, Posada turned 36 in August.

A three-year contract would take him just past his 39th birthday.

[Vic Sage]

i'm less concerned with the Mets taking him past his 39th birthday than with him taking the Mets passed the Phils by his 37th birthday.

[Guest vtmet]

Sign him with the provision that they can move him to 1st base anytime that they want (to avoid the Piazza-dilemna where they were afraid to step on his toes for the longest time)...That way, if he is semi competent there, against RHP: it's Delgado at 1st with Posada behind the plate; and with a LHP throwing, it's Posada at 1st with Castro behind the plate...and if he works out at 1B with some sort of long term catching solution down the pike, then he moves to 1B full time (some time after Delgado's departure)...

[Valadius]

I'm just waiting for Francisco Pena to come up through the minors.

[metirish]

Val's taking the piss, right?

[soupcan]

Vic Sage wrote: Look, I'm not talking about a 7-year deal, or even a 5 year deal. but 3years/$40m for Posada is (in my view) "smarter" than 1 year/$5m for LoDuca, in terms of getting over the hump and deep into the post-season.

="vtmet"]Sign him with the provision that they can move him to 1st base anytime that they want (to avoid the Piazza-dilemna where they were afraid to step on his toes for the longest time)...That way, if he is semi competent there, against RHP: it's Delgado at 1st with Posada behind the plate; and with a LHP throwing, it's Posada at 1st with Castro behind the plate...and if he works out at 1B with some sort of long term catching solution down the pike, then he moves to 1B full time (some time after Delgado's departure)...

If Posada were to sign Vic's 3 year/$45 mil deal and agree to go to first whenever he's told then sign him up right now.

There's other teams out there that will pay him more, give him more years and not make him change positions whenever they want.

[Centerfield]

Let's assume that last year was a fluke and that Posada goes back to career norms. That would give us:

BA: .277
OBP: .381
SLG: .479
OPS: .860

HR (average since 2000): 24
RBI (average since 2000): 89

Could you live with that for three years, $45 million? I think so. But only at the catcher position. Those numbers aren't worth that at first base.

Now, if you consider that you are getting him at age 36-39, it is reasonable to assume his production might not even be that high...especially in years 2 and 3. And considering Pudge Rodriguez and his .714 OPS (250 points lower than Posada's) had his option picked up at $14 million, how likely is a deal for 3 years, $45 million?

If he's asking for 4 years, I think you have to pass. Catchers' productivity generally doesn't fade away. You wake up one day and it's gone.

[Guest User 362]

soupcan wrote: At this point wouldn't re-signing LoDuca be the smart thing?

You'd rather have Lo Duca than Posada? Why? Posada hits better, and he's a better defensive catcher.