The Mets have signed Frank Catalanotto to a minor league deal, tweets Marc Carig of The Star-Ledger. The deal includes an invitation to Spring Training, according to Bart Hubbuch of The New York Post (via Twitter).
The 35-year-old native New Yorker hit .278/.346/.382 in 162 plate appearances for Milwaukee last year, and he's mostly a corner outfielder/first baseman these days. Catalanotto is a .273/.358/.396 career hitter off the bench, so he could serve as the team's primary lefty pinch hitter. He's also performed significantly better against right handers throughout his career.
The Brewers and Marlins were also believed to have some interest in Catalanotto.
Not sure what the point of this is after they signed Tatis.
DEPTH… why don’t people understand the limited risk that goes with minor league deals??????? guys get hurt during spring training… guys under-perform during spring training… teams make trades during spring training… WOW
I like the move but how much depth do you need at 1B & OF, but none at the SP position?
its a good depth move; but you can see why people are upset though right? It’s perceived that Omar is more worried about the 24th and 25th guys on the roster instead of the starting rotation; not saying its true, its just how it looks.
there’s a chance to pick up an ok veteran lefty bat who can play outfield and first base on a MINOR LEAGUE DEAL. do you really think omar was too busy completing this deal to pay attention to the pitchers? this move and failed attempts at lackey/pineiro/garland/davis/wolf are COMPLETELY UNRELATED… the rotation is obviously there biggest need but this move is after all of the solid rotation candidates are off the market. do you want omar to just give up now that he missed nearly every off-season target? being upset about missing out on starting pitchers is all fine and dandy but there’s ZERO reason to be upset about this signing…
A good deal. The Mets have needed this type of all around utility guy for a while and finally have it. A good clubhouse guy, from Long Island, and a good bench player. Tatis just platoons with Murphy at first so Catalanotto absolutely has uses
The guy can hit, should be a good pinch hitter, and platoon guy. This is a good signing.
Great pickup….but what about when Beltran comes
Well, what time are you expecting him?
Great pickup….but what about when Beltran comes
Then he’ll just pinch hit. But its a minor league deal, they aren’t losing much money over this even if he doesn’t start too often. And again, injuries do and will happen and his versatility will be exceptionally useful. A very good pick up.
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Amazing….didn’t know he played baseball. I thought he just did John Madden impressions and starred on FrankTV!
The Mets NEED DEPTH. We don’t want to see the possibility of a guy like Cory Sullivan starting every day, do we?
Great signing by the Mets. I met Catalanotto last month (great guy) and he said he is very close to Carlos Delgado.
I’m actually not complaining.
This is probably my favorite offseason pick up for the Mets so far. A lot of people have said that he is like having a second hitting coach and he is just a fantastic clubhouse guy. And I’m sure he’s excited to play with the Mets after growing up in Long Island. Solid pickup
The fact that this is your favorite offseason pickup for the Mets is proof just how poor an offseason they are having.
Guess you’re not a fan of Jason Bay..
GREAT pickup for the Mets though.
Hahaha I love the Jason Bay signing. And yeah I should of specified I meant other than Bay this was my favorite signing.
What a great deal for the Met’s! As a Yankee fan I’d much prefer Catalanotto than Randy Winn.
No, Yankees needed an 4th OF who can hit LHP, Catalanotto has a career OPS of .656 v LHP. Winn has a career OPS of .758 v LHP. Winn is also close to an elite defensive OF.
The guy barely played the field last season. He’s a good guy, and used to be a better player, but really?
Cat chose mets over the Cubs and a job at ESPN – that is still on the table for him if he doenst make the Queens bound team outta spring training
I think his Madden impersonation is pretty much spot on. The others… not so much.
I think his Madden impersonation is pretty much spot on. The others… not so much.
The Mets have done alot of good, if small, baseball moves this year. Signing Tatis, Coste, Blanco, Fogg, Escobar, Gary Matthews Jr., and Catalanotto are all just good sense that help shore up the bullpen and the bench.
And for those of you who think that the Mets should have broken the bank for, let’s say, anyone not named Bay, Holliday, or Lackey, you’re dreaming. Take a look at the 2011 free agents, as well as the Mets farm system (Ike Davis, anyone?) for clues as to why they’re not short-term mortgaging their franchise.
Is Omar trying to make a new minor league team or something? He is leaving out something.PITCHING.Better hurry while they are still some pitchers on the market before they won’t be a decent pitcher to sign.Then they could have added players to fill out there roster spots/spring training invites ect.I can understand why Mets fans are so pissed all the time with an idiot like Omar as your GM.
Except that with a history of widespread injuries, the various question marks about the returning core players, and the poor showing from the utility corps last year, there is nothing stupid about providing more competent depth than the team possessed last season. This is not a case of “either, or.” The team needs starting pitching for sure, but it could also use a solid upgrade for the bench.
Why sign pitching long term when there are better options in free agency in 2011? Expect Omar to look @ trade deals mid-season if the Mets are in the hunt, or afterwards if they’re not. Makes no sense to pick up a John Garland or Ben Sheets when there will be better options down the line.
Who said to anything about signing pitching long term???
So you want Ben Sheets at $10 Million? And Jon Garland at anything over $4 million?
And somehow you complain about Omar not wanting them? Let’s be honest here: I would have taken a flyer on Sheets- but it would have been a incentive laden deal, AND NOT THE $10 MILLION DEAL he got with the A’s. Why? He didn’t pitch last year, and has a history of injuries. Garland? He lets up alot of hits, and manages to hide it by not walking many batters. Mets already have Oliver Perez. He’s not worth the money.
Plus, like you said, the Mets might trade for Brandon Webb. But those pitchers would make that trade not happen by eating up roster space (and money).