Rangers Sign Yorvit Torrealba To Two-Year, $6.25 Million Deal
Well, that's some quality timing. Just a few hours after I bemoaned the Rangers' inactivity to date in baseball's winter marketplace, they gave us all something to talk about, as Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting late this afternoon that Texas has signed free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba to a two-year, $6.25 million deal -- a move driven by the understanding that the Rangers' catching corps needs to improve in 2011, and recognition that the pieces needed to generate that next-year improvement don't appear to already exist within the organization.
What interests me about the structure of this deal is that it isn't in line with the seeming inflationary trend -- in both dollars and years -- for low-to-mid-range free agents (Juan Uribe, John Buck, etc.), or those more talented mercenaries whose upside is hindered by their age and injury history (Joaquin Benoit). There's a definite element of risk here, but Torrealba's history indicates a good chance of the Rangers being able to extract above-replacement level production out of him, and fosters hope that over a span of 350-400 plate appearances he can furnish at least one win above replacement, with an outside shot at something bigger and better than that. On a two-year, relatively low-cost commitment, the risk that Torrealba turns out to be an absolute lemon is adequately diminished, and the payoff could be bolstered catching production at a reasonable price.
You may have already breezed past Torrealba's player page on FanGraphs or Baseball Reference, noted that he posted roughly 2 1/2 wins above replacement last season in just 363 plate appearances, and now find yourself wondering why I seem to be so bearish on his projected future value. This stems from the necessity of incorporating several seasons of performance data (e.g. his 2008-10 numbers) into the forecast rather than merely his most recent season, and then accounting for the fact that he's a catcher going into his age-32 season -- yeah, there's a solid chance that he can hold it together physically for at least two more seasons, but you don't expect another career year on top of the career year he just enjoyed, and you certainly don't expect a substantial jump in playing time. A very crude and rudimentary attempt at replicating the Marcels forecasting method on my part suggests that one additional win per 350 plate appearances is a solid expectation for Torrealba in 2011, and, assuming that, you could do much worse for $3 million.
Now, of course, there are other considerations in the value discussion -- he banged out a very good .271/.343/.378 (103 sOPS+) in 2010 while logging half of his plate appearances in the notoriously pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park, and posted the single-best walk rate (9.1 percent) of his career, but how much of this will be affected by the switch to a more hitter-friendly ballpark (good) and a tougher overall league (bad)? And what of his defensive/game-calling abilities, which remain incredibly difficult to capture in the current array of fielding metrics? The Rangers are aggressively extolling Torrealba's behind-the-plate talents and intangibles, which I would imagine to be worth something, and this signing could look even better if you elect to get aggressive with your interpretation of that something.
I hesitate to use any word other than "solid" to describe this deal, because when you get right down to it, that's exactly what this is -- a solid signing. It's not great, but it's not bad; it is, however, a signing that needed to be made. And depending on how Texas views Matt Treanor and Taylor Teagarden, it may not be the Rangers' lone move for a backstop this winter, because if the determination is made that neither one of those guys can work as an adequate No. 2 catcher behind Torrealba ... well, then something else is going to have to happen. And maybe it should happen, anyway, because Torrealba's understudy will face no shortage in work, and the prospect of the Rangers' current catching options logging another 70-80 games behind the plate next season isn't exactly cause for celebration and joy.
Analysis, Hot Stove Season, Transactions
Reader Comments (35)
Takes care of that problem. I'm looking but I can't find stats on throwing out base stealers.
I hope Cliff Lee likes this dude.
I saw where he throws out about 38% or so. That will work.
Yorvit is a good defensive catcher or iused to be. Kind of a poor man's Pudge R.
This is a good move in that he was probably the best defensive catcher out there who can hit better than 220
Hmmm... I guess that's a good deal/signing. He hit .270 last year with 14 doubles and 7 HRs... his .343 OBP isn't bad either but what I'm really confused about is the number of games played. Apart from 2007, he hasn't put in anything close to what a starting catcher would play.... so is the $3M per year to play 120 games at catcher, or is he going to split time and platoon with someone else, like a Matt Treanor?
I understand we need a backup catcher TOO... but his numbers suggest that's exactly what HE is.
Don't get me wrong... even if JD over-paid a little to get him, it didn't cost any draft picks and he does have decent numbers. There were few options to upgrade the position anyway... so maybe JD hit another HR. Time will tell...
@Gonzo, Baseball-Reference has caught stealing percentages for all catchers.
And yes, I'm a fan of this move. A .700 OPS to go with a good defensive catcher.
He threw out base runners at 37% in 2010 and led the NL in fielding % for a catcher
Good value move
Whoa... Dodgers gave Juan freaking Uribe 3 years $21M... maybe I shouldn't complain about the Torrealba deal too much, huh? Looks like a relative bargain.
Looks to be the next step up from a Matt Treanor. Hope it turns out that way.
It looks like the Rangers signed Lowe as well.
I will have to look up the catcher, but it sounds good on the surface.
Just looked him up. Sounds pretty good to me. Any word on Molina coming back yet? I would be fine with Molina or Treanor coming back in a reserve role.
