Good news for Mets fans - perhaps someone realized that the biggest problem is signing Yorvit Torrealba to a contract for no particular reason is that you’re guaranteeing that one of your 29 rivals doesn’t.

That about sums it up for me, Dan.

Barret seems like the way to go. Reminds me a lot of when the White Sox signed Pierzynski on the supercheap because everyone hated him.

Expect a statement from the Mets that Torrealba is a 24-1 guy.

The Yankees should go after him...

Whew!

Expect a statement from the Mets that Torrealba is a 24-1 guy.

Or a .241 guy.

So, steroids?

When did Torrealba become newsworthy?!

I saw all four games of the NLCS, and right now I have no idea what Torrealba looks like. I keep thinking he's Estrada's long lost twin. Does he have a goatee?

The Yankees should go after him...

They've already struck a two year deal with Molina. I was hoping they'd look into Castro, but they probably would have had to overpay significantly to get him to leave the Mets.

Yippee!

Cool, hadn't seen this. Let Castro start and bring in some guys to compete for the backup job. Easy peasy.

I posted this in the Eckstein thread:

I think I'd like Barrett or Kendall on a cheap deal.

Looking at JR House's minor league numbers it sure looks like he can hit, how's his defense? He might be a good guy to pick up on a minor league deal.

NOOO KENDALL JESUS KILL ME NOW

Absolutely zero interest in Barrett. This won't be the most stathead-y thing I will ever say, but when you're a catcher two years removed from the Silver Slugger, and one year removed from hitting 307/368/517... and your playoff-hopeful team nonetheless dumps you for nothing because you are that much of a jerk... I find that pretty convincing. (Never mind that he then proceeded to absolutely stink on ice for the Padres, and can't field.)

Kendall at this point seems like the non-sociopathic version of Lo Duca: Decent OBP, no power, "bat control," could be plausible either as the world's slowest #2 hitter (relying on the fact that Reyes' SBs bail you out of many DP situations) or at the bottom of the order. I would much prefer that they try to find more than a one-year solution to this problem, but it doesn't sound too bad to me.

Lassus,

Kendall is a much better bet to put up a .350+ OBP than any other catcher available. Who's left after Barrett? Barajas? You want Blow Duca back?

They might be able to trade for Hernandez, but he's due 16.5 million the next two years and didn't exactly light it up last year.

Kendall is horrible at controlling the running game though. He allowed 111 stolen bases last year. That's remarkable.

He allowed 111 stolen bases last year.

Yikes, I didn't realize. Barrett wasn't much better, he allowed 72 of 86. Kendall was 111 of 131.

Is Seattle looking to trade Johjima? He threw out 46% and he's a decent hitter.

I think the Mariners are looking to trade Sexson and use Clement, Johjima, and someone else in a rotation between C and 1b.

From rotoworld:

A person familiar with the Mets' thinking told Newsday that he doesn't see the club turning back to Paul Lo Duca now that Yorvit Torrealba is out of the mix.

The Mets don't seem to have much interest in Michael Barrett or Jason Kendall, so it's either Lo Duca or a trade. They reportedly have engaged in talks with the Orioles regarding Ramon Hernandez and the Rangers about Gerald Laird, but they didn't like the price in either case. Maybe now they'll kick the tires on Brian Schneider, Ronny Paulino or Miguel Olivo.

Maybe now they'll kick the tires on Brian Schneider, Ronny Paulino or Miguel Olivo.

Whoop-de-damn-doo.

Whoop-de-damn-doo.

And Lassus was complaining about Jason Kendall.

Wait... but if he threw out 20 of the 131 attempted, that's not a worse rate than Barrett who threw out 14 of 86. Or either way, its close, too lazy for math. It also could have been the delivery of the pitchers on the staff, etc...

Anyway, now that we know Castillo is back, we know we don't need a #2 hitter. Whoever plays catcher for us is batting eighth ALL season. Get used to it big fella.

Reyes-Castillo-Wright-Beltran-Alou-Delgado-Milledge-Catcher.

Reyes-Castillo-Wright-Beltran-Alou-Delgado-Milledge-Catcher.

I sure hope so. I'd hate to see them get some 2nd-rate vet to start over Milledge. This lineup should be good enough.

Is Seattle looking to trade Johjima?

No.