Paul Lo Duca appears out as the Mets' catcher, likely to be replaced by a tandem of Ramon Castro and Yorvit Torrealba, major-league sources say.
The Mets are expected to re-sign Castro on Wednesday, probably to a two-year deal. They also are pursuing Torrealba, another free agent, but not to be a 120-game starter.
Castro, 31, would play more frequently under the new arrangement, perhaps starting 80 to 90 games, according to sources. Torrealba, 29, would play the rest, saving wear-and-tear on his right shoulder.
For Castro, the new role would amount to a breakthrough — he has never started more than 57 games in a season, and started only 32 and 35 games, respectively, the past two years behind Lo Duca.
Torrealba started a career-high 105 games for the National League champion Rockies last season, but his previous high was 61 the year before.
The Mets are prepared to settle on Castro and Torrealba after striking out in their bids for the Yankees' Jorge Posada as a free agent and the Orioles' Ramon Hernandez in a trade.
Both Castro and Torrealba are right-handed hitters. Castro made offensive strides last season, hitting 11 homers in 144 at-bats. Torrealba's career-high eight homers for the Rockies came in 396 at-bats.
Neither was successful throwing out base stealers — Castro was 2-for-29 and Torrealba 13-for-74, including two for his last 52. Rival scouts and executives attribute Torrealba's throwing troubles, in part, to his shoulder problems.
The Mets' plan is a stunning repudiation of Lo Duca, a free agent who turns 35 in April. While some Mets pitchers liked throwing to Lo Duca, club officials were not as enamored with his game-calling and overall play.
Lo Duca's .311 on-base percentage last season was the lowest of his career as a regular. He also struggled with opposing base stealers, throwing out only 17 of 89.
The Marlins could seek to re-acquire Lo Duca, who played for them in 2004 and '05. The Rockies plan to replace Torrealba with Chris Iannetta, but could pursue Lo Duca or a lesser free agent such as Damian Miller for a part-time, mentoring role.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7445988**********
Seems like Lo Duca's on the decline, offensively and defensively, so I don't know who will take a chance on him, other than as a mentor to a younger catcher.