Ronnie Paulino

[metirish]

Will sign with the Mets Rubin says.

According to ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure, the Mets are closing in on a deal with free agent catcher Ronny Paulino. Paulino was non-tendered by the Marlins last week, who signed John Buck to a large free agent contract this fall and didn't deem Paulino worth $2 million as a backup. The 29-year-old Paulino batted .259/.311/.354 with four home runs and 37 RBI over 316 at-bats in 2010. He still has a few games to serve on the 50-game PED suspension that he was handed in August, but would serve as Josh Thole's backup if the two sides reach an agreement.

Looks like some decent competition for the catchers

[Ceetar]

Suppose this works, but don't like the suspension.

It's been all downhill since we signed cheating Mota

[MFS62]

They could do a lot worse.
Worth a backup slot.

Later

[smg58]

Career .881 OPS against lefties. If you're looking for a platoon partner for Thole, you could do much worse.

[Frayed Knot]

smg58 wrote: Career .881 OPS against lefties. If you're looking for a platoon partner for Thole, you could do much worse.

Also a good rep as a defensive player - so while he's not a name that's going to make your eyes pop out, his skills (assuming they're still around) complement what Thole brings to the table.

[TransMonk]

I would love the Mets to adopt a "skills > name" attitude.

I'm down with Ronnie...even if he is a cheating doper.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I recall stories suggesting that Omar loved this guy going back years.

[Guest attgig]

or maybe it's not happening.....


http://twitter.com/#!/Joelsherman1/statuses/12177230859870208

[ashie62]

It ain't over til the fat GM sings..

In the spirit of pitching reclamation projects Rich Harden is floating around.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He slugged .354 while on PEDs?

He was using the wrong drugs.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Anyway...

ESPN's Enrique Rojas wrote: #Reuniones MLB Mets firman al dominicano Ronny Paulino, primera firma de MLB para NY en era Sandy Alderson. 40 minutes ago via �berTwitter

... he's a done deal.

[ashie62]

Is Omar secretly still on duty?

[Valadius]

Not quite.

Joelsherman1: #Mets r in on group of RH-hitting C such as Paulino, Laird, Olivo, Martin, Navarro. Still internal debate to gain consensus (cont) [via Twitter]

[Guest Edgy DC]

Omar Shmomar.

Minaya opened his regime's free agency era by signing Pedro Martinez. This is about as different a statement as there can be.

[bmfc1]

Welcome to the Mets, Ronnie Paulino (pending a physical):

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pauliro01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronny_Paulino
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/12/7/1862588/who-is-ronny-paulino

He still has to serve 8 games of a 50 game suspension for PEDs.

[metirish]

I would say it has been a productive winter meeting for the Mets.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Paulino's career numbers against LHP's:

.338/.390/.491

OPS .881 (> Larry Walker's career road OPS of .865)

16 HR's, 41 BB's in 531 AB's

Not bad. Not bad at all. If Paulino holds form in 2011, (he'll turn 30 in April) this has the makings of a nifty acquisition. Earl Weaver would approve.

[ashie62]

Edgy DC wrote: Omar Shmomar. Minaya opened his regime's free agency era by signing Pedro Martinez. This is about as different a statement as there can be.

I's a latino statement que pasa por favor!

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's hardly an Omar Minaya exclusive to pursue Latinos. In 2010, 11 of 16 National League teams had a Latino-born or -descended player as their number-one catcher.

[ashie62]

Edgy DC wrote: It's hardly an Omar Minaya exclusive to pursue Latinos. In 2010, 11 of 16 National League teams had a Latino-born or -descended player as their number-one catcher.

spin, spin, spin!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Come on. They're facts. Dispute them or not. What's more likely --- that the Mets braintrust chose a player they liked best within their budget from the avialibale pool or that Minaya is secretly in charge of the Mets?

[ashie62]

Don't you see when people are just kidding. You push so hard sometimes it comes off as bullying. No need to be so, so literal, is there?

[Ceetar]

If you rearrange the letters in Omar Minaya you get Man Oar Ya Mi

which was Paulino's nickname in high school

spooky.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't know. Depends on how serious you are about Minaya. If I've misunderstood you, then I apologize.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Edgy DC wrote: It's hardly an Omar Minaya exclusive to pursue Latinos. In 2010, 11 of 16 National League teams had a Latino-born or -descended player as their number-one catcher.

And 8 out of those 11 was named Molina.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

I was actually hoping DePodesta would coax Jeremy Brown out of retirement.

OE: Is there any truth to the rumor that Jeremy Brown became a jeans salesman?

[bmfc1]

Positive report on Paulino from Mark Simon:

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/12787/mets-catch-on-to-paulinos-best-skill

[bmfc1]

Firey competitor or potential pain in the ass?

"I'm training to fight for the position," Paulino said. "No one has a regular job yet. I feel like I have a strong commitment to address the confidence and the opportunity offered to me by the Mets."

http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/12850/paulino-not-looking-to-back-up

[Benjamin Grimm]

Has the potential, especially with the 8-day suspension at the start of the season, to be the 900th Met.

[Frayed Knot]

No reason why, at his age (30 just after opening day), he should resign himself to being a backup - particularly not in December and to a player who has just 250 ML ABs.