Catcher Bengie Molina reportedly could sign with the Mets within days, and that would please at least one member of the team’s pitching staff.
“I feel a really good catcher can make a pitching staff better,” John Maine told MLB.com today. “He’s a good catcher. He’s always been a good catcher. I think he’s going to help all of us out anyway. It’s going to be a big plus if we get him.”
ESPN has reported that Molina could sign “within 48 to 72 hours,” now that the 35-year-old free agent has lowered his contract demands from three years to two. GM Omar Minaya would prefer one year with a vesting option for a second.
Speaking at a Citi Field charity event today, Maine said he’d prefer to see Molina behind the plate instead of at it.
“Pitching to him, he’s a tough hitter,” Maine said. “He’s a guy who’s got some power, but also a guy who has a good idea of hitting. [He] hits the ball the opposite way. He’s a tough out. He’s productive.”
Molina hit 20 home runs and had 80 RBIs for the Giants last season. Toronto is another possible destination.
“He’s got that veteran presence. He’s got that leadership for a young pitching staff, and offensively, he produces,” David Wright said. “When you have a guy who can catch, throw, call a game, be a leader and then produce offensively — you don’t see that too often.”