01/23: Molina: Yanks Would Be Nice
Posted by: James
Benjie Molina seems to have missed out on the free-agent shopping spree that was taking place earlier in the off-season. He wasn't even offered arbitration from his former team, the Angels. Still, he holds out hope that he will be signed soon and says there are several teams still interested, one of whom is the Yankees.
Hey, I'm a dreamer but if I was a GM and was looking for a backup catcher who wouldn't be a huge dropoff at the plate if, God forbid, Jorge was to get hurt, a certain Mr. Piazza, who is still looking for a job, would be tops on my list and would certainly be more attractive than Molina.
"(The Angels) just didn't do their part," Molina said of the split. "They were just trying to save my money for the younger kids. People think that the Angels offered me money but they never offered me nothing, nada. I never turned down anything because they never offered me anything.
According to Molina, several teams are still showing interest in the catcher's services. He and his agent, Alan Nero, have continued talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the New York Yankees, who would like to find someone to platoon behind the plate along with current catcher Jorge Posada.
Molina said he would like to keep playing close to home on the West Coast, making the Dodgers an ideal fit. But the idea of putting on the pinstripes for George Steinbrenner's Yankees also has its appeal.
"(The Yankees) would be great," Molina said. "It would be a lot of fun to play there."
Molina said he believes his worth as a veteran catcher with a .273 career batting average is around $6 million a year, which is $2 million more than the possible offers he has been hearing so far. If a deal isn't reached with a Major League team soon, the idea of sitting out a season remains a possibility.
According to Molina, several teams are still showing interest in the catcher's services. He and his agent, Alan Nero, have continued talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the New York Yankees, who would like to find someone to platoon behind the plate along with current catcher Jorge Posada.
Molina said he would like to keep playing close to home on the West Coast, making the Dodgers an ideal fit. But the idea of putting on the pinstripes for George Steinbrenner's Yankees also has its appeal.
"(The Yankees) would be great," Molina said. "It would be a lot of fun to play there."
Molina said he believes his worth as a veteran catcher with a .273 career batting average is around $6 million a year, which is $2 million more than the possible offers he has been hearing so far. If a deal isn't reached with a Major League team soon, the idea of sitting out a season remains a possibility.
Hey, I'm a dreamer but if I was a GM and was looking for a backup catcher who wouldn't be a huge dropoff at the plate if, God forbid, Jorge was to get hurt, a certain Mr. Piazza, who is still looking for a job, would be tops on my list and would certainly be more attractive than Molina.
Jason O. wrote:
I've been thinking about the brazilian supermodel magnet as Jorgie's platoon-mate since the Mets severed ties to the best run-producer in the history of their franchise.
Then the rational mind takes over and Mike falls into the Frank Thomas class of coin flip between potential cream puff vs. potential late career resurgence.
It would be really cool, but if the yanks are going to take a flyer, Clemens is the guy.