Padres sign Yorvit Torrealba
February 6th, 2010 | Published in Myron Logan, San Diego Padres, baseball, contracts, roster moves | 4 Comments
by Myron Logan
On Friday, Jed Hoyer and the Padres signed veteran catcher Yorvit Torrealba to a one year, $1.25 million deal, with a mutual option in 2011.
Assuming $3.5 million per win, the Padres are paying Torrealba like a .3-.4 WAR player. That is probably a slight bargain for Torrealba, who, as a part time catcher, has averaged about .8 WAR a year over the last three years.
While the contract is fine and Torreabla actually adds something at catcher for the Pads, he’s obviously by no means a difference maker. He’ll be 32 years old and his wOBA has hovered around .300 in hitter-friendly Colorado. He hits the ball on the ground a lot — about 55% of the time — which might help to ease the transition to Petco, though generally is not a good sign for a slow-moving catcher.
What has to be applauded about the deal, though, is that rather than overpaying for a veteran catcher, Hoyer and company, if anything, underpaid on the free agent market. You could argue, like I have before, that they would have been better off going with someone making the minimum, and putting the $1.25M to use elsewhere. But, if it’s going to be spent on this year’s roster, at least it is being spent effectively.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:15 pm (#)
As you said, good signing. So, are the Padres going to carry three catchers, after what’s happened the last two years?
February 6th, 2010 at 11:36 pm (#)
No, I don’t think the Pads can afford to carry three catchers, especially when none of them offer much with the bat. Just have to hope that Hundley/Torrealba can provide reasonable production.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:22 pm (#)
What is the PA appearance breakdown you’d give for the likely Padre catchers now?
vr, Xei
February 7th, 2010 at 8:33 pm (#)
I think Hundley will get the majority, maybe 60-70%. Torrealba will probably get the rest (though an injury could obviously change that).