Catcher 2009

[Benjamin Grimm]

Reports today from various sources that the Red Sox have expressed interest in Brian Schneider. The Washington Post goes so far as to say that the Mets and Red Sox are discussing a deal.

If he is dealt, what are our options? Internally, the Mets have the RC3 and Gustavo Molina. Maybe they get Pudge Rodriguez for a one-year deal? (Nobody calls him I-Rod anymore, do they?)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Mets could also wind up with Veritek, though he hit like Schneid last year and costs more $$.

The thing about Schnied is, I think he;d be a solid reserve catcher, a Ron Hodges type. He won't embarrass you, but you'd like to keep him from coming to plate 400 times if you can.

The DBaggs are reportedly considering trading either Snyder (last year's styarter) or Montero (the heir apparent) in the right deal. Mike Napoli of the Angels has also been mentioned as a potential trade target, and he can hit. Apparently the Tigers backed off a deal tho feeling the price was too steep.

All that said, I'll bet my underoos Pudge Rodriuguez is our C next year.

[soupcan]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3p03uil1]I'll bet my underoos Pudge Rodriuguez is our C next year.[/quote:3p03uil1] Don't make bets that you're not prepared to pay out on.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 09 2008 07:52 AM

The Mets could end up leading the city in Rodriguezes.

Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 07:53 AM

Catchers on the market: Brad Ausmus 1 year/$2M (2008) Paul Bako 1 year/$0.75M (2008) Josh Bard c 1 year/$2.2375M (2008) Michael Barrett 1 year/$3.5M (2008) Gary Bennett 1 year/$0.875M (2008) Henry Blanco 2 years/$5.25M (2007-08) Johnny Estrada c 1 year/$1.25M (2008) Sal Fasano Last year's salary unkonwn. Toby Hall 2 years/$3.65M (2007-08) Paul Lo Duca 1 year/$5M (2008) Adam Melhuse 1 year/$0.75M (2008) Doug Mirabelli 1 year/$0.55M (2008) Chad Moeller 1 year (2008) Guillermo Rodriguez (2008 salary unknown) Ivan Rodriguez 4 years/$40M (2004-07) Javier Valentin 2 years/$2.675M (2007-08) Jason Varitek 4 years/$40M (2005-08) Vance Wilson 2 years/$1.9M (2007-08) Gregg Zaun 2 years/$7.25M (2007-08) All palyers from the Mets era named "Valentin" or "Valentine" have eventually worn the Mets uniform, with the exception of Javier Valentin and Fred Lee "Squeaky" Valentine (1959-1968). I expect Javy will play for the Mets before he retires and Squeaks will coach.

metirish Dec 09 2008 08:18 AM

What positives would Rodriguez bring to the Mets , if we are going to trade Schneider I would ideally like to see a younger catcher behind the dish. Still looking at that list there does not seem to be much out there.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 08:22 AM

Double figures in HRs for 15 straight years. Definitely more pOp than Schneid, although I agree, he'd probably be a strong bench-type were he willing. I don't believe our system has any real catchers, at least, none ready yet.

metirish Dec 09 2008 08:24 AM

Should I not judge Rodriguez on his time with the MFY's? If we get him can we not call him I-Rod?

sharpie Dec 09 2008 08:25 AM

Apparently the Tiggers pitching staff hated throwing to him and he's not the awesome runner-thrower-outer he once was. He also can't take a walk. He can, however, hit better than Schneider and can definitely run faster.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 09 2008 08:36 AM

