It's a bonanza!

Jason Bay is the sweet to mask the sour. Omar is figuring this #### out!

True or false: Bengie Molina = Shawon Dunston + 80 pounds

I don't know what's worse, this signing or the fact that he's still an upgrade on what they have.

As long as this doesn't interfere with any other moves, I don't really care about this. Hard for a two year deal to really #### over a franchise.

And yes, I know this moves me to the top of the list, Lassus.

If Molina hits .270/.300/.440, for a 90 OPS+, 80 ribbies, he isn't bad. And he's better than Omir Santos. So there's that.

He's also sort of fun to watch, although that may cease to be the case when he dons my team's laundry.

I am one of the biggest skeptics on Thole here but I sadly wonder what his future could possibly be. Blanco and Santos have to be considered the major favorites for the backup slot, a role that probably wouldn't go to a defensive question mark anyway. I guess he just has to keep plugging away in AAA and hope for an injury. This blocks him pretty smartly and I don't think there's going to be a raging trading market for his services.

Sadly, I don't think Thole is anything worth getting excited over. A severe slap hitter for whom it's completely unknown whether he can even play defense enough to stay at catcher? The odds of him being a successful major leaguer have got to be somewhere around 5%, maybe lower.

They couldn't have let me be happy for more than 5 hours?

I guess he just has to keep plugging away in AAA and hope for an injury.

That's exactly what he should do - work on his defense, keep on hitting, and if necessary spend a year as Molina's caddy after that. Thole has done nothing yet that demonstrates that he should just be handed the #1 catcher's job.

-- MWE

If it's only two years, I don't really care about this. I like Thole, but he really should start 2010 at AAA. If he shows he should be the catcher of the future, the Mets can ease him into the lineup and I don't think a second year of Bengie Molina at $6 mil will prevent them from doing that.

Sadly, I don't think Thole is anything worth getting excited over. A severe slap hitter for whom it's completely unknown whether he can even play defense enough to stay at catcher? The odds of him being a successful major leaguer have got to be somewhere around 5%, maybe lower.

Well, I think the odds are low, but not that low.

Obviously it hinges on his defensive development. But if he can get up to competent, just the fact that he hits lefty will give him years of looks around the league. If he can scratch out a nice OBP, then he's an Insta-Zaun.

Molina is really slow. I mean slow. As in I can't believe he doesn't hit a DP every time there's a grounder and a man on first slow.

One time Furcal ran to 2nd to get the first out, and then decided to jog half way to 1st and soft tosses the ball to Loney to get Molina by a step. Another time, Furcal starts a DP flips it to Hudson, who decides to adjust himself in mid DP(readjust his position etc.) and taking his sweet time, before making the throw to beat out Molina by 2 steps. It was surreal, like Molina himself was in the act to make it as comical as possible.

I don't know what's worse, this signing or the fact that he's still an upgrade on what they have.

What's sad as a Giants fan is that he was our cleanup hitter all of last year...and he will instantly become the Mets #8 (and presumably worst) hitter.

What's sad as a Giants fan is that he was our cleanup hitter all of last year...and he will instantly become the Mets #8 (and presumably worst) hitter

We can talking pitching staffs if that would make you feel better. Besides, we have Francoeur to be our #5 hitter.

We can talking pitching staffs if that would make you feel better. Besides, we have Francoeur to be our #5 hitter.

Our #5 hitter will be a 35 year old utility infielder coming off of a wrist injury. I'm not sure which is worse.

Our #5 hitter will be a 35 year old utility infielder coming off of a wrist injury. I'm not sure which is worse.

I don't care if he is coming off an amputation, he will be better than Frenchy in my book.

I hate to add fuel to the anti-Yankees fire (actually, no I don't), but would a combined Mets/Giants team be significantly--or even any--better than the Yankees?

would a combined Mets/Giants team be significantly--or even any--better than the Yankees?

Let's see . . . .

