I would now like to hear your WATP

[HahnSolo]

Is Mesoraco hurt again?

[Edgy MD]

I think that he's missed enough time time that his future—and his future as a catcher—seem very much up in the air. One season ended by hip surgery followed by another ended by a torn labrum, with only 39 games between the two years—that sounds like a huge question mark.

Imagine David Wright's last two years, and then imagine he's your starting catcher. That's a little broad as an analogy, but still, you're going to hunt high and low for Plan B. Or perhaps hunt for a new Plan A and consider anything you get out of your wounded warrior a blessing.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I guess the question is though, why not just sign Weiters if you're the Reds then.

[Edgy MD]

Because the God-damn Mets are offering him more money, and here we are with our hands tied by that Votto contract.

If only there was a way to strengthen us at catcher, lower our payroll, and maybe get some young talent that might mature around the same time as that package we got for Straily. If only there was a way ...

Granted, all this wild-assin' by me is playing fast and loose with Mets' money that may well not be available. My general principle is the notion that Votto's deal is going to get better as the years pass, or at least not depreciate as precipitously as some others may assume.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Williams is apparently a "new school" GM who probably understands what he's got in Votto; he was assisting Jocketty for the last several years now runs the show himself and has spoken boastingly of the analytical firepower he's ready to unleash on the league.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

That's how you know a guy is smart-- when he talks so much about how smart he is.

[Pantomimes "shaking hands" with own Little Red Dick Williams]