="metirish":aa4djcti]Should I not judge Rodriguez on his time with the MFY's? If we get him can we not call him I-Rod?[/quote:aa4djcti] I think "Pudge" has eclipsed "I-Rod." Obviously, Pudge wouldn't be a long-term solution, but he could at least hold down the position for a year and give the Mets time to plan for their 2010 catcher. I think Ivan Rodriguez, along with a backup from among Castro, Casanova, Cancel, and Molina, would be adequate for this year. And hopefully Schneider would bring back someone decent, although not necessarily a catcher. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:18 AM The Mets system does have catchers, though none ready to step in as a number one at all. You've got your your Sal Manriquez, who could get a taste this season; your Josh Thole, on-base machine at St. Lucie and in the AFL; your high-average/low power/old school-named Dock Doyle, bouncing around the lower levels; your Canadian mountie Jean Luc Blaquiere your wallabee Patrick Maat, only now just starting to get US at-bats after sticking with Australian ball (but under a Mets contract) for a few years; your Jason Jacobs, who struggled this season after knocking the cover off the ball in Brooklyn in 2007; your Francisco Pe�a, only 19, who may or may not have turned a corner in his second SALlie league season in 2008. A rich crop from which somebody is bound to spring, but I thought it was up to Castro and the Schneid to hold the spot down until then. The model seems to be high obp guys, so that's cool. OlerudOwned Dec 09 2008 09:33 AM I think Fasano was paid with a case of Keystone last year. metsguyinmichigan Dec 09 2008 09:38 AM Pudge Rodriguez is done like dinner and there's no way I'd want him starting in the Mets next season. He can't buy a walk. He didn't get along with the pitchers. The bat just wasn't what it was. When he was traded last year there was some sentimental sadness, but from a performance perspective, it wasn't a loss. Fman99 Dec 09 2008 09:38 AM Bleh. DON'T DO IT OMAR. Varitek hit .220 last year. Pudge hit .219 in New York. They are both 36 and many years past their all-star primes. Just put down the checkbook and walk away. Take a gander on someone younger, please please please. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:39 AM While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List. smg58 Dec 09 2008 09:43 AM I wonder if Manny Delcarmen could be had for Schneider. I'd be curious to know which of the Indians' catchers they'd be willing to deal, and for what. I'm not sure there's a good match there, but the Indians have wealth at that position and there's no harm in asking. Centerfield Dec 09 2008 09:52 AM I agree with Fman. There are like five good catchers in all of baseball. Everyone else sucks. Since we won't be able to get one of the five, Omar should be looking to go cheap and utilize the money where it can be more productive. Should we dump Schneider's contract, I'd have no problem with going into 2009 with a Castro/Cancel duo. Maybe Ramon will be motivated to get his ass into shape. metirish Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM ="Edgy DC":1tw0exzx]While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List.[/quote:1tw0exzx] Pearlman writes for Reader's Digest ? , nothing wrong with that of course just I have not read that in years. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM With catchers, what you're often paying for is not someone who can put up better averages than other, but someone who has shown that they can do it while starting four games in five. So teams look for Schneiders and LoDucas even when the numbers say to dig deeper and spend cheaper. Valadius Dec 09 2008 10:23 AM Didn't Brad Ausmus retire? Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 10:26 AM I think so, unofficially, at least. He's even given Mike Hampton permission to wear his number. But that's just an obstacle. Centerfield Dec 09 2008 02:44 PM What's Todd Pratt up to? Frayed Knot Dec 09 2008 02:45 PM ="Centerfield":m7ensgxg]What's Todd Pratt up to?[/quote:m7ensgxg] My guess? About 275 John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 06:58 PM Reds trade Ryan Freel and a coupla prospects to the O's for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez' career needs new life, and the Reds needed a real ctacher. I'm thinking now we get Snyder and have a Snyder-Schneider platoon. How cool would that be? Edgy DC Dec 19 2008 09:57 AM Matt Treanor signs with Detroit, taking away one chance to continue getting our catching from Florida.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Mets could end up leading the city in Rodriguezes.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Catchers on the market:

Brad Ausmus

1 year/$2M (2008)

Paul Bako

1 year/$0.75M (2008)

Josh Bard c

1 year/$2.2375M (2008)

Michael Barrett

1 year/$3.5M (2008)

Gary Bennett

1 year/$0.875M (2008)

Henry Blanco

2 years/$5.25M (2007-08)

Johnny Estrada c

1 year/$1.25M (2008)

Sal Fasano

Last year's salary unkonwn.

Toby Hall

2 years/$3.65M (2007-08)

Paul Lo Duca

1 year/$5M (2008)

Adam Melhuse

1 year/$0.75M (2008)

Doug Mirabelli

1 year/$0.55M (2008)

Chad Moeller

1 year (2008)

Guillermo Rodriguez

(2008 salary unknown)

Ivan Rodriguez

4 years/$40M (2004-07)

Javier Valentin

2 years/$2.675M (2007-08)

Jason Varitek

4 years/$40M (2005-08)

Vance Wilson

2 years/$1.9M (2007-08)

Gregg Zaun

2 years/$7.25M (2007-08)

All palyers from the Mets era named "Valentin" or "Valentine" have eventually worn the Mets uniform, with the exception of Javier Valentin and Fred Lee "Squeaky" Valentine (1959-1968). I expect Javy will play for the Mets before he retires and Squeaks will coach.

[metirish]

What positives would Rodriguez bring to the Mets , if we are going to trade Schneider I would ideally like to see a younger catcher behind the dish. Still looking at that list there does not seem to be much out there.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Double figures in HRs for 15 straight years. Definitely more pOp than Schneid, although I agree, he'd probably be a strong bench-type were he willing.

