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I don't think we can say cheaper than Loria..... yet. It made sense to clear the books once they got the team. It was horribly constructed and destined to fail. Their 1 and only glaring mistake was trading Yelich with 5 years of control. We don't need to get into that, but I don't think we can call them cheap for tearing down and creating a positive payroll scenario. The rebuild was set back at least 1-2 years through the failures of Brinson/Harrison/Isan, to a lesser extent the VVM/Guzman/Scotts of the world, injuries such as Sixto still not having a large impact, and the pandemic. That happens, but doesn't go to being "cheap." They could have probably started spending last year, but hey, it's been a crazy 2 years. No cheap criticisms for me up to this offseason. Things have changed now though as they have achieved their goal of clearing the books and acquiring a team/deep farm of talent to draw from. As for what we can evaluate them on: The minor league investments have been substantial - VVM, Mesa Jr., Salas, and Cappe alone have cost them $12.5m. Loria would have never spent this. For the draft, they have consistently gone for it and paid their 2nd/3rd picks they believe in (notably, Fulton, Mack, Nunez, Fitterