The Mets signed Michael Barrett to a minor league deal, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The catcher will report to class A Port St. Lucie and will likely be promoted to Triple A Buffalo within a few weeks, according to Rubin.
Barrett, 33, hit 16 homers three consecutive times for the Cubs from 2004-06, never posting an OPS below .824 in that time. He hasn't been nearly as productive since the Cubs traded him to the Padres midway through the 2007 season, but he still has a .263/.320/.422 career line. Barrett appeared in the majors briefly last year, backing up Rod Barajas for the Blue Jays. If he plays well in the minors and the Mets call on Barrett, he will once again be backing up Barajas.
I thought he was dead
Why on earth do the Mets need another catcher?
If they trade Thole for Lee, they just may.
Weird… they already have a good backup AAA catcher in J.R. House. Prospect Josh Thole will certainly be the starter once hes sent down (which you figure would be soon), giving Buffalo its typical Thole/House tandem. So, essentially, what’s the need for Barrett?
This is for depth… its a precursor for what is about to come. Thole is going to be shipped off to the M’s
That’s what I was thinking/hinting at, though I’m still hesitant to say it is. We’ll see what happens.
As a Sox fan, I love the idea of Lee going to the Mets.
Thole for Lee trade!!
i say its a pre-cursor to Thole being traded.
i’m thinking the same thing man.
I don’t get it. Mets have enough catching depth.
While I hope it’s a precursor to Thole being dealt in a package for Cliff Lee, aren’t we really just way-over-analyzing a minor league Michael Barrett signing?
barajas and barrett what other 09 jays catchers do they want…. raul chavez?
He will probably just get let go in 2 weeks, this should be a meaningless signing.
guess this kills the rumor that the mets are trading for Zambrano
Well, at the least now we know the Mets aren’t going to be trading for Zambrano…although with Barrett around, Big Z wouldn’t have to beat up on the Gatorade machine.
haha…thank god
I just saw Thole at the DMV applying for his Washington drivers license.
wow…if Omar is able to pull off a package of Thole/F-Mart for Lee…you can give him exec of the year right now
The Cubs would take that deal in a second…
Wait you meant Cliff Lee? For Martinez and Thole? The two draft picks they would get has compensation would have very similar value. So I don’t see that happening. I would think it will take 4 – 6 prospects to land that Cliff Lee.
Add John Maine, Oliver Perez (with Mets flipping the bill), FMart, Thole and two other top 300 prospects. And maybe…
So you want Derrick Lee instead?
Where do you get the notion that 2 draft picks…of which u have no idea
where the rank/order may lie…would be similar value to martinez/thole?
Where do you get the notion that 2 draft picks…of which u have no idea
where the rank/order may lie…would be similar value to martinez/thole?
The Cubs would take that deal in a second…
Wait you meant Cliff Lee? For Martinez and Thole? The two draft picks they would get has compensation would have very similar value. So I don’t see that happening. I would think it will take 4 – 6 prospects to land that Cliff Lee.
Add John Maine, Oliver Perez (with Mets flipping the bill), FMart, Thole and two other top 300 prospects. And maybe…
So you want Derrick Lee instead?
Rob Johnson and Adam Moore would surely welcome a third catcher who can’t hit for any power. No organization is complete without three no-hit catchers (four if you count Eliejosh Alfonzbard).
My bet is that it’s for depth. When they’ve had catching issues this season, they’ve pulled up Omir Santos once from Binghamton and Josh Thole twice from Buffalo. Meanwhile, Thole doesn’t really have a MLB vet in Buffalo to tutor him. Chris Coste was projected in that role but was grabbed by the Nats off of waivers then the Mets tried to farm him in April. Frankly, I was surprised they didn’t grab him back when Nats cut him earlier this month, but Barrett will be just as good a guide and probably a better insurance policy if they need a backup in Flushing.
My bet is that it’s for depth. When they’ve had catching issues this season, they’ve pulled up Omir Santos once from Binghamton and Josh Thole twice from Buffalo. Meanwhile, Thole doesn’t really have a MLB vet in Buffalo to tutor him. Chris Coste was projected in that role but was grabbed by the Nats off of waivers then the Mets tried to farm him in April. Frankly, I was surprised they didn’t grab him back when Nats cut him earlier this month, but Barrett will be just as good a guide and probably a better insurance policy if they need a backup in Flushing.
Michael Barrett is an oft-injured useless bum.
Michael Barrett is an oft-injured useless bum.
I loved Michael Barrett in MLB 2K6 use to always smash doubles with him.
I am sure the Cubs are grateful to have shipped off Barrett and given Zambrano a 5 year contract for 90+ million a few years back.