Rockies far from signing Torrealba

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, November 19, 2007

The Rockies are right back where they were a week ago with free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba – far from reaching a deal.

With the Mets backing out of a three-year, $14.4 million agreement with Torrealba, Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd resumed talks with agent Melvin Roman on Monday, but no progress was made.

The Rockies aren’t moving off their two-year, $7 million offer. Torrealba is asking for a three-year deal or $9 million for two years.

``We are still interested (in re-signing Torrealba), but we are far apart,’’ O’Dowd said. ``We have the same difference we had that led him to accept the offer from the Mets. We will continue to talk with him but we also will continue to move along with other options.’’

One option appears to be on the verge of disappearing – Jason Kendall, who is finalizing a deal with Milwaukee. That still leaves Michael Barrett and Paul Lo Duca along with Torrealba with the Rockies, Mets and Florida the remaining teams looking for a regular catcher.

In the last couple of days, the market of available talent has grown with the Brewers looking to unload Johnny Estrada, Baltimore shopping Ramon Hernandez, and San Francisco looking to move Bengie Molina.

Second baseman Kazuo Matsui, meanwhile, appears headed to the Houston Astros. That could create an interesting possibility for the Rockies, who a year ago asked for Chris Burke in the Jason Jennings trade, but settled for Willy Taveras. If Matsui signs Houston would seem likely to move Burke, who could fit into the Rockies second base battle, although the feeling right now is Jayson Nix will get the first shot. Nix was MVP of the World Cup, which Team USA won on Sunday by beating Cuba.