Blue Jays about to look tougher: Close to acquiring Bengie Molina

[riverside sluggers]

Blue Jays close to adding Molina

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

 

Catcher Bengie Molina's free-agent odyssey is nearing a conclusion. The Blue Jays are close to signing Molina to a one-year, $5 million contract with a $7.5 million option for 2007, FOXSports.com has learned. The addition of Molina, 31, will further solidify the Jays' position as a likely contender in the AL East. He will be the team's fifth major off-season addition, joining third baseman Troy Glaus, first baseman Lyle Overbay and two other free agents, right-handed starter A.J. Burnett and closer B.J. Ryan.

 

The Mets made Molina a three-year, $18 million offer early in free agency, then traded for catcher Paul LoDuca before conducting further discussions. Molina ultimately chose the Blue Jays over the Dodgers, who continued negotiating with him over the weekend and apparently were willing to offer a similar contract. The Dodgers, however, have two highly regarded young catchers, Dioner Navarro and Russ Martin. Molina evidently believed he had a better chance of lasting longer with the Jays, who do not have a major-league ready catching prospect. The Angels chose not to re-sign Molina in part because of the ascent of Jeff Mathis, who will team with Molina's younger brother, Jose, this season.

 

Bengie Molina's arrival in Toronto will relegate Gregg Zaun to backup duty, giving the Jays one of the game's strongest catching tandems. Molina, a right-handed hitter, reached career highs last season in batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.336), slugging percentage (.446) and home runs (15). Zaun, a switch-hitter, had career highs in home runs (11) and RBIs (61).

 

Both Molina and Zaun work well with pitchers, though some scouts believe that Molina's receiving skills have regressed. Molina's 3.55 catchers' ERA last season was the third-best in the majors.

[Cityofchampions33]

Even with him I'm still not scared of anyone on that team but Wells and Halladay. Burnett has had an average career, Overbay is nothing spectacular, though I wouldn't have minded gettin him, Ryan is nothing new to us, and is no Mo. Glaus is a good power, bad contact guy, who probably will have trouble against the AL East pitching. Overall they got a bunch of average players when they couldv'e been smart and waited until next season.

[riverside sluggers]

He's still an upgrade over that jackass of a catcher Gregg Zaun, but as of yet Im not counting them out until I see what the finished product brings to the field. Starting on April 11, the home opening series being against them.

[Redguitar985]

Either way, Molina will be happy. All of these other great players were getting signed, and he was stuck at home wondering if he'd have a job next year.

[The Monster is my Mom]

So who is going to sign Slammin' Sammy now? He is one of the last big names still out there - even though he sucks now.

[He Hate Me]

good signing by the jays. Molina hhas a solid bat and is great behind the plate.

[Sox fan in Tex]

As much trouble as we had with the Jays last year, with all the talent they are adding, you just have to hope that we are a better team, as well.

[riverside sluggers]

For the Blue Jays sake, hoping Molina can much improve on his hitting at the Rogers Centre. 20 games, .178 avg

[26 to 6]

I pick them for the playoffs

 

But I wouldnt be surprised (and would be thrilled) if everyone fizzled otu or injuries got in the way of that goal.

[jsinger121]

real good move by the jays....gives them a real catcher instead of the journeyman zaun. molina is a great receiver and also has a good bat.

[26 to 6]

real good move by the jays....gives them a real catcher instead of the journeyman zaun. molina is a great receiver and also has a good bat.

Just wish he played somewhere else

 

DAMNIT! 9 Divisions in a row is definately going to have to be earned.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Just wish he played somewhere else

 

DAMNIT! 9 Divisions in a row is definately going to have to be earned.

 

You think the Sox finish THIRD!?

[ksushi]

I like this signing, but I don't think Molina make their team much better. It really erks me that everyone goes goo goo ga ga over big names like Burnett and Ryan, but Molina is very solid and makes them a little tougher in the lineup but I don't know if Glaus can handle carrying a lineup and I don't think that Molina really lightens the load on him very much.

 

I still the think the red sox will win the division. Our bullpen, starting 5, defense and offense combined are the tops in the division. Sure, the yanks have big names, sure they've got a better lineup, but our pitching and defenses outs them and the jays too.

 

Molina is such a beast though, and he got majorly disrespected on the market and that sucks for him. He is the only player of the last 5 years who can honestly say they didn't get a fair shake in the whole free agency thing. Awesome signing.

[26 to 6]

You think the Sox finish THIRD!?

I think the Sox and Jays will fight for second. Obviously you all are going to call me crazy and biased based on my Yankeedom, but thats ok, i've learned to live with it. And yes, i'm sure there is some bias based on the fact I love the Yankees, just as there is with you guys.

 

But hinestly I really dont know..thats why I havent made any predictions yet

[riverside sluggers]

You think the Sox finish THIRD!?

 

I like the Red Sox being the "dark horse" of the division

[jsinger121]

pitching and defense wins championships.....the red sox have both.

[The Monster is my Mom]

I like the Red Sox being the "dark horse" of the division

 

I can't imagine the Sox being the "dark horse" of the division after the past few years. But it is kinda nice with everyone counting us out this year.

[26 to 6]

pitching and defense wins championships.....the red sox have both.

If the Red Sox have pitching then so do the Yankees. Its just that defense thing we're lacking in

 

But idk, Phillips is decent, Cano is getting better, Jeter is an A+, A-Rod is an A+, Matsui is good, Damon is good, SHeffield is alright, and regardless of what anyone says I like Jorgie behind the plate. So its not that bad, but not that great either.

[jsinger121]

If the Red Sox have pitching then so do the Yankees. Its just that defense thing we're lacking in

 

But idk, Phillips is decent, Cano is getting better, Jeter is an A+, A-Rod is an A+, Matsui is good, Damon is good, SHeffield is alright, and regardless of what anyone says I like Jorgie behind the plate. So its not that bad, but not that great either.