I don't believe our system has any real catchers, at least, none ready yet.

[metirish]

Should I not judge Rodriguez on his time with the MFY's?

If we get him can we not call him I-Rod?

[Guest sharpie]

Apparently the Tiggers pitching staff hated throwing to him and he's not the awesome runner-thrower-outer he once was. He also can't take a walk. He can, however, hit better than Schneider and can definitely run faster.

[Benjamin Grimm]

="metirish":aa4djcti]Should I not judge Rodriguez on his time with the MFY's? If we get him can we not call him I-Rod?[/quote:aa4djcti] I think "Pudge" has eclipsed "I-Rod." Obviously, Pudge wouldn't be a long-term solution, but he could at least hold down the position for a year and give the Mets time to plan for their 2010 catcher. I think Ivan Rodriguez, along with a backup from among Castro, Casanova, Cancel, and Molina, would be adequate for this year. And hopefully Schneider would bring back someone decent, although not necessarily a catcher.

Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:18 AM

The Mets system does have catchers, though none ready to step in as a number one at all. You've got your your Sal Manriquez, who could get a taste this season; your Josh Thole, on-base machine at St. Lucie and in the AFL; your high-average/low power/old school-named Dock Doyle, bouncing around the lower levels; your Canadian mountie Jean Luc Blaquiere your wallabee Patrick Maat, only now just starting to get US at-bats after sticking with Australian ball (but under a Mets contract) for a few years; your Jason Jacobs, who struggled this season after knocking the cover off the ball in Brooklyn in 2007; your Francisco Pe�a, only 19, who may or may not have turned a corner in his second SALlie league season in 2008. A rich crop from which somebody is bound to spring, but I thought it was up to Castro and the Schneid to hold the spot down until then. The model seems to be high obp guys, so that's cool.

OlerudOwned Dec 09 2008 09:33 AM

I think Fasano was paid with a case of Keystone last year.

metsguyinmichigan Dec 09 2008 09:38 AM

Pudge Rodriguez is done like dinner and there's no way I'd want him starting in the Mets next season. He can't buy a walk. He didn't get along with the pitchers. The bat just wasn't what it was. When he was traded last year there was some sentimental sadness, but from a performance perspective, it wasn't a loss.

Fman99 Dec 09 2008 09:38 AM

Bleh. DON'T DO IT OMAR. Varitek hit .220 last year. Pudge hit .219 in New York. They are both 36 and many years past their all-star primes. Just put down the checkbook and walk away. Take a gander on someone younger, please please please.

Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:39 AM

While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List.

smg58 Dec 09 2008 09:43 AM

I wonder if Manny Delcarmen could be had for Schneider. I'd be curious to know which of the Indians' catchers they'd be willing to deal, and for what. I'm not sure there's a good match there, but the Indians have wealth at that position and there's no harm in asking.

Centerfield Dec 09 2008 09:52 AM

I agree with Fman. There are like five good catchers in all of baseball. Everyone else sucks. Since we won't be able to get one of the five, Omar should be looking to go cheap and utilize the money where it can be more productive. Should we dump Schneider's contract, I'd have no problem with going into 2009 with a Castro/Cancel duo. Maybe Ramon will be motivated to get his ass into shape.

metirish Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM

="Edgy DC":1tw0exzx]While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List.[/quote:1tw0exzx] Pearlman writes for Reader's Digest ? , nothing wrong with that of course just I have not read that in years. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM With catchers, what you're often paying for is not someone who can put up better averages than other, but someone who has shown that they can do it while starting four games in five. So teams look for Schneiders and LoDucas even when the numbers say to dig deeper and spend cheaper. Valadius Dec 09 2008 10:23 AM Didn't Brad Ausmus retire? Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 10:26 AM I think so, unofficially, at least. He's even given Mike Hampton permission to wear his number. But that's just an obstacle. Centerfield Dec 09 2008 02:44 PM What's Todd Pratt up to? Frayed Knot Dec 09 2008 02:45 PM ="Centerfield":m7ensgxg]What's Todd Pratt up to?[/quote:m7ensgxg] My guess? About 275 John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 06:58 PM Reds trade Ryan Freel and a coupla prospects to the O's for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez' career needs new life, and the Reds needed a real ctacher. I'm thinking now we get Snyder and have a Snyder-Schneider platoon. How cool would that be? Edgy DC Dec 19 2008 09:57 AM Matt Treanor signs with Detroit, taking away one chance to continue getting our catching from Florida.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Mets system does have catchers, though none ready to step in as a number one at all. You've got your

• your Sal Manriquez, who could get a taste this season;


• your Josh Thole, on-base machine at St. Lucie and in the AFL;


• your high-average/low power/old school-named Dock Doyle, bouncing around the lower levels;


• your Canadian mountie Jean Luc Blaquiere


• your wallabee Patrick Maat, only now just starting to get US at-bats after sticking with Australian ball (but under a Mets contract) for a few years;


• your Jason Jacobs, who struggled this season after knocking the cover off the ball in Brooklyn in 2007;


• your Francisco Pe�a, only 19, who may or may not have turned a corner in his second SALlie league season in 2008.

