Paul Lo Duca is once again a Marlin. Lo Duca came to the Mets from Florida as part of a fire sale market correction, and has once again joined the team, though his current contract is a minor league one. Paulie was released after the trade deadline by the Nats who are looking to go younger.

Lo Duca hit just .230 with the Nats, but spent more than his fair share of time on the DL.

Lo Duca is on pace to spend the 2009 season in low A ball in the Dodgers system. I liked Lo Duca and all as a Met, but its looking pretty apparant at this point that its about time for him to hang up his mask, or I guess with his temper to toss it really hard at the closet or something.

Mark Zuckerman of the Washington Times reports that the Nationals released catchers Paul Lo Duca, Johnny Estrada and infielder Felipe Lopez.

They released $11.15 million worth of players with Lopez was making $4.9 million, Lo Duca at $5 million and Estrada at $1.25.

Former Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is set to wed Rietsa Lelekakis in a Greek Orthodox ceremony in January 2009. Lo Duca met Lelekakis two years ago, when he saw her singing and dancing at Ultra Lounge, a Garden City nightclub.

“When I saw her, I asked the owner, ‘Who is that girl?’ He introduced us, and she didn’t give me the time of day.”

Lo Duca was persistant and eventually won her over. He proposed at her 28th birthday party at their Westbury home.

Click here for more pictures of the soon to be bride.

Hat tip to Jim Baumbach on his blog for Newsday.

Former Mets, now Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca is set to miss 4-6 weeks with a fracture in the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand.

Lo Duca, 36, signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with Nationals in the offseason. He had surgery in January to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee and had a previous injury with his right hand that put him on the shelf for a few weeks earlier in the season.

I can’t say that I’m not happy with Brian Schneider, but the one thing that I think a lot of Mets fans loved about Lo Duca was the fire. It seems as if the Mets have lost that or are at least not showing it. The Mets have to show emotion. I’m not sure if it’s Willie Randolph that is stopping them or what, but I think the fans are looking for the emotion from 2006 and early 2007 to some extent.

Former Met Paul Lo Duca has been activated from the DL by the Nats. Paulie has been on the DL since the 18th, after getting hit by a pitch. He takes the spot of Chad Cordero , who as mentioned yesterday will be out at least four weeks.

In Yankee land, the AP reports that while Jorge Posada will not require surgery, he’ll miss a minimum of five weeks with a shoulder injury. Its his first trip to the DL in his career.

Still no word yet from the AZ on if the Mets will option Gustavo Molina or DL Brian Schneider . Schneider says he is ready if needed as a backup, as mentioned…everywhere…earlier. However, due to his recent finger infection, he could only catch in an emergency situation. Since he has not played yet this week, a trip to the DL would only result in his loss for another six days.

The Washington Nationals have placed Paul Lo Duca on the DL, retroactive to the 14th.  Paulie was hit by a pitch in the hand in the Nats/Braves series last weekend, while facing Jeff Bennett. This follows Lo Duca’s preseason struggles with injury, and in his 12 games this season he’s hitting just .200 with 4 RBIs. He does have 3 doubles, putting him on pace to easily pass last seasons single filled 18.

Head on over to MLB.com to read Marty Noble’s latest mailbag where he answers questions on whether or not Keith Hernandez’s and Darryl Strawberry’s jersey numbers should be retired, Willie Randolph, and how he thinks Paul Lo Duca will be received in his return to Shea.

According to the AP, Paul Lo Duca is prepared to return to Shea as the enemy.

“I’ve got a great last name, because if they’re booing me, I can say they’re saying, ‘Duc.”

Lo Duca also tells them that despite some bitter feelings for the Mets management and the way his time ended in NY, he holds no ill will to the members Shea Nation.

They stuck by me. I owe a lot to them.

Lo Duca was signed as a free agent by the Nats in the offseason, where he joined traded outfielder Lastings Milledge. This will be their first return to Shea. Lo Duca is hitting .200 so far this season and suffered a mild injury during the offseason.  Lastings meanwhile, is doing better. He’s hitting .308 with 4 doubles and a homerun. He has not as of yet highfived anyone at RFK II Stadium.

It should be interesting either way. At the very least I’m sure we’re to get some sort of classic Paul Lo Duca saying something he probably shouldn’t have post game interview.   

Paul Lo Duca will not catch President Bush, who is throwing at the first pitch at the Nationals new stadium. According to the Washington Post, formet Met coach Manny Acta will take Lo Duca’s spot.

The Post reported that this decision had nothing to do with the fact that Paul Lo Duca was mentioned in the Mitchel Report one or two 37 times. And for your fun fact of the day, last Nats catcher to catch President Bush: Brian Schneider.

Sure…nothing at all to do with Lo Duca and steroids. And Ruben Gotay won’t come back and haunt us either.