Other: Gregg Zaun 300 PAs and a right-handed catcher 300 PAs. 

Although Molina's defense dropped off a bit, he still had a good year behind the plate and a great year with the bat. He comes up with hits when the other hitters are slumping and stops the skids. Pitchers seem to like him, and he likes Toronto. He's not worth $7.5m, and I think he knows that too, which is why he told JP that the contract option is not the only option for keeping him in Toronto.

Gregg Zaun has been with the team for a couple years now as a somewhat full-time player, getting appearances at DH when Molina was behind the plate. He's a fairly decent defensive catcher and can come through with the bat. He gets on base. But he does get tired; his production tends to drop off mid-way through the season, and it would be unreasonable to expect a solid 500 PA from him--so keep in mind that you will probably see a lot of Phillips, too. He likes being in Toronto and isn't trying to get them to break the bank to sign him, he just wants a fair salary. And who can blame him? He plays hard and helps guys out, and his veteran presence is an asset to the clubhouse.

To be honest, I like both guys on the team. The choice is tough but if I could pick either one with all other things equal I would pick Bengie. But considering that Zaun will probably command less money in the free agent market, his rapport with fans, and his track record of effort in Toronto, I expect to see him in a Jays uniform next year. It will essentially come down to money, and given that the Jays need two middle-rotation starters, the better bargain will be the catcher next season.

Zaun went into a two month slump July and August. He hit .182 and .211 for each of those months. However, he still maintained a decent OBP due to his ability to take a walk. This coincided with the Jays fall from contention.

In 2005 he had 434 AB's and in 2006 he had 290 AB's. I think to say he wears down isn't accurate. I know that was thrown around in 05 when he was virtually the everyday guy, but wearing down or tiring, shouldn't have been an issue this past season.

Personally I'd approach with caution, given his age and being prone to extended slumps.

Ricciardi has to spend his budget on future projection, not on past performance reward.

If Zaun wants starters money and a two yr term my tandem would be a "budget " Molina and Philips combo. Mind you, doing Sportsnet playoff analysis was definitely good PR.

Here's some numbers on Zaun and Molina

Stat	Zaun	Molina
EQA	0.271	0.254
CERA	4.34	4.40
CS%	23.6%	18.1%
SB/G	0.73	0.72
PB/G	0.12	0.12

Defensively they look pretty similar to me.  Zaun throws out more runners, but more teams run on him so it's a wash.  The team ERA is essentially the same with either.  Zaun is the better hitter. 

The choice between the two seems pretty easy to me.

And if I were Zaun I'd want Molina's $4.5 million contract this year.

I would like to see Zaun re-sign as the primary catcher, but with the stipulation that we find a capable backup who can catch about one game a series, or twice a week to keep Da Peppa Pot from burning himself out. Think 2005, with a better backup than Huckaby. I love Zaunie but he's got to realize he's got some limitations and that he's not a 120 or 130 start catcher. Fortunately for us, I don't think too many teams see him as a big time regular either, so we could remain his best option, which might also hold his price down to around $3-4 mil over 2 years plus a club option for a 3rd. I think that would be fair.

Molina was overpaid last year and the only way I see him coming back is as a platoon lefty mashing DH and he'd probably be too expensive for that role. I'm no scout, but to my inexperienced eyes, he is not a major league catcher anymore and he is not able to accept that at this point, so it is time to part ways and wish him all the best. He appears to be a heck of a nice guy and a great teammate and according to his CERA works with the pitchers as well as Zaunie in his first year of working with them. I think his passed ball totals are misleading because I think a lot of wild pitches happened on his watch that a more mobile catcher could've got his body in front of rather than just shooting for the backhanded stab. I have no numbers to back this up, just subjective observation, which I know can be quite suspect. I wonder  if that's a stat that is tracked anywhere?

For me it all comes down to if you're Blue Jay pitcher X and you've got a runner on 3rd and the catcher calls for the curve, slider, splitter etc and you know you might bounce it, who you going to want back there? Between Zaun and Molina, no offence Bengie but I'm taking the more mobile catcher every time. I think Zaun also genuinely wants to be here, which means he should be happy provided he can accept 400ish plate appearances as a catcher.

Hypnotize Bengie and Zaunie, convince them it's 2006 and they have to play together.  They are Cheech and Chong!!!!

I'm sorry, love the man, but Zaun isn't enough to be primary catcher. He got broken down in 2005 and the whole back up thing was a mess. 

Catchers wear out so fast, there's no point in keeping good ones on the farm. Curtis Thigpen, come on up!