Yorvit. Yorvit all to hell!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, Humber is probably going to be in New Orleans to start the year. Gomez is more likely. I don't see how being a pretty good prospect means he's absolutely ready to sink or swim.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Let's go Montero and Hudson in the same deal; I'll part with some prospects for that.

[Valadius]

I'll trade Humber and Gomez for Montero and Hudson.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Let's go Montero and Hudson in the same deal; I'll part with some prospects for that.

Find a D-Backs message board and try and sell that deal.

[Valadius]

From the AP:

]For Mets, lots of options, no decisions November 14, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- While pursuing Yorvit Torrealba and trying to re-sign Ramon Castro, the New York Mets still may want to keep Paul Lo Duca as their No. 1 catcher. It's just not clear how much they want him. "We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C," general manager Omar Minaya said. "He is definitely in our radar. Where he is, I'd rather not comment on that." Now that free agents can sign with any team, Minaya is being guarded in his comments. He acknowledged meeting Monday with Jorge Posada before the catcher agreed to stay with the Yankees. "I thought that was going to be a long shot," Minaya said. "It was a good chance he was going back all along." Minaya also said the team has not spoken with free agent pitcher Tom Glavine. The Braves want the two-time Cy Young Award winner to return to Atlanta, where he first gained fame. "He seems to want to play," Minaya said. "At some point in time I'm pretty sure we're going to hear from him as far as what his plans are." If Glavine leaves New York, the Mets need to find another starting pitcher. While the free-agent market is thin, New York would pursue Johan Santana if the Minnesota Twins can't re-sign him and make him available. "We could be players in some of the pitching that might be traded this winter," Minaya said. New York also is interested in re-signing second baseman Luis Castillo. "Castillo is a guy that we said all we're talking to but I don't want to kind of say where," Minaya said. "I just don't want other clubs to kind of know who we're targeting or as far as the level of interest because that would put me at a disadvantage."

[Gwreck]

G-Fafif wrote: Less than five months ago they were campaigning to excess to get him on the All-Star team. Now they can't be bothered to look at him, going so far as to replace him with somebody who doesn't bring much more besides relative youth to the position.

While your point about them really not wanting him around may have merit, the fact that they were campaigning for him for the all-star team is less of a reflection on LoDuca personally, or his value to the team as a player than it is on the marketability of all-stars and the prestige of having several players from your team as starters.

[G-Fafif]

Gwreck wrote: ="G-Fafif"]Less than five months ago they were campaigning to excess to get him on the All-Star team. Now they can't be bothered to look at him, going so far as to replace him with somebody who doesn't bring much more besides relative youth to the position. While your point about them really not wanting him around may have merit, the fact that they were campaigning for him for the all-star team is less of a reflection on LoDuca personally, or his value to the team as a player than it is on the marketability of all-stars and the prestige of having several players from your team as starters.

Vote Lo Duca or Die, as it was known in certain circles, was over the top even for hometown shilling. The Mets, like every team, have been known to cajole votes for its players, but they really went out of their way for Lo Duca, which struck me as pretty small-town considering Beltran, Reyes and Wright were already going and Lo Duca had gone the year before (and wasn't having that fantastic a year this time around).

If he's gone, it's been a slightly bizarre two-year marriage. But we can save that for the Memories of Paul Lo Duca thread when the need arises.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, I found the whole Vote for LoDuca thing creepy and the kind of thing I wish the Mets were above.

That said I don't believe they hate him now (well, Willie maybe for the whole You-can-tell-Willie-I-will-be-catching-Glavine's-300th*-no-matter-how-injured-I-happen-to-be thing) but I guarantee if he had a season more like 06 they'd happily overlook any and all slights.

*Speaking of uncomfortably over the top celebrations.

[Guest Edgy DC]

My feelings about LoDuca are... complex.

[Elster88]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Yeah, I found the whole Vote for LoDuca thing creepy and the kind of thing I wish the Mets were above. That said I don't believe they hate him now (well, Willie maybe for the whole You-can-tell-Willie-I-will-be-catching-Glavine's-300th*-no-matter-how-injured-I-happen-to-be thing) but I guarantee if he had a season more like 06 they'd happily overlook any and all slights. *Speaking of uncomfortably over the top celebrations.

It was MLB being creepy though. It was going on at the parks and web sites for all the teams. Marketing and such I guess.