C - Posey
1B - Sandoval
2B - Sanchez ???
ss- Reyes
3B - Wright
LF - Bay
CF - Beltran
RF - It is to weep

I'd take my chances with the rotation.

Lincecum
Santana
Cain
Zito
Pelfrey/Sanchez/Maine

If that team signed a right fielder, and had the sense to play Posey behind the plate, it'd be pretty damned good.

I'm taking a ############# emergency redeye flight to Buffalo for a ############# FUNERAL, and this is what is going to see me off? I hope all you ########### ####### who find this signing to not be a problem burn in ####### hell.

Great question:

C- Molina/Posey
1B - Sandoval
2B - DeRosa/Castillo
3B - Wright
SS - Reyes
LF - Bay
CF - Beltran
RF - Rowand

SP - Lincecum
SP - Santana
SP - Cain
SP - Zito
SP - Sanchez

KRod
Brian Wilson
Feliciano
Affeldt

It's pretty close! The Yanks might take it. But the Gigantomets would be the best team in the NL.

Besides, we have Francoeur to be our #5 hitter.

Hah! Now that Bay is signed, Francoeur will presumably be the # 6 hitter. Things are looking better already.

As far as Thole is concerned, a two-year deal for Molina is the best thing that could possibly have happened for him. The Mets have stockpiled enough catchers now that there seems almost no way he would be needed in New York. He can spend 2010 learning his trade, and becoming as good a defensive catcher as he can. If he can convince the scouts and the Mets' FO that he can be a solid major league catcher, and perhaps even add a little bit of punch to his offense, it will do more for his career than anything he might reasonably have been able to accomplish as a Met this season. The most optimistic scenario for Thole involved this being a development year, not an arrival year. We should all be watching to see if it happens, and be glad he'll have the chance to make it happen.

# 19 -- Oh, yeah; I forgot the Giants had signed DeRosa. That solves the 2B issue for the GigantoMets.

660 gets the Bay news, 1050 Molina. Is there a third all-sports station in NY, and if so, who do the Mets give them as an exclusive?

Davidoff says its not true.

The key, now, is for the Mets to stick to their notion of fiscal responsibility. Don't guarantee Bengie Molina two years (the current offer stands at one year and an option - ignore the inaccurate reports that the two sides are closing in on a two-year deal). Go nowhere near Joel Pineiro, as long as he's asking for four years and $40 million.

That's exactly what he should do - work on his defense, keep on hitting, and if necessary spend a year as Molina's caddy after that.

Molina appears unwilling to be anyone's mentor and seemed downright offended in San Francisco that he would be expected to do anything to help the guy who is pegged as his replacement.

Molina appears unwilling to be anyone's mentor and seemed downright offended in San Francisco that he would be expected to do anything to help the guy who is pegged as his replacement.

Well, Molina at age 35 might feel a bit differently than he did this past season -- with his career closer to over and if he has any ambition of one day coaching, who knows? But if he doesn't, then the Mets should make it clear that, if Thole has reached the point of real prospect, catcher-of-the-future status, Molina's own playing time will depend on the extent to which he helps Thole. Thole will either develop by working with Molina, or by taking Molina's playing time. Let Benjie decide.

They're disrespecting you, Bengie!

They want you to babysit!

You gonna go out like that?

It's a good thing this deal isn't official, Lassus, or else it would pretty obviously be the worst day of your life.

Going to Buffalo in the winter to collect a major lottery prize is only a break-even event. For a funeral, it's something beyond the realm of awful.

Reyes ss
Beltran cf
Wright 3b
Bay lf
? 1b
Francoeur rf
Molina c
Castillo 2b

I think I would just bring back Delgado,Branyan could hit them out of that park as well.Maybe a LH hitter to platoon in right.

Am glad to see Molina out of the NL West. The slow footed bastard killed the Dbacks during his tenure in SF.
And worry not, Mets fans: with enough luck, he'll eat Frenchy by accident one day, confusing him with a fry.

