Yorvit All to Hell...But Not to the Mets

[G-Fafif]

Newsday reports Saturday that Torrealba is taking a hike, one that will not lead him to Shea Stadium or Citi Field.

]The Mets' negotiations with Yorvit Torrealba collapsed on Saturday and the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea for next season after all. The two sides already had agreed on a three-year contract worth $14.4-million and it appeared that the only remaining holdup to an official announcement was a physical. But a person familiar with the situation said Saturday that the Torrealba deal was dead and the team confirmed it. "The Mets did not reach an agreement with Yorvit Torrealba," Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said, "and there are no current negotiations."

[Valadius]

HOLY SHIT.

This was such a done deal that Yahoo Sports added him to the Mets' roster today.

I'm guessing a trade may be imminent.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Valadius wrote: HOLY SHIT. This was such a done deal that Yahoo Sports added him to the Mets' roster today. I'm guessing a trade may be imminent.

I wonder what the heck happened! And can they really go grovel back to Paulie after showing him the door like that?

[G-Fafif]

Castroalba is dead. Long live DiFastro!

[G-Fafif]

Valadius wrote: This was such a done deal that Yahoo Sports added him to the Mets' roster today.

And gave him No. 8.

Gary Carter must have vetoed the deal.

[Mex17]

Michael Barrett is out there, seems like the only plausible choice as I am certain that LoDuca will now have zero interest in signing with them.

[Mex17]

Another thing, I sure as hell do not want them to not be able to trade for an ace starter now because they had to go and waste a chip on a catcher.

[metirish]

LoDuca I think would have interest in signing back, he knows the business of baseball, the guy that broke the story for the Denver Post was just on the FAN and thinks that something with the physical made the Mets back away.

[G-Fafif]

Not necessarily endorsing a Re Duca, but if certain other players who were never ever going back to their teams can opt in after opting out, then surely Paul could too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

metirish wrote: LoDuca I think would have interest in signing back, he knows the business of baseball, the guy that broke the story for the Denver Post was just on the FAN and thinks that something with the physical made the Mets back away.

Don't believe it for a minute. The only possibility is that Bernazard spoke street Spanish.

[Frayed Knot]

* The only report I heard had Torrealba back in Venezuela which indicates that whatever broke up this deal wasn't a physical.

* As unexciting as this potential deal was, I'm not rejoicing at its demise.
YT's offense was only slightly below that of LoDuca, was nearly 7 years younger, cheaper (peeps seem to forget PLD cost ~$6.5mil), and was to arrive at the cost of nothing but money. I would have prefered a 2 year deal to 3, but other than that it was hardly a horrible move.

* Barrett (and his sub-.300 OBA) and Jason (no power) Kendall are Type 'A' FAs and would cost a 1st round draft pick. Other targets will cost trade bait which may or may not be good deals in the long run.

* So while Yorvit was hardly a sexy name (in more ways than one) it's not like reliable starting catchers are falling out of trees and the return of LoDuca (assuming bridges haven't been burned) is as mediocre as any of the other obvious moves IMO.

[Valadius]

I hope and pray that we don't get Jason Kendall. He is by FAR the most overrated catcher I have ever seen in my life, especially offensively.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We gotta make that Hudson-Montero trade... NOW!!!!

Only, with word of Torrealba's jet, it's now Maine and Gomnez, not Maine and Anderson Hernandez.

[Guest martin]

maybe the mets realized they are gonna get a better year from starting castro and are now searching for his backup.

[Fman99]

martin wrote: maybe the mets realized they are gonna get a better year from starting castro and are now searching for his backup.

I would love to see him get a shot at 400 ABs in a Mets uniform.

[smg58]

This is going to require an explanation. I just hope it turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

[Guest Edgy DC]

="Frayed Knot"]Barrett (and his sub-.300 OBA) and Jason (no power) Kendall are Type 'A' FAs and would cost a 1st round draft pick. Other targets will cost trade bait which may or may not be good deals in the long run.

If they're offered arbitration, right?

[nymr83]

i'm glad torrealba is not a met.

[smg58]

="Edgy DC"] ="Frayed Knot"]Barrett (and his sub-.300 OBA) and Jason (no power) Kendall are Type 'A' FAs and would cost a 1st round draft pick. Other targets will cost trade bait which may or may not be good deals in the long run. If they're offered arbitration, right?

Right. That won't happen unless their previous employers wouldn't mind being stuck with them. The Cubs must know that Kendall is absolutely not worth a first-round pick, nor is he worth bringing back at anything close to his previous salary. Not that it makes him in any way desirable to us...

[Valadius]

]Shoulder injuries may have killed Torrealba-Mets deal Sunday, Nov 18, 2007 9:42 am EST Though neither side said so publicly, the Denver Post reported the New York Mets may have changed their mind on signing Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba because of his history of shoulder problems. Torrealba missed time in 2006 with two separate shoulder injuries. According to The Post, there are no ongoing negotiations between the two parties. The Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Rockies and Mets pursued Torrealba last week. The field narrowed to the Rockies and Mets, with both sides engaging in serious discussions. When the Mets included a guaranteed third year, Torrealba was swayed. The Rockies' best proposal was a two-year, $7 million deal with a vesting option for a third year based on performance incentives.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nymr83 wrote: i'm glad torrealba is not a met.

I suspect you'll be less pleased with whoever ends up as the next Mets catcher.

[Frayed Knot]

="Edgy DC"] ="Frayed Knot"]Barrett (and his sub-.300 OBA) and Jason (no power) Kendall are Type 'A' FAs and would cost a 1st round draft pick. Other targets will cost trade bait which may or may not be good deals in the long run. If they're offered arbitration, right?

Well sure (and it turns out only Barrett is Type A) but the point being that before we celebrate the demise of this deal we should realize the cost of Yorvit's "replacement" is likely to be as high or higher than what some were balking at here - either in picks, in money, in players, or in some combination of all three. Just as LoDuca's acquisition, though not a FA deal, involved more money (although for just 2 years) plus two prospects, one of which a promising one.
Most of the other suggestions are older than Torreabla too.

[metirish]

It's going to be very interesting to see why Minaya does here, go back to LoDuca or try and trade for a guy, Laird or Paulino(is he under contract), or does he say he is comfortable with Castro as the number # 1 guy and get a back up.

I think he would be cautious trading for a guy in this market.

[bmfc1]

Maybe the Mets were leaked the word that Torrealba is on the Mitchell List. That's just a maybe, just speculation, don't sue me Torrealba legal team.

[Valadius]

bmfc1 wrote: Maybe the Mets were leaked the word that Torrealba is on the Mitchell List. That's just a maybe, just speculation, don't sue me Torrealba legal team.

That would make perfect sense. You may have hit the nail on the head.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Nonsense. For one, everyone's on steroids, and two, the Mets have no problem employing those who've been caught.