[Elster88]

Edgy DC wrote: My feelings about LoDuca are... complex.

LoDuca can do that. He can inspire contrasting feelings in the same thread starter. Regarding the same topic even.

http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2828&highlight=


http://www.getalifealready.com/cpf/archives/3400/f1_t3461.shtml

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes, I fell in and out of like with Paul frequently.

Isn't it weird though after the opening-day goof, and whatever play on May 24 that made me lose my shit, that he'd go on to make that 2 guys out at home play during the postseason?

That after all my worrying about infrequent but important plays at the plate, we actually had a rare and important play at the plate in an important game? And that LoDuca made that one?

Intreresting links!

[Valadius]

]Mets sign Castro, Torrealba decision Thursday Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 7:26 am EST The New York Mets are close to finalizing their catching situation the New York Daily News reported. The Mets locked up No.2 catcher Ramon Castro Wednesday. The agent for Yorvit Torrealba of the Colorado Rockies said his client will decide whether to accept a New York offer today. The Castro deal is for $4 million the Daily News said. He must pass a physical before the contract becomes official. The agent for Torrelba, Mevlin Roman, may have provided the status of the negotiations when he told the Daily News: "All I can say is Omar (Minaya) and the Mets have done a tremendous job." The deal is rumored to be for at least three years guaranteed at $5 million per season. One executive from a rival suitor speculated the Mets' offer could cover 2011 and possibly have some provision for 2012. Source: New York Daily News

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We should stop posting from these rip-off sites, or at least paste the source materials.

These fucks are so lazy they make it seem like the Daily News mispelled the names of both Torrealba and his agent. Not to mention the headline is inaccurate.

="Valadius"] ]Mets sign Castro, Torrealba decision Thursday Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 7:26 am EST The New York Mets are close to finalizing their catching situation the New York Daily News reported. The Mets locked up No.2 catcher Ramon Castro Wednesday. The agent for Yorvit Torrealba of the Colorado Rockies said his client will decide whether to accept a New York offer today. The Castro deal is for $4 million the Daily News said. He must pass a physical before the contract becomes official. The agent for Torrelba, Mevlin Roman, may have provided the status of the negotiations when he told the Daily News: "All I can say is Omar (Minaya) and the Mets have done a tremendous job." The deal is rumored to be for at least three years guaranteed at $5 million per season. One executive from a rival suitor speculated the Mets' offer could cover 2011 and possibly have some provision for 2012. Source: New York Daily News

[nymr83]

]One executive from a rival suitor speculated the Mets' offer could cover 2011 and possibly have some provision for 2012.

WHAT????

fire minaya if thats true.

[Guest Edgy DC]

You want to fire your GM over an option year?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't object to four years plus an option. (Although three would be better.) As long as Yorvit is healthy and reasonably productive he should still be tradeable in 2010 or 2011 if the Mets have a better catcher handy.

And if it turns out that he's the best guy they can get, either because of his performance or because of a lack of other options, at least the Mets would have him locked up for as much as much as five years.

[nymr83]

he is just not good, i dont know why he'd get 4 years or even 3. is there another team offering him 5 million a year?

[metirish]

From what I have read the Rockies were going two years at $7 million combined, apparently his agent will take the Mets offer back to them as a courtesy , I rather he not get four years too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]he is just not good, i dont know why he'd get 4 years or even 3. is there another team offering him 5 million a year?

We don't even know with any particular certainlty that the Mets are. You get exercised over some strange stuff.

[HahnSolo]

Is there anyone, anywhere, who thinks the Torrealba signing is a good idea? If so, I haven't found him (well, except Omar).

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, for one thing, it hasn't happened yet.

[Benjamin Grimm]

HahnSolo wrote: Is there anyone, anywhere, who thinks the Torrealba signing is a good idea? If so, I haven't found him (well, except Omar).

Well, I'm not giddy over it, but it may turn out alright.

I don't really know whether or not he'll be better than Lo Duca.

And I don't know of any better options, unless that kid from Arizona is available.