Oh man I remember almost wanting to cry when the G's signed Rowand and immediately announced Molina was gonna be the cleanup hitter. He ended up really surprising me, though. He would never bat cleanup on a playoff team, unless something really bad happened mid-season, but he really raised his game, and had much more of an impact than I thought he would. I mean, for what that's worth; they were a pretty crappy team for the most part of his G's tenure.

Bengie is definitely the slowest guy I've ever seen run. He's slower than Doug Mirabelli, who was slower than Kirt Manwaring, and Manwaring was barely faster than the Mays statue out front of the ballpark. But, for all his flaws, Molina was fun to root for. He does make a ton of outs tho. I hope he does well in NY.

I once saw Bengie beat out an infield single without drawing a throw (it took the ball ricocheting off the pitcher into the space the second baseman had just vacated).

They couldn't have let me be happy for more than 5 hours?

You're a Met fan ... when have you ever been happy for more than 5 hours? :-)

The problem isn't whether Molina blocks Thole, the problem is that Molina is essentially worthless. When you knock off half a run each for his baserunning, his defense, and likely age-related decline he's within a half-run of replacement level. If Molina were getting Blanco money that would be one thing. If he's getting 2/12, it's simply an ignorant contract that by getting the Mets nothing of value from the catcher position pushes them slightly farther away from contending in 2010 and 2011, something they can scarcely afford to do.

This makes me think of a similar contract the Mets could have taken a shot at. Placido Polanco for the same AAV as Molina's contract would have made Cora unnecessary (putting Polanco at around 3/14+), given the Mets real depth around the infield, relegated Castillo to backup status where he belongs on a good team and where he'd be genuinely valuable, and made Pelfrey a better pitcher. I don't know whether the Mets would have been able to sign Polanco, but we know they didn't try, and that's even though they had every means to be aware that their infield will be far more vulnerable in 2010 (Wright's injury and performance issues, Reyes' injury, Castillo getting another year older) than it was in 2009.

Signing Molina is uncreative, it pushes the club away from contending, it doesn't fill a looming hole, and it diverts resources away from real problems. If the best can be said of it is that having Molina may keep the Mets from mishandling Josh Thole, that'a turning faint praise into an art form.

Just to play Devil's advocate, Molina's CS numbers have declined and rebounded in the past. There's more to defense than that but I don't think it's impossible that he's around average defensively next year. Not likely considering his age but stranger things have happened.

I do agree that signing Molina is a very uncreative way at solving a problem.

relegated Castillo to backup status where he belongs on a good team and where he'd be genuinely valuable,

How valuable can a backup 2b/PH be? Castillo can't play anywhere but second. I think Castillo would be a horrible bench player.

The problem isn't whether Molina blocks Thole, the problem is that Molina is essentially worthless.

THANK YOU

The Yankees are slightly to substantially better than the GigantoMets at every single offensive position on the diamond save SS and possibly one corner OF spot, and the latter only because they haven't acquired theirs yet. I'd probably take the MFYs in the bullpen and back of the rotation/SP depth as well.

Of course, that says more about the Yankees than about the Mets or certainly the Giants. What 2 MLB teams could you combine to form one 25-man roster that would be a clear favorite over them over a season's worth of games?

What 2 MLB teams could you combine to form one 25-man roster that would be a clear favorite over them over a season's worth of games?

Mariners/Brewers?

C- Zaun
1B- Prince
2B- Weeks
SS- Escobar
3B- Figgins
RF- Ichiro!
CF- Gutierrez
LF- Braun
DH: Bradley

Bench OF: Hart/Gomez
Bench IF: Wilson/Counsell
Backup C: Moore

SP- Felix
SP- Yovani
SP- Lee
SP- Wolf
SP- Rowland-Smith

CL: Hoffman
CL2: Aardsma
RP: League
RP: Lowe
RP: Hawkins
Long Relief: Snell or Bush

The Red Sox/Mariners would have an outstanding rotation. Felix, Lester, Lee, Beckett, Lackey?

