Catcher 2010

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I thought we'd already started this thread somewhere but I can't find it so FU and listen up:

Let's trade for Chris Iannetta. The Schneid officially filed for free agency and obviously isn't coming back. Iannetta lost his job to Yorvit Torreabla, and Torreabla is a free agent again. If the Rockies re-up him, than Iannetta would have to go. I'd trade Thole for him right now. Let's do it.

[metirish]

Let us keep Thole and give them Santos and someone else .....

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, that's the ticket. They'll bite at Santos.

[ashie62]

Realistically, Ianetta is probably the best catcher the Mets could possibly bag...Excellent defensively, hits for power..low averages, high K's

only 26 years old

He would not come cheap...Thole would likely be a starting point

[metirish]

Santos and Parnell then.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think they should toy around with Torrealba again. Make him really hate them.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I sort of think we should "go big" at catcher since I'm sure we're not going to have a plus guy at 1st base; 2nd base isn;t going to produce a whole lot; and we don't know about left or right.

It'd be very easy to get stuck with another lousy, nonproductive bat behind the dish, but we're not in a position to afford that.

My problem is I've kind of lost my CAHNfidence in the Mets' ability to properly address their needs.

[Frayed Knot]

Not quite sure how easy it would be to "go big" at catcher.
Met fans got a bit spoiled having the likes of Stearns - Carter - Hundley - Piazza occupy that spot for about two decades, but there are usually very few true offensive catchers around and the few that do exist are rarely available.

NL catchers in 2009 = .255 / .325 / .385
NYM catchers '09 = .254 / .305 / .380

Iannetta takes his walks (.120 point career OBA-BA difference) as much as Santos doesn't which would help with the one area where we were truly deficient.

[Guest Edgy DC]

If I'm not confident in the Mets "ability to properly address their needs," then I don't want them going big/being aggressive anywhere. I'd prefer such unable folks show restraint and (hopefully) gradually fall upwards as their farm grows.

If they have to overinvest, outfield is the place to do it, because you can always move outfielders around. If you trade a talented catching prospect for an established big league catcher, you only have one chance and one time for it to work. That's a big aggressive move to trust to folks you don't seem to trust.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Well, I'm saying if they knew what they were doing they'd agree with me.

[RealityChuck]

1. There's no catcher available that would make that big a difference over what they have.
2. Thole is too promising to trade unless the team is getting a bona fide star.
3. The team shouldn't trade Santos because Thole should be in the minors next year. If Santos is gone, either Thole doesn't get the experience he needs or we still need to get another backup catcher.
4. The money for a catcher free agent would be better spent for a real slugger for LF or 1B.

[smg58]

Catcher's a place to look for value. You can overpay for established mediocrity (see Schneider, Brian) if you're not careful.

Iannetta's somebody to ask about, at least. I'd also consider taking a cheap gamble on somebody like Ryan Garko. He's probably going to be non-tendered because he's not really more than a platoon player as a first basemen, but he caught in the past and was moved more because of V-Mart than because of his glove. His bat would have much more value behind the plate, though. The worst case scenario is $1M or so for a decent bat off the bench who could catch once a week and play first against lefties; the upside is a full-time catcher with an .800 OPS.

[ashie62]

Not quite sure how easy it would be to "go big" at catcher.
Met fans got a bit spoiled having the likes of Stearns - Carter - Hundley - Piazza occupy that spot for about two decades, but there are usually very few true offensive catchers around and the few that do exist are rarely available.

NL catchers in 2009 = .255 / .325 / .385
NYM catchers '09 = .254 / .305 / .380

Iannetta takes his walks (.120 point career OBA-BA difference) as much as Santos doesn't which would help with the one area where we were truly deficient.[/quote:wojvq17k]


I do not see one free agent at any position worth going "big" on...St.Louis Dispatch reports Cardinals and Boras are working on a framework for Holliday.blah blah

But there isn't much there..The Mets 2010 may look very similar to the 2009 Mets sans bruises etc.

[Frayed Knot]

No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency

[nymr83]

No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency[/quote:1pxt6e2h]

I think that's only a statute in the Bronx.

[Frayed Knot]

No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency

[Guest Edgy DC]

Trades can do that. Health can do that. Sudden bursts of maturity can do that. Rule five acquisitions can do that.