A rich crop from which somebody is bound to spring, but I thought it was up to Castro and the Schneid to hold the spot down until then. The model seems to be high obp guys, so that's cool.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

I think Fasano was paid with a case of Keystone last year.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Pudge Rodriguez is done like dinner and there's no way I'd want him starting in the Mets next season. He can't buy a walk. He didn't get along with the pitchers. The bat just wasn't what it was.

When he was traded last year there was some sentimental sadness, but from a performance perspective, it wasn't a loss.

[Fman99]

Bleh.

DON'T DO IT OMAR.

Varitek hit .220 last year. Pudge hit .219 in New York. They are both 36 and many years past their all-star primes.

Just put down the checkbook and walk away.

Take a gander on someone younger, please please please.

[Guest Edgy DC]

While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List.

[smg58]

I wonder if Manny Delcarmen could be had for Schneider.

I'd be curious to know which of the Indians' catchers they'd be willing to deal, and for what. I'm not sure there's a good match there, but the Indians have wealth at that position and there's no harm in asking.

[Centerfield]

I agree with Fman. There are like five good catchers in all of baseball. Everyone else sucks. Since we won't be able to get one of the five, Omar should be looking to go cheap and utilize the money where it can be more productive.

Should we dump Schneider's contract, I'd have no problem with going into 2009 with a Castro/Cancel duo. Maybe Ramon will be motivated to get his ass into shape.

[metirish]

="Edgy DC":1tw0exzx]While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List.[/quote:1tw0exzx] Pearlman writes for Reader's Digest ? , nothing wrong with that of course just I have not read that in years.

Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM

With catchers, what you're often paying for is not someone who can put up better averages than other, but someone who has shown that they can do it while starting four games in five. So teams look for Schneiders and LoDucas even when the numbers say to dig deeper and spend cheaper.

Valadius Dec 09 2008 10:23 AM

Didn't Brad Ausmus retire?

Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 10:26 AM

I think so, unofficially, at least. He's even given Mike Hampton permission to wear his number. But that's just an obstacle.

Centerfield Dec 09 2008 02:44 PM

What's Todd Pratt up to?

Frayed Knot Dec 09 2008 02:45 PM

="Centerfield":m7ensgxg]What's Todd Pratt up to?[/quote:m7ensgxg] My guess? About 275 John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 06:58 PM Reds trade Ryan Freel and a coupla prospects to the O's for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez' career needs new life, and the Reds needed a real ctacher. I'm thinking now we get Snyder and have a Snyder-Schneider platoon. How cool would that be? Edgy DC Dec 19 2008 09:57 AM Matt Treanor signs with Detroit, taking away one chance to continue getting our catching from Florida.

[Guest Edgy DC]

With catchers, what you're often paying for is not someone who can put up better averages than other, but someone who has shown that they can do it while starting four games in five. So teams look for Schneiders and LoDucas even when the numbers say to dig deeper and spend cheaper.

[Valadius]

Didn't Brad Ausmus retire?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think so, unofficially, at least. He's even given Mike Hampton permission to wear his number.

But that's just an obstacle.

[Centerfield]

What's Todd Pratt up to?

[Frayed Knot]

="Centerfield":m7ensgxg]What's Todd Pratt up to?[/quote:m7ensgxg] My guess? About 275

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 06:58 PM

Reds trade Ryan Freel and a coupla prospects to the O's for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez' career needs new life, and the Reds needed a real ctacher. I'm thinking now we get Snyder and have a Snyder-Schneider platoon. How cool would that be?

Edgy DC Dec 19 2008 09:57 AM

Matt Treanor signs with Detroit, taking away one chance to continue getting our catching from Florida.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Reds trade Ryan Freel and a coupla prospects to the O's for Ramon Hernandez.

Hernandez' career needs new life, and the Reds needed a real ctacher.

I'm thinking now we get Snyder and have a Snyder-Schneider platoon. How cool would that be?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Matt Treanor signs with Detroit, taking away one chance to continue getting our catching from Florida.