 

wooo hold on on matsui....he is average to below average in the outfield and misplays alot of balls. sheffield is alittle older and won't be able to cover amount of making damon run all over the place because of those two. just because jeter won some gold gloves doesn't make him an A+. hes good but he never should have won any gold gloves. ill give you arod. i will still take the red sox left side of the infield over anyones in the game for defensive purposes. that said if giambi is playing first then the yanks right side will be downright bad. cano is average to below average and makes alot of easy errors. if the yanks have any flaw its their defense which could affect pitchers such as wang and pavano both groundball pitchers. on a whole i think the red sox defense is superior to that of the yankees.

[riverside sluggers]

26 to 6 did acknowledge that

 

26 to 6: So its not that bad, but not that great either.

 

Everything will thankfully be put on the field just under 2 months away.

[26 to 6]

wooo hold on on matsui....he is average to below average in the outfield and misplays alot of balls. sheffield is alittle older and won't be able to cover amount of making damon run all over the place because of those two. just because jeter won some gold gloves doesn't make him an A+. hes good but he never should have won any gold gloves. ill give you arod. i will still take the red sox left side of the infield over anyones in the game for defensive purposes. that said if giambi is playing first then the yanks right side will be downright bad. cano is average to below average and makes alot of easy errors. if the yanks have any flaw its their defense which could affect pitchers such as wang and pavano both groundball pitchers. on a whole i think the red sox defense is superior to that of the yankees.

I trust Matsui in left field. Watching him on a daily basis I am very comfortable with him out there. He wasnt great out there last year, but he shocked EVERYBODY in 2003. I acknowledged that Sheffield isnt great, he's decent (I think I said alright the first time..same thing). He isnt going to do anything spectacular but he isnt going to kill you out there either.

I disagree with you n Jeter. I think he is an A+. He has a great arm and good range (A lot of people say he has horrible range...I dont get it. Watching him on a regular basis I am impressed with his range) and isnt afraid to do what needs to be done to catch the ball. Whether it be going into the stands, or colliding with a teammate, he always gets it done.

 

I personally wouldnt take the Red Sox left side overAny other left side in the game. I wouldnt even take them over the Yankees'. But the SOx left side is without a doubt a great defensive left side of the infield.

[jsinger121]

i said defensive not offensive....the red sox are a superior defensively than the yankees on the left side.

[a700hitter]

I trust Matsui in left field. Watching him on a daily basis I am very comfortable with him out there.

 

I disagree with you n Jeter. I think he is an A+. He has a great arm and good range (A lot of people say he has horrible range...I dont get it. Watching him on a regular basis I am impressed with his range) and isn't afraid to do what needs to be done to catch the ball. Whether it be going into the stands, or colliding with a teammate, he always gets it done.

Matsui is a heart attack with a below average arm. Jeter has great range going back on pop-ups, and he makes the play coming in on slow rollers as well as anyone, but he has no range going to his left. Any ball over the mound ends up in CF.

[26 to 6]

Matsui is a heart attack with a below average arm. Jeter has great range going back on pop-ups, and he makes the play coming in on slow rollers as well as anyone, but he has no range going to his left. Any ball over the mound ends up in CF.

True. But his range to his right is second to none.

 

And I really dont think Matsui is that bad out there. Hes not that great, but hes not that bad.

[kreinbihl34]

Matsui is really that bad... when you have two outfielders out there wih average to below average speed and a CF out there that can make up the ground but has a horrible arm, I would worry about little bloopers letting eople score from 2nd and that Damon might pull a hammy with all that running.

[Ray10]

The Jays are getting stronger but outside of Glaus there is only really Halladay and Wells who can do serious damage to anyone. This isn't something big Molina is most likely gonna end up as the #2 Catcher behind Zaun anyways.

[jsinger121]

if molina is signing with toronto he is starting not backing up zaun who until recently was a career backup. zaun will be forced to the bench with molina signing with the jays.

[Bruce]

Bengie Molina is fat.

[26 to 6]

if molina is signing with toronto he is starting not backing up zaun who until recently was a career backup. zaun will be forced to the bench with molina signing with the jays.

Did somebody really need that pointed out?

[He Hate Me]

wooo hold on on matsui....he is average to below average in the outfield and misplays alot of balls.

 

You would be the first person I've heard say that about Matsui's fielding skills. He has an average arm but makes up for it with good footwork, excellent jump on flyballs and quick release. That's the scouting report most will give you on Matsui. You're selling him much too short than acceptable in a Sox-Yank debate.

 

sheffield is alittle older and won't be able to cover amount of making damon run all over the place because of those two.

 

Yankee Stadium RF is about the size of my living room, I don't worry too much about Sheff's speed out there. He can cover it perfectly fine.

 

just because jeter won some gold gloves doesn't make him an A+. hes good but he never should have won any gold gloves.

 

 

i will still take the red sox left side of the infield over anyones in the game for defensive purposes.

 

Over anyone's? Are you 100% sure aobut this? Are you just saying this because you like them as Sox players and have developed a loyalty to them (though I can't see how you can develop loyalty for Gonzales or Lowell yet), or you really mean that their defensive skills are that good. I dont want to go digging up names, but I'm pretty sure the Lowell-Gonzalez combo isn't the best in MLB.

 

 

that said if giambi is playing first then the yanks right side will be downright bad. cano is average to below average and makes alot of easy errors. if the yanks have any flaw its their defense which could affect pitchers such as wang and pavano both groundball pitchers. on a whole i think the red sox defense is superior to that of the yankees.

 

It's better, I dont think it's superior.