Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is a pending free agent, and signs are pointing that the Mets front office might not want him back next season. Lo Duca was denied an extension by the Mets in the spring, and judging by the current headlines he’s making, this might be a reason why. Lo Duca had a mild breakdown with the New York media following Thursday’s Mets/Cardinals rain out.

“I’ll do this (interview), but you need to start talking to other players,” Lo Duca announced loudly after he was approached by a radio reporter after the Mets-Cardinals series finale was washed out by rain. “It’s the same three or four people every day. Nobody else wants to talk. Some of these guys have to start talking. They speak English, believe me.”

While Lo Duca has said he meant nothing by it, and on the surface it appears none of the Mets fourteen Latino players were offended, the front office might have a different take. Sources close to the Mets are saying they are in talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates regarding catcher Ronny Paulino. Whether this takes place before the July 31st trading deadline or in the offseason remains the question. Paulino is a young catcher who doesn’t draw attention to himself, with his best playing days ahead of him; unlike the thirty-five year old Lo Duca. This year’s free agent class of catchers is going to be relatively thin (most notably Jorge Posada & Michael Barrett, who both aren’t getting any younger). If any type of replacement is on the horizon, Omar Minaya needs to address the catcher need before he lets Lo Duca walk. Ramon Castro is a sold backup, but not the catcher you want behind the plate 120 times a year.

This isn’t the first time Lo Duca has made headlines in his short Mets career. When he first arrived, rumors swirled regarding his gambling habits. Shortly after that he was on the front page of the New York tabloids after his wife filed for divorce amid allegations of Lo Duca’s philandering. Most recently was his two game suspension given by the league for a meltdown last Saturday when he littered the field with his catching equipment after being ejected.