Torrealba Close To Deal With Mets

[Manhattan Project]

Torrealba Close To Deal With Mets
15th November, 2007 - 9:25 am
Denver Post - Catcher Yorvit Torrealba, a lynchpin in the Rockies' drive to the World Series, is zeroing in on a three-year offer from the New York Mets worth as much as $15 million.

Torrealba's agent, Melvin Roman, said tonight that he expects Torrealba to make his decision by Thursday.

"Yes, Yorvit will make a decision tomorrow," Roman said.

The Rockies have made it clear they want to re-sign Torrealba, but their offer was two years for $7 million. Roman said he did talk with Rockies manager Dan O'Dowd Wednesday. [READ]

http://www.realgmbaseball.com/src_wiret ... with_mets/

So would you be happy with a Torrealba and Castro tandem at the backstop? I wouldnt mind, but Lo Duca has been great with out pitching staff.

[mets87]

lo duca calls a terrible game, so meh.

i don't really care that much about his offensive output or lack thereof. we have plenty of offense in this lineup that all we need the catcher to do is play good defense. /shrug

[Jose7]

its a done deal!

I really like this move.

Free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba will agree to a three-year contract with the New York Mets on Thursday, according to Torrealba's agent, Melvin Roman.

Roman told 1050 ESPN New York that he expects to formalize the agreement with the Mets this afternoon. Roman declined to reveal how much the contract would be worth. GM Omar Minaya did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

[gooGD]

I like this move too...

apparently hes great with pitchers.

[krustytheclown]

good **** riddance lo duca, you piece of ****

[blueNorange]

I love Lo Duca but I'd be willing to sacrifice some batting average for a stronger throwing arm. Besides, Torrealba was the one who caught the Rockies 20+ game win streake.

[OakMan34]

Technically, Lo Duca had a better arm. Torrealba calls a much better game and doesn't let pitches get past him. Him and Castro should be a nice tandem to have at C.

[Lord Commander]

I'm gonna miss hearing "Staying Alive" at the games. Oh well it was time for a change. I'm just not sure Torealba is the answer...

[bringinhinkie]

good **** riddance lo duca, you piece of ****

i liked loduca

[VinnyTheMick]

I love Lo Duca but I'd be willing to sacrifice some batting average for a stronger throwing arm. Besides, Torrealba was the one who caught the Rockies 20+ game win streake.

Stronger arm?

Among the numbers that should worry the Mets is Torrealba's lack of success throwing out base stealers last season. Torrealba threw out 13 of 74 runners (17.6 percent), which ranked behind Lo Duca's 19.1 percent success rate.

And away from batter-friendly Coors Field Torrealba hit .212 with two homers and 13 RBIs.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11162007/sp ... 672047.htm


I'm not saying you guys f'd up, just saying where his value is higher compared to LoDuca is not in his throwing, its in his game calling.

[krustytheclown]

MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone says the Mets have some interest in David Eckstein as a second base option, and may meet with him soon to wine and dine him. Eckstein might be the backup option to Luis Castillo. I've said all along, I don't get why Eckstein would market himself as a second baseman. As a shortstop he stands to get $21MM over three years; as a second baseman he doesnt.

Ben Shpigel of the New York Times adds that the Mets would love to trade for Orlando Hudson but might need to save their top prospects to trade for starting pitching. Shpigel says the Mets have inquired with Octavio Dotel's agent. Dotel came up as a starter with the Mets, debuting in 1999. He was dealt to the Astros soon after in a package for Derek Bell and Mike Hampton.

[krustytheclown]

-= original quote snipped =-



http://www.nypost.com/seven/11162007/sp ... 672047.htm


I'm not saying you guys f'd up, just saying where his value is higher compared to LoDuca is not in his throwing, its in his game calling.

he has a good arm he was just hampered by shoulder problems for most; if not all of the season

[bringinhinkie]

loduca is a muuuuch better hitter than torrealba.. this guys stats are pathetic(15rbis in second half of season), id rather start ramon.. http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/stats/i ... rID=150275

this guys a .250 career hitter, 0 power, averaging 60 games a year (career high 113 last season, 2nd most was 66)

loducas a .288 career hitter (batted 300 for us over 2 years and never strikes out) averaging 125 games played a year, and one of the only guys who showed fire last season.. what a bonehead f**kin move

this guy struck out more every year playing 40-60 games than loduca did in 125-140..

someone explain this move to me other than the fact that hes dominican or puerto rican

http://www.metsblog.com/2007/11/15/emai ... t-lo-duca/

is explanation but i dont agree with half the shyt in it



edit: oh and a .212 avg away from coors field

[Luv those Knicks]

Obviously Duca is a better hitter. Duca was able to bat 2nd for us - not bad. He was a smart hitter.

But LoDuca had a career year for us 06 and a soso year 07. He's still a better hitter than the new guy, but he's older.

Part of the reason the mets are doing this is age. They didn't want to commit to a longer deal to a 32 year old catcher.

Defense, and possibly throwing too, and calling games, this guy should overall, give us as much as Duca, and he's younger, and he costs less, and signing him may allow NY to keep Castro, who wants to (and deserves to) play more.


I liked Duca. But I also like this move. Even if he hits 212, he won't make or break the season. I think our season will depend on the other factors - pitching and hitting from the other 7 positions.

[mets87]

as has been stated--torreabla will not make or break or postseason chances. our PITCHING will make or break that. the offense is fine, with or without duke. what i don't want to see, however, is eckstein playing second base for this team.

[Luv those Knicks]

as has been stated--torreabla will not make or break or postseason chances. our PITCHING will make or break that. the offense is fine, with or without duke. what i don't want to see, however, is eckstein playing second base for this team.

Make no mistake, our offense lost some games for us last year. 2006, we were #1 in the NL, but not #1 over the 2nd half of the season and our offense, not our starting pitching - cost us the NL Championship.

2007, our team's offense was good for 4th in the NL. Not bad, but not as good as many think it was. Philly had a lights out offense with 892 runs - 88 more than we had. That's half a run a game. That's a lot.

I agree that pitching is a bigger priority, but I wouldn't mind getting a little more pop in our hitting, just not sure how or what position, or if maybe Milledge could provide that, or maybe DelGado will bounce back or Reyes won't crash.

[mets87]

your offense will always lose games for you. that's going to happen in a 162 game season. i wasn't saying that the offense was flawless, but clearly our bullpen was the reason we didn't make the playoffs. the pitching situation is much more important.

P.S. philly plays in CBP, and we play in shea stadium. 'nuff said.

[randomhero423]

this is a terrible signing. guy cannot hit or throw out guys. should have signed lo duca.

omar's gotta do something. he's looking to not be that great GM i thoguht he'd be.

[Manhattan Project]

Well one thing that everybody knows is that Catcher is one of the positions where the stats dont tell the entire story. Torrealba calls a great game and is great with the pitching staff. He has the rep of a great leader behind the plate.

[randomhero423]

why not just trade for ramon hernandez? or sign lo duca back.