In a post for FoxSports, Tracy Ringolsby writes that the Rockies are trying to finalize some details on a deal to bring in Miguel Olivo to back up for Chris Iannetta. This would effectively end the Rockies tenure for Yorvit Torrealba.
Torrealba is at a stand still for quite some time with the Rockies over about $400K in a 2 year deal that is worth $5.6 million. Yorvit wants $6 million and Colorado seems unwilling to budge anymore. While the details are yet to come out, Olivo's deal would certainly be less than the $5.6 million and possibly under $5 million as well.
This deal could help the Mets in multiple ways. First, Torrealba is available still and although I am not sure he is a fit for the Mets after having a grievance filed and decided recently, money can always make things better. It would cost the Mets half the money that Bengie Molina wants andwould free up money that could be used for a starter or a platoon mate for Daniel Murphy at 1st base.
Secondly, this could simply act as leverage for the Mets if they really only want Molina. Molina knows that there is another catcher available now and there aren't a lot of teams, if any, looking for catchers at this point. This is also why the Mets have stood their ground with their current offer. There is no one else bidding.
Simply put, Torrealba being available is good for the Mets. He is a much better receiver than Olivo and would be held in higher regard. He is only 31 years old and up until last season, had a better than 30% chance of throwing out base runners. This is something to watch in the next few days, to see if the Mets strike up some new talks.
I Have read rumors that they might also look at Barajas as well
Posted by: mike | December 30, 2009 at 07:21 PM