And I have trouble thinking of an offseason where Met fans weren't characterized as impatient. The wise move has little to do with impatience.

And the problem with narrowing the thinking to 'Change NOW!!! and FA only is that you wind up settling for and often overpaying whoever the best available guy is even if he isn't very good.

Certainly. We discussed the Appier Impulse a few weeks ago. Then, of course, the team gets called cheap because they don't give out high bonuses in the draft the next year, when they don't have any high picks to give them to.

[ashie62]

Sometimes you don't have to do anything.

A healthy recovery of the wounded may do the most good.

Catchers...arghhh...Almost need one to drop out of the sky..call the Rangers about Saltamacchia or Teagarden, they don't need both

Aren't the cubs down on Geovanny Soto?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Well, who are you gonna go after then?

Thole/Santos platoon?

Ramon Hernandez (ex-As, Os, Reds), age 33, became a FA when his option was declined. Diminishing power, not much of a backstop but can take a walk.

Gregg Zaun, Old but can hit some still.

Miguel Olivo can't take a walk, whiffs a ton, but hit 23 homers last year for the Royals.

John Buck is expected to be non-tendered by the Royals also. They are not happy with his D, and his power has also diminished in recent years, never much of an on-base guy but is 28. I guess it says something that both of the Royals catchers are being thrown back and they want a better one.

Rod Barajas OBPed at 254 and will be 35.

Jason Kendall?

Ivan Rodriguez?

Eliezer Alfonzo?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Eliezer Alfonzo?[/quote:t1gyrr2n]

Definitely a backup-quality talent that hasn't done much of anything in the bigs since 2006, but I think there's a 50% chance his last name gets him to Port St. Lucie this spring.

[MFS62]

After 22 games, Josh Thole is hitting .414 in the VWL. He hasn't struck out in his last 29 PA, and has only 5 Ks for the season. His .579 OBP leads the league by 57 points.

Later

[ashie62]

unforunately, Josh Thole has been kidnapped by Hugo Chavez and will be working for the national oil company Citgo

[Frayed Knot]

Not that I'm suggesting it as a solution here but the BoSox declined the option they held on Jason Varitek for 2010, a catcher whose defense has not only gone downhill in recent years but is a total liability at this point.
They did pick up they have on Victor Martinez. He's not much of a catcher either, but at least he can still hit enough to play 1B or DH.

[ashie62]

Varitek signs

Rotoworld Talks about AZ's Chris Snyder who had a horrid year after back surgery but hit 16hr's prior..The alledged cost..Castillo

[A Boy Named Seo]

Ianetta's a good plan. I got a plan B, though. The Indians have some hot-shot, 23-year old named Carlos Santana (no, really) who was AA Eastern League MVP in '09, and A California League MVP in '09. Kelly Shoppach could be had, sez me. So-so last year, but really good 2 years ago and will be just 30 this year.

[ashie62]

Ianetta's a good plan. I got a plan B, though. The Indians have some hot-shot, 23-year old named Carlos Santana (no, really) who was AA Eastern League MVP in '09, and A California League MVP in '09. Kelly Shoppach could be had, sez me. So-so last year, but really good 2 years ago and will be just 30 this year.[/quote:oehlqo8q]


Shoppach was supposed to be the shit as a prospect..He most likely could be had..look for power and whiffs..He can play everyday as can Ianetta

Make it so!

[MFS62]

Shoppach was the darling of the Sons of Sam Horn for a while.
He was their Johnny Blanchard. (My analogy)
Lefty hitter, power, played behind an All-Star catcher.
It was a festival of "Gee, if he only got a chance".

Well he got his chance, and has shown some of that same power in the majors. I don't know about his defense, but IMO he's worth a shot.
But we have to remember, Eric Mangini isn't making deals for the Indians, too.

Later

[smg58]

Shoppach is at least a borderline non-tender candidate, so I wouldn't be too quick to make a trade offer if there's a chance we could name our price for him and not have to give up players. He's tough to get excited about after blowing the chance to be a full-time player this year, but he's certainly worth a look if he comes cheap.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Shoppach is at least a borderline non-tender candidate, so I wouldn't be too quick to make a trade offer if there's a chance we could name our price for him and not have to give up players. He's tough to get excited about after blowing the chance to be a full-time player this year, but he's certainly worth a look if he comes cheap.