Has anyone mentioned that he played over half of his games in San Diego last year? I think his power numbers might creep up a bit.
Good to see something get done. I like this signing and I feel that resigning Treanor to be backup would be the safe move.
His name sounds like something out of a Leisle Neilsen movie
Looks like a great move to me! Much better than spending a bunch of money on guy like John Buck who has really only had one good yea. Great move by JD & staff IMO
This is a good sign at that price. Torrealba is still an above average defensive catcher and his offense is more than a black hole, so this is quite an upgrade over 2010.
Solid sign, excellent pitcher's catcher aka Molina-ish. Still need a second catcher like Russell Martin,who could also backup at 1b and 3b. Another plus for YT is that he is bilingual- a major plus in a defensive control of a game behind the plate. With no dis to a.300/20hr/80rbi catcher, that is priority no 1: to catch. And and contribute between the ears.
lg, what makes you think the Dodgers are going to just let Martin go? I suppose it could happen, but even though his production was down from his all-star years, he was still a 2 WAR player the last 2 seasons, and he still got on base at a solid clip. He's hardly worthless and the Dodgers know it. If for some reason they did let him go I'd love for the Rangers to pick him up but I'll be pretty surprised to see it happen.
BTW, another example of how tight-lipped this front office is. I don't recall any rumors linking the Rangers to Torrealba other than broad speculation about guys that fit their needs. And certainly no hint that a deal was close with anyone.
I've never bought anything from Abercrombie and Fitch and I sure as hell won't now. Get the F%$# out of my baseball site!
Wow, mlb.com isn't even reporting this on their main page. Gotta love that World Series boost the Rangers got to their reputation.
T ball we will know in a week, Dodgers are considering Non-tendering Russ Martin, knowing they may have over-Pudged him, ie 140 + starts over extended years even wearing down a hip- check out last year. Neither YT or RM. Should have to start + 100 games. TOgether catcher would be a + But all depends on what the Dodgers plan and what fits Ranger plans
Torrealba and Treanor. "Book 'em, Danno"
I like this deal. Mostly because Yorvit sounds a great deal like the title character in Eddie Murphy's smash hit comedy Norbit.
Finally some activity that really fills a major need...maybe we'll have announcements daily over the next week or two?
Remember when Texas was universally praised by all for it's absolutely amazing, stunning, and otherworldly catching depth? Shows you have fast things change in baseball.
@Marktown: Taken care of. That was random.
Is there still any chance they go out and get Rod Barajas or Russel Martin?
YAY! San Diego was my pitching staff last year in Fantasy Baseball and they were super. The catcher has to be a part of that equation. Nice move, here. But part of what makes it nice is the reasonable cost. Rangers can't and shouldn't buy 'um like the Yankees do.
From Jamey Newberg: "The Rangers have signed Japanese right-handed sidearm reliever Yoshinori Tateyama to a one-year major league contract with options for 2012 and 2013"
Isn't this guy an Asian Darren O'Day?
I would think that since he's signed to a MLB contract, he's not necessarliy seen as a guy that will have to fight for a spot in the pen, rather he's a semi-proven commidity, right? If so, who suddently becomes the odd man out?
Not sure I fully understand the fit here but you can never have too many arms in the bullpen. I guess I'm a little perplexed since we have a strong pen already and a bunch of bullpen arms in the minors.
Whatever! I trust JD.
Does anyone have a theory on where Feldman will end up? Will he be given another shot at the rotation... or is he destined to long relief... and if he's going to be our RH long reliever, where does that leave Nippert?
I can't imagine a guy making Feldman type money is going to waste away in the bullpen.
BTW - I know there's a stat projecting what a pitcher will do when moving from the NL to the AL... is there also one when moving from Japan to MLB? If so, where would this guy project in terms of ERA, WHIP, etc...?
@Pablo: "is there also one when moving from Japan to MLB?" Connect a line between the expectations and actual performances of Colby Lewis and Kaz Fukumori ... and your answer is somewhere between the two.
lingerie
underwear
women lingerie
It is a good shop ed hardy shop ,ablolutelly , you know this is a big brand ,and it is popular in england ed hardy. Variety of discount ed hardy clothing , ed hardy shirts. Most people in England, they buy ed hardy t-shirts , because the t-shirts wear confortable ,and look beautiful and cool , ed hardy case and ed hardy iphone are young students' best love .Tanks, Sunglasses, Bags and Wallets on Sale. Come inside ed hardy uk and pick the favorite ones at Exciting price!
i know a site,there has many game cards as r4itt,r4i,r4 sdhc revolution,r4 sdhc and so on! it makes me so happy! if
you like play game too,you can visit the site. http://www.volumerates.com/ i believe you can have your fun from it.
G-Switch for PS3 Slim
solar powered
P3Go GT-Break PS3GO GT-Break Jailbreak Chipset for PS3 Fat and Slim
G-Switch for PS3 Slim
solar powered gadgets
Novel Waterproof Red LED Digital Wrist Watch
Defensive Knife Disguised as Pen