[Valadius]

Looks like it will be a two-year deal:

]Mets reportedly close to signing C Torrealba November 15, 2007 NEW YORK (TICKER) -- The New York Mets reportedly are close to a deal with free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba, a move which would fill the team's hole behind the plate. Several media outlets reported early Thursday morning that the Mets are on the verge of inking Torrealba to a two-year contract worth $10 million. The Mets have not confirmed the deal, but Melvin Roman, Torrealba's agent, indicated to the New York Daily News that his client is close to agreeing to a deal. "All I can say is Omar (general manager Omar Minaya) and the Mets have done a tremendous job," Roman told the Daily News. A seven-year veteran, Torrealba batted .255 last season with career highs of eight homers and 47 RBI in 113 games with the Colorado Rockies. The 29-year-old Torrealba came up with several clutch hits this past postseason for the National League champion Rockies, batting .256 with a homer and nine RBI in 11 games. A native of Venezuela, Torrealba likely would be the starting catcher for the Mets in 2008, filling a void left by free agent Paul Lo Duca. New York's starting backstop for the past two seasons, Lo Duca often clashed with the local media and made negative headlines multiple times for off-field incidents, including a reportedly messy divorce lawsuit with his wife in August 2006. A Brooklyn native, the 35-year-old Lo Duca appeared in 119 games this past season while platooning with Ramon Castro, who also filed for free agency this month. But Castro apparently is ready to return to the Mets, as the Daily News also reported Thursday that the nine-year veteran agreed to a two-year deal worth $4 million. According to the newspaper, the Mets will not formally announce the deal until the 31-year-old Castro passes a physical.

[nymr83]

]"All I can say is Omar (general manager Omar Minaya) and the Mets have done a tremendous job," Roman told the Daily News.

Roman added that "they really gave my client more than he thought he'd get, more than any other team offered, it'll be a real privilege to take their money and hit .240 with 2 or 3 homers."

(it doesnt take me long to find a new player to dislike, does it?)

[Valadius]

Now I'm confused. ESPN is reporting it's a 3-year deal:

]Free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba will agree to a three-year contract with the New York Mets on Thursday, according to Torrealba's agent, Melvin Roman. Roman told 1050 ESPN New York that he expects to formalize the agreement with the Mets this afternoon. Roman declined to reveal how much the contract would be worth. GM Omar Minaya did not immediately return a message seeking comment. If Torrealba passes a physical, an announcement is expected in the next day or two. Newsday reported on its website that the contract will be worth $14.4 million over three years. Torrealba, 29, is expected to be the starter. Ramon Castro will remain the backup but will receive more playing time than he did when Paul Lo Duca was the Mets' starting catcher. Lo Duca is also a free agent. Last season, Torrealba hit .255 with eight homers and 47 RBIs for the NL champion Colorado Rockies. As a hitter, he showed a large disparity on the road as compared to Coors Field. Torrealba hit .296 with six homers and 34 RBIs in Denver, while he batted just .212 with two homers and 13 RBIs on the road. The Mets, though, are signing Torrealba mainly for his defense. Rockies pitchers gave Torrealba a lot of credit for how he called a game, though he did not have a high success rate when trying to throw runners out. Torrealba only caught 13-of-74 base-stealers, while the man he replaces, Lo Duca, nailed 17-of-89. Torrealba played in 113 games lasts season, by far his most as a major-leaguer. In his previous seven seasons, Torrealba had only topped 60 games three times, peaking a 66 in 2003 with the San Francisco Giants. The Rockies and Florida Marlins were believed to be the other two teams interested in Torrealba. The Mets' first choice to replace Lo Duca was Jorge Posada, but the New York Yankees never gave the Mets a chance to offer Posada any money. Just before open free agency began this week, the Yankees extended Posada a four-year, $52.4 million offer that he accepted.

Whatever the case, it's pretty much a done deal. Say hello to our new starting catcher:



We've got a big problem, though. His number is #8, and I'm thinking we might retire that sometime soon. Although, having a catcher wearing #8 can only be a good thing, right?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Give him number 8. I don't think it ought to be retired.

[Valadius]

His full name is Yorvit Adolfo Torrealba. The story on his name is this - his parents couldn't decide between the names Yorman and Victor, so they mashed them together to make Yorvit.

[metsmarathon]

yorvit torrealba, 3.2 wins above replacement

paul lo duca, 2.6 wins above replacement

granted...

yorvit torrealba, 6 win shares

paul lo duca, 8 win shares

so... who knows.

[nymr83]

does one take ballpark into effect while the other doesnt? torrealba played in the best hitter's park in the league while shea is a pitcher's park