Mets Submit Offers to Molina and Bay

Written by Matt Ryan | 11 December 2009

According to multiple reports confirmed by Jon Heyman and Mike Fatcessa, the Mets have made initial offers to Bengie Molina and Jason Bay. 

This is a classic good news, bad news scenario.  I still believe that Jason Bay is best suited as a DH, but I can't get over the thought of him batting cleanup for the Mets.  That lineup would be insane.  Bay hits 30 home runs with regularity, and he holds a respectable .376 career OBP.  I still think Matt Holliday is more of a complete player, but Jason Bay is the better overall hitter.  So if the Mets are serious about pursuing Bay, I can't complain.

But this is the Mets were talking about. Good news is always accompanied by bad news.  I can't get over Minaya's obsession with aging catchers.  Especially not Bengie Molina.  There's no question that Molina is a solid hitting catcher.  But he is the slowest player in baseball, and he posted an abysmal .285 OBP last year.  The guy is a serious rally killer, and the Mets have way too many of those.  Not to mention, he's 35 years old and he plays the most demanding position in baseball.  To invest 2 years, $16 million in him would be inexcusable.  It would be such a typical Mets mistake.  Why not give Thole and Santos a chance to platoon, and use the extra money on Holliday/Bay/Lackey.  It makes too much sense.