Thoughts on Mets Catching Situation
By Mike Silva ~ November 11th, 2009. Filed under: Offseason Speculation.
Right now Omir Santos and Josh Thole would be the Mets backstops if tomorrow were opening day. As much as I value great game calling and defense, two of Santos strengths, I believe he is more of a backup than everyday catcher. Josh Thole seems to have a promising future, but it appears his defense requires a season at AAA. So far names like Bengie Molina, Rod Barajas, Chris Snyder, and even Jason Varitek have been mentioned. I think the best choice would be the “almost Met” Yorvit Torrealba.
He will cost less than Bengie Molina (think 2 years/$6-8 mill in my opinion) and is a solid fielder. He is also known for his clutch hitting and great September performances – not something many Mets can put on their resume. The big hurdle would be the trust factor after Omar Minaya backed out of a deal in the winter of 2007.
Torrealba gives you enough offense, the kind of solid defense the position demands, and is cost effective. He would also be the perfect mentor for Josh Thole. He is the right fit for this team.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Torrealba hits like my grandmother.