Is Ramon Hernandez On The Trading Block?

The Colorado Rockies just cannot quit Yorvit Torrealba.

Hernandez might be available, if another team wants him. Image: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher Ramon Hernandez was signed one year ago to provide veteran leadership. Presumably the Rockies front office said to themselves, “Well, he’s no Yorvit Torrealba, but he’ll do.” Now the real Yorvit is back in the fold, and even if he hasn’t made the team yet, that makes catcher an “area of particular surplus.” Ken Rosenthal’s words, not mine. But come on…it’s Yorvit freakin’ Torrealba! (and yes, there is also utility man Jordan Pacheco to play behind the plate).

With Wilin Rosario working diligently on his defense and Hernandez slated to make $3.2 million, Rosenthal wonders if the Rockies might start shopping the veteran catcher.

Presumably the Rockies would want a starting pitcher in return in a trade. And presumably opposing executives would laugh at them almost as hard as they did all off-season. As HardballTalk’s Aaron Gleeman notes, a Hernandez trade would probably serve strictly as a financial move. It’s hard to imagine the team getting any real talent in return for an aging, injury prone catcher who was barely north of the Mendoza line last season.

This speculation is consistent with the Rockies’ M.O. this off-season. No major moves, just some tweaks here and there. Shuffling the catchers who will play behind Rosario qualifies as that type of tweaking, but it still might be useful. Especially if it frees up time for Yorvit Torrealba.

Yorvit! Yorvit! Yorvit!