The Phillies/Red Sox would be really, really, strong.

How valuable can a backup 2b/PH be? Castillo can't play anywhere but second. I think Castillo would be a horrible bench player.

I assumed this would be taken in the context of extremely valuable for a backup. Castillo would easily be one of the best backup 2bman in the major leagues. Even better, he's effectively a backup SS and 3Bman with someone like Polanco on the Mets, since when Wright or Reyes need days off Polanco subs effectively for either while Castillo plays 2b.

edit: unless you're aware of info indicating Castillo would have trouble with a reduced role.

THANK YOU

np, brother.

The Yankees are slightly to substantially better than the GigantoMets at every single offensive position on the diamond save SS and possibly one corner OF spot

Strictly in terms of next season I'd probably go with Jeter as SS or at least say they are tied considering the health concerns with Reyes and Jeter coming off of an excellent season. I would take Beltran over Granderson though.

They're disrespecting you, Bengie!

They want you to babysit!

You gonna go out like that?

He's right, Bengie... If they're going to make you babysit - you really ought to demand 4 years, not 3.

Strictly in terms of next season I'd probably go with Jeter as SS or at least say they are tied considering the health concerns with Reyes and Jeter coming off of an excellent season. I would take Beltran over Granderson though.

I changed the phrasing on that one a couple times so as not to rock the boat too much. I'd take Jeter for 2010 as well. And you're right about Granderson.

Red Sox/Phillies:
C: V.Martinez
1B: Howard
2B: Pedroia
3B: Youkilis
SS: Rollins
LF: Werth
CF: Victorino
RF: Drew
DH: Utley
Bench: Ruiz (C), Scutaro/Polanco (IF), Ellsbury/Cameron (OF)
SP: Halladay, Lester, Hamels, Beckett, Lackey
RP: Papelbon, Lidge, Okajima, Madson, Bard, R. Ramirez

Yeah, that team's pretty good. A bit of a mess figuring out who goes where in both the IF and the OF. But I think they'd have at least an argument at every single position vs. the Yankees. That was fun.

Here's a more interesting exercise than combining powerhouses: if you were to remove the Twins from the Central, would there be enough players on the White Sox/Royals/Indians/Tigers to compete with the Yankees?

Four teams. Now that's sad. I don't think so.

C: ?
1B: Konerko
2B: A. Callaspo?
SS: A. Cabrera
3B: M. Cabrera

LF: Quentin/DeJesus
CF: Sizemore
RF: Choo/Magglio?

Greinke
Verlander
Buehrle
Danks
Scherzer

Jenks

I'd think that pitching staff would be too much for the Yankees to handle. I'd probably put Porcello as the 5th starter and put Scherzer in the pen.

Soria
Jenks
Scherzer
Thornton
Wood
Floyd (long-relief and spot-starter)
Cruz

put Pierzynski at C with Santana or Marson backing him up.
Cabrera at 1B with Beckham at 3B

Butler at DH with Quentin/Maggs getting the starts against tough LHP while DeJesus shifts over to CF.

Or you could put Butler or Konerko at 1B, Beckham at 2B, Cabrera at 3B, Asdrubal as the supersub, and could put Hafner or whichever of Butler or Konerko isn't the 1B at DH.

You could even have Alexei Ramirez as a super utility guy.

It's closer than it should be I guess, but that team would be much, much better than the Yankees.

Take out any one of these teams and I think the Yankees may be better than (or pretty evenly matched) the best the 3 teams could put together, though.

UPSET!

mlbtraderumors

Giants Re-Sign Bengie Molina To One-Year Deal http://bit.ly/8wOVpI #mlb

Giants make another lol worthy signing.

WTF?! Are they going to bury Posey on the bench? They'd at least be samrt to send him back to AAA and keep the service time clock from starting.

Thank ####.