Mets acquire Lo Duca from Marlins

[yagmaster]

Report: Mets cross catcher off wish list, get Lo Duca

ESPN.com news services

 

The wheeling-and-dealing New York Mets crossed another need off their 2006 wish list, acquiring All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca from the Florida Marlins in exchange for two minor league pitchers, the New York Daily News reported on its Web site.

 

It would be the second deal between the Mets and Marlins this offseason, with Florida sending slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado to New York last month. The Mets also signed free-agent closer Billy Wagner, giving Mets general manager Omar Minaya a player at every postition he said was a priority.

 

Lo Duca, 33, was an All-Star in each of the past three seasons. He will be taking the place of Mike Piazza, a sure Hall of Fame player and, like Lo Duca, a former Dodger. Lo Duca hit .283 with six homers and 57 RBI for the Marlins in 2005.

 

The Mets will send 19-year-old right-hander Gabriel Hernandez and another minor leaguer pitcher to be named, the Daily News reported.

 

The departure of Lo Duca would represent the further dismantling of a competitive Marlins franchise, which sent Luis Castillo, a three-time All-Star and the Marlins' career leader in six major categories, to the Twins last week. The Marlins are citing rising costs after repeated bids for a new ballpark failed.

 

Delgado, ace Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell are also gone, and center fielder Juan Pierre is on the block.

 

Minnesota gave up right-handers Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler in the Castillo deal. The Marlins plan to use the hard-throwing Bowyer in the bullpen next season, while Tyler will begin the year in their minor-league system, general manager Larry Beinfest said.

 

With no new stadium on the horizon in South Florida, team president David Samson announced last week that the Marlins would dramatically reduce their payroll, which was $60 million at the start of the 2005 season. He also said the team will consider moving after the 2007 season, with Las Vegas and Portland, Ore., among the candidates.

 

With three trades, Florida has cut about $32 million from next year's payroll, excluding any Lo Duca deal. On Thanksgiving Day, Florida received seven prospects by trading Delgado to the Mets and sending Lowell and Beckett to Boston.

 

The Marlins' so-called fire sale is their second in eight years. Former owner Wayne Huizenga ordered a payroll purge after the team won the 1997 World Series, and prospects acquired in subsequent deals helped Florida win the title again in 2003 under current owner Jeffrey Loria.

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2247973

 

 

The Marlins firesale continues. I happen to think Lo Duca is overrated, but Mets sure plugged up a hole.

[Cityofchampions33]

I don't like this move in terms of the Mets, Lo Duca I think is older and less talented then Molina or Hernandez, whom they offered deals to. Idk why they settled with Lo Duca.

[26 to 6]

this sucks! I wanted Lo Duca for the Yankees. Why couldnt the goddam Mets just stick to Hernandez or Molina.

[26 to 6]

I don't like this move in terms of the Mets, Lo Duca I think is older and less talented then Molina or Hernandez, whom they offered deals to. Idk why they settled with Lo Duca.

Maybe they just got him to ship him to us for Tony Womack

 

wishful thinking

[ksushi]

Lo Duca is overrated, when I traded for victor martinez in my fantasy league and benched Lo Duca, my team went on a tear. Proof of Lo Duca's overratedness. Kidding, I do think lo duca is a good player and even though Minaya is really going to be hated three or four years from now, they may win the east next year despite being the mets.

[Manny Goes Boom]

this sucks! I wanted Lo Duca for the Yankees. Why couldnt the goddam Mets just stick to Hernandez or Molina.

 

LOL :lol:

[Cityofchampions33]

Is it me or is Minaya going on somewhat of a Duquette tear?

[MC Hammer]

this sucks! I wanted Lo Duca for the Yankees. Why couldnt the goddam Mets just stick to Hernandez or Molina.

No loyalty to Posucka? Or like a typical Yankee fan, do you just want every single FA on the market?

[ahhchon]

Lo Duca is overrated, when I traded for victor martinez in my fantasy league and benched Lo Duca, my team went on a tear. Proof of Lo Duca's overratedness. QUOTE]

 

good thing you were kidding, i was going to rip you apart for stupidity. :harhar:

 

john

[Sizzlin22]

LoDuca he hit .283, compared to Ramon Castros (the Mets starter last year) .244, plus he has a slick glove and a prtty solid arm, not like All-Star cliber, but it's definitly a cheaper upgrade. I say good pickup.

[26 to 6]

No loyalty to Posucka? Or like a typical Yankee fan, do you just want every single FA on the market?

If you have read any of my posts regarding this matter, I have said time and time again that I want Lo Duca so that he could split time with Posada and allow Posada some DH time. I also pointed out how valueable Lo Duca is due to his versatility, he can play 1B and the corner outfiled positions as well as catch. Versatility is something the Yankees have lacked in recent years, and those are the reasons I wanted Lo Duca, not because I dont like Posada. Maybe you werent aware, if Posada starts 81 games behind the plate (which he will with Kelly Stinnett as his backup) a $12mil option for 2007 automatically gets put into place. $12mil is a lot for Posada.

 

And dont ever again question my loyalty, I am the most loyal person on here. I cant believe a fan of the team who trade guys like Nomar Garciaparra and kicks the Roger Clemenses of the world out of the door after they have done so much for your franchise. In all the threads regarding the Yankees trading Posada or something I have been very vocal in wanting Posada to be a part of the Yankees for a long time.

[Moose]

This guy was just born to play for Mike Piazza's former teams.