Torrealba to sign with Mets

[TheKilo]

Rotoworld

 

Yorvit Torrealba's agent told ESPN Radio that the catcher will sign a three-year contract with the Mets.

With Ramon Castro also set to choose the Mets, the Marlins and Rockies appear set to pick from Paul Lo Duca, Michael Barrett, Jason Kendall and Rod Barajas as they seek their next catcher. Torrealba's deal is likely worth $5 million per year or slightly less. He doesn't require draft-pick compensation from the Mets, though

 

Tough break, I figured if the Rockies re-upped Yorvit they may have shopped Iannetta.

[See Red]

:(

 

My favorite Rockie... gone.

[riverside sluggers]

I was figuring Torrealba was bound to be the #1 choice for either New York team after Posada was signed

[riverside sluggers]

The Mets' deal with Yorvit Torrealba has fallen apart for an undisclosed reason, and no further negotiations are scheduled.

 

Odd. Reports Friday indicated that only a physical stood in the way of a three-year, $14.4 million, and MLB.com went so far as to post it as an official transaction yesterday. If Torrealba failed the physical, it's likely that the Mets would have disclosed it. Instead, their spokesman said simply that "the Mets did not reach an agreement" with the catcher. Torrealba could re-sign with the Rockies now, though it'd probably be a two-year deal. The Marlins were also interested. After their comments the last few days, it sounds as though the Mets don't want to go back to Paul Lo Duca. Michael Barrett, Jason Kendall and Rod Barajas are still out there, while Ramon Hernandez, Johnny Estrada, Ronny Paulino and Gerald Laird are trade possibilites.

[yankees228]

Offensively he's pretty bad. Outside of Posada, the free agent market for catchers this off-season is weak at best.

[riverside sluggers]

Mets acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Brewers for RHP Guillermo Mota.

 

So, the Mets get a better catcher than Yorvit Torrealba, only have to commit to him for one year and dump Mota's contract in the process? This is a clear winner for Omar Minaya, who lucked out when things went sour with Torrealba. Estrada did have big problems throwing out baserunners last season, but so did Torrealba and surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow should help him in that area. They still didn't get a difference maker here, but they received a solid player who won't make much more than $4 million in 2008 and they were able to keep all of their trade chips.

 

Brewers acquired RHP Guillermo Mota from the Mets for catcher Johnny Estrada.

 

Ugh. Better if they had just non-tendered Estrada. Sure, Mota could bounce back after a dreadful 2007, but so could any number of relievers due to make less than the $3.2 million he's owed. And let's not ever forget that he's a known cheater. We hope the Mets are at least throwing in some cash here, as the Brewers wouldn't have owed Estrada anything had they simply non-tendered him. They're going to be raising the payroll here by taking on Mota's salary and replacing Estrada with Jason Kendall.

[das11209]

Why in the name of God would the Brewers make this trade?

[Cocos Disciples]

And today Milwuakee signs Jason Kendall...ugh.

[das11209]

Back to square 1:

According to the Denver Post, the Rockies "have made progress in talks with Yorvit Torrealba."

 

It's unclear whether the Rockies have increased their offer from $7 million over two years, with a vesting third-year option, but Torrealba might be willing to accept their original proposal after his deal with the Mets was canceled

[Cocos Disciples]

He re-upped with the Rockies.