Posada Wants to Be a Yankee
Ho-hum … Jorge Posada told reporters that he wants to be a Yankee:
“My first priority is the Yankees,” the five-time All-Star catcher told reporters Sunday at halftime of the New York Knicks’ game against the Miami Heat. “I would like to stay with the Yankees. My heart is with the Yankees, so hopefully we can get something done.”
OK, Jorge, that’s great. So then, what’s the holdup? If you want so badly to remain in pinstripes, why are you jerking them around? Why are you pretending to be interested in going crosstown to play in Queens? Oh, is it about the money? But according to your comments, it’s NOT about the money — unless, of course, your heart is for sale.
We’ve heard similar quotes from players before — all too recently in fact. For instance, Tom Glavine. Glavine’s “heart” was with Atlanta in the winter following the 2002 season. And after the 2006 season. And it appears to still be the case now. We’re tired of it from Tom, and bid him good riddance as he runs back to the Braves. Home is where the heart is. Flushing is where the money is.
If Jorge Posada is sincere about his heart being with the Yankees, we certainly hope that he paid close attention to the Tom Glavine Story. Glavine used the Mets as a negotiating ploy as well, back in 2002, thinking that the Braves would blink and give him the money he thought he deserved. But GM John Schuerholz didn’t blink, and Glavine was “stuck” with the millions of dollars promised by the Mets. That is, unless he wanted to crawl back to Atlanta with his tail between his legs, saying “I was only kidding!”
And this isn’t my view of what happened — it’s documented fact from Schuerholz’s book (OK, I took some liberty in the translation of the truth).
At this point, it appears as though Jorge Posada will be re-signing with his beloved Yankees. It’s probably for the best. Mets fans aren’t interested in players who would rather be playing for someone else.
***“The Mets are expected to re-sign Paul LoDuca if they fail to lure Jorge Posada from the Yankees,†writes Ken Rosenthal in a recent update to FOXSports.com.
Of course, one week ago, during a recent appearance on SNY’s Daily News Live, Rosenthal told the show’s host that Lo Duca is as good as gone from the Mets.***
Now you see why I don’t take anything these so called “experts” say seriously when it pertains to the hot stove and offseason transactions. Their opinions are fickle and their minds get changed more than a baby’s diaper, and Rosenthal is as bad as they come. Sure, he’ll get some predictions right, but that’s bound to happen when you’re making 50 predictions a day and you’re covering both angles of an issue (i.e. Lo Duca is as good as gone, Lo Duca is likely to be resigned).
Funny, though. I didn’t hear one rumor about Brad Lidge getting traded, nor that the Phillies were interested in picking up a closer. I guess not ALL transactions are reported on before they happen, as popular belief may have it.
Kind of like a columnist writing something like:
“I predict the Mets will sign a free-agent catcher this offseason, or possibly trade for one”.
duh
1. Ramon Hernandez…you guys convinced me he’s a better bet for offense than Lo Duca and is still capable of producing at a high caliber as long as he’s healthy. If Castro can be resigned as the backup, I’m very comfortable with a starting catcher who can only max out at 400 atbats. He’s owed $15.5-mil over the next 2 seasons, and has a team option for $8.5-mil in 2010, which is probably close to what Lo Duca would demand. If Hernandez can be had in a salary dump deal in which we only have to part with second-rate prospects, this looks like the best move.
2. Re-sign Lo Duca. He knows the staff and can handle the pressure of New York. His offense isn’t what it used to be, nor is his arm, but there aren’t many better options out there, so better off to stick with what you know.
3. Trade for Kenji Johjima. Ok, I know there have been no rumors of a Johjima trade, but check this out. The Mariners have a kid named Jeff Clement they drafted 3rd overall in 2005 who cracked the majors last year, batting .375 with 2 homers in just 16 at-bats. He tore up triple-A in 2007 (20 HR, .275) so appears more than ready to take over a starting job. If the Mariners want to make a push for a more expensive free agent, they can start Clement and shed some payroll by trading Johjima, who’s also in the final year of his contract. As a bargaining chip, the Mets might not have to give up a lot for Kenji because of how little time is left on his contract. Or, perhaps as part of a bigger deal, the Mets can obtain Johjima and one of the Mariners good, young bullpen pitchers (sherrill, green, morrow, rowland-smith, o’flaherty) in exchange for milledge or gomez (since seattle is losing Jose Guillen in RF) and one of our minor league relievers (Schmoll, Muniz, Collazo, etc). I know I’m throwing alot of ideas against the wall, but I’d to see what sticks. Johjima certainly is a capable bat with good defensive numbers, and would give the Mets a lot of versatility with the lineup. Any one like this idea? Any one think this plan is entirely too far-fetched?
4. Re-sign Castro and let him take over the starter’s role. Who knows, maybe given 400 at-bats he’d hit 20 home runs batting 7th or 8th in the lineup. I’ll take that, even if it comes with a .250 batting average and the slowest legs in the majors.
5. Trade for Kelly Shoppach. Is it possible he can be acquired as part of a “blockbuster” trade from Cleveland along with Cliff Lee and Josh Barfield? What would the Mets have to part with in return? However, I doubt the Indians want to give Shoppach away, considering he’s making league minimum in 2008 and it seems like they’d like to transition Victor Martinez out from behind the plate. I don’t know how sold I am on a guy who has less than 300 career at-bats anyway.
I’m not very interested in free agents Michael Barrett, Yorvit Torrealba, or Jason Kendall, nor do I like Gerald Laird in Texas. Brian Schneider could be had as part of a Chad Cordero trade, but I’m fearful Washington is asking too much. And Schneider is no better than a left handed version of Lo Duca anyway. Trading for Bengie Molina is an option, but I’m afraid the Giants are going to ask for too much in return. Likewise, I don’t see Pittsburgh trading Ronny Paulino while he’s still make next to nothing.
2. Agreed.
3. Nice idea, but don’t see the M’s going for it. From their POV, they have a team capable of making the playoffs if they add one or two more pieces. They have an All-Star caliber catcher with one year left and a youngster ready to step in when he’s gone. Why mess with it, unless you can get one of those pieces that get you into the postseason? Milledge / Gomez is probably not the piece they’re looking for — more likely a veteran bat. And the one guy the Mets have to trade — Carlos Delgado — is no better than their current option (Richie Sexson). My guess is they’ll go after a Torii Hunter and move Ichiro to RF, and go for it all next year. No sense for them to deal Jojima.
4. I really hope they put a weight clause into Ramon’s contract. It’s bad enough that he’s a walrus, but know with back issues, it’s more imperative he watch his rotundness. Unfortunately, I think we’ll see how poor a defensive backstop Castro is with regular duty.
5. The pundits keep “buzzing” that Shoppach is on the market, but it makes absolutely no sense. As you mentioned, the Tribe is looking to transition Martinez to 1B — so why trade Shoppach? I think the Mets would have to overpay to get him — in fact, who they’d likely have to give up, I’d rather pry away Martinez.
6. Also not interested in Torrealba / Kendall / Barrett. Laird would be OK if he came really cheap. Scheider is an outstanding receiver, but as you say the Nats will want lots in return. Forget Molina — the Giants have no one behind him. Is there a difference between Ronny Paulino and Miguel Olivo?
2. I have lobbied for Shoppach for 3 yrs, before Paulie came in fact. Why it makes sense: Victor Martinez has signed a longtime deal, as such Shoppach is as ‘blocked’ as he was in Boston. He is a starting catcher in a back up role. I doubt Martinez goes to 1st…Why? He can play 40-50% behind the plate and DH some. They would do better with a mercenary at 1st base (Delgado-type).
2b. Kenji- I heard alot of not-goods from Seattle about his language issues in dealing with pitchers.
3. Other notables: Jesus Flores? I just dont know who other teams might let go or trade.
4. LoDuca: Last resort for me.
5. Soured on Damien Miller, Yorvit, Jose Molina & Gerry Laird.
1. Omar has talked to the indians this we know. But I think Isu has the deal more or less as I see it. I think Cliff Lee and Shoppach make an Omar-esque package. Note Omar has dealt with the Indians (for Jake Gautreau).
2. I think Del would be nice in Cleveland, but I think Del will bust out again next yr. Plus its a walk yr (more or less for Del at huge mula$$). Trading Del would leave a big hole at 1st. We’ll see. But I think Cleveland are a beast that can spar with the Rsoxx and they could fill the Shooppach void with say …..Ramon Castro
3. They do need a big bat tho. They have all the other pieces: including Sabathia, Fausto and Byrd in the rotation. I consider Lee and Shopach as excess. But I dont know what they would want from Omar.
So if there’s a team in MLB that’ll take him off our hands, then by all means let’s do it. If we can convince Cleveland that he’s the big bat they need, fantastic. I see very few other teams who would be interested in his heft (in body and contract).
I think Delgado IS the big hole at first. As mentioned in my last comment, I’d be fine with Shawn Green at 1B. At least then there would be the option to platoon him with a decent, cheap, RH bat. With Delgado and his enormous salary, that is not an option.
Willie and omar have a habit of going with the vets and sticking with their guys, which can be infuriating. As a fan, I wan’t to see what some of these young kids can do, and I see potential to improve the team when I look at them. It drove me nuts in april when willie kept trotting green out there and milledge sat. The positive side of this behavior though is that players want to come here. Guys like Alou are willing to take less money and less years to come to a place where they feel secure, and feel they can win. They feel like they at least have to truly be beaten out to lose their job, such as shawn green last year. I think there is some value in hanging on to delgado, espescially since this is the last year of his contract. If he struggles, guys will be available at the deadline to plug in, but at least it sends a message to guys that may be targets in the future. I’d be for moving him if I thought there was a clear way to upgrade the position, but I just don’t see it. Once again though, I’d have to do a 180 on keeping him if we signed arod.
Furthermore, who’s going to trade for our “Mo Vaughn?” Cleveland doesn’t need another 1B with Hafner/Garko/Victor already over there, despite having the pieces available to trade. The sad fact is we’re stuck with him, but I’m optimistic Delgado will at least be a 25 HR, 90 RBI guy, knowing he has a chance to make big money again as a free agent after 2008. And if he stinks again, then be happy it’ll be the last season he’s a Met.
I agree that no one will take Bloatgado off our hands, which was why I jumped at someone’s thought that the Indians might be a possibility.
I really hope I’m wrong about Delgado. I was wrong at least once or twice before 🙂
ski hit it on the head. I expect a .275/25/95 yr Which is hardly Doug E Minkevic. And Yes Tex is a FA after next yr.
MY issue is Willie; If say (a) Mike Lamb (type) is signed to give insurance at 1st and 3rd (marlon and Easley are the same player except a R-L complement), will he get starts?
I contend Wright got his GG because of the 1,500 innings he logged at 3rd while being consistent. Willie is playing with fire expecting wright to do that EVERY #### year.
1. Why was Paulie traded from the Dodgers to the Fish? The Dodgers were contending at the time and basically stripped themselves of their starting catcher, and really did not (effectively) replace him. The Dodgers immediately went AWOL that season.
2. http://baseballevolution.com/asher/goldglovereview2007.html
Jimmy Rollins please read!!’ Even Omar Vizquel, at the age of one hundred and twenty-three, would have been a better pick than Rollins’
Torrealba could easily be worse — he WAS worse this past season, both offensively and defensively. If Yorvit was, say, 23 years old we could say “oh he has upside”. Unfortunately he’ll be 30 next year.
Putting the punchless Torrealba into the 8th hole makes production from Delgado et al all the more vital … it smacks of the days we suffered through Rey Ordonez, wondering whether it might be a good idea to hit the pitcher before him.
Scroll down to Mets close to deal with Castro: “Torrealba and Castro could combine to really shut down the running game,…’
1. Essentially ramon and Yorvit are a platoon, Either can be full time. I think Yorvit might be the best defensive option and it seems that his work with pitchers must be the X-factor.
b. Have faith in Omar (?): http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6325/career;_ylt=Aqi6jKeFxsuO1ziCVNPZ0X2FCLcF
2. I dont think the Mets were serious about Posada.
3. I posted the link above because it seems Paulie has a way of torching his bridges. He had great chances to win in LA then Fla then NY but seems to leave with ‘unspoken’ trash left behind. His forte is supposed to be his leadership and game calling, but yet both (all) these contending clubs trade him away.
4.
1. b. EVERY catcher in MLB should as a prerequisite work well with his pitchers — esp. since there are only a handful of “offensive-minded” catchers. This X-factor is used when management has no sound, measurable reasoning to sign a catcher. And remember I am something of an anti-stathead.
2. Interesting thought. I disagree. If they’re ready to give a 3-year, $15M deal to an injured, career backup like Torrealba, then a 4-year deal for old man Posada suddenly makes sense.
3. Yet Florida is supposedly considering bringing Paulie back.