Yorvit Torrealba Files a Grievance Against the Mets for Not Signing Him - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Just about every time you hear word of a sports transaction it's followed by a reminder that the deal is pending the player's successful passage of a physical. Usually that's a formality but, every now and then, you hear that a player fails and the deal falls apart.

One of those failures was in November when a seemingly done deal between Yorvit Torrealba and the Mets fell apart at the last minute. The Mets never publicly said what happened but all reports pointed to Torrealba's right shoulder as the reason for their change of heart. That hasn't sat well with the Rockie catcher or his agent so they've filed a grievance against the Mets for pulling the $14.4 million offer after a term sheet was signed.

Torrealba returned to the Rockies on a two-year, $7.25 million deal, with a mutual option for $4 million. The grievance will center on Torrealba's potential lost income. Even if the Rockies exercise his option, Torrealba stands to lose $3.15 million.

Now, my legal education may consist of a video shown before serving jury duty some years ago but term sheets and contracts aren't the same thing. Unless the Mets are using some real cut-rate attorneys, I'd guess that one of the terms they insisted on including was Torrealba's ability to pass a physical. Short of reneging on a signed contract, which the Mets aren't accused of, I don't see much justification for his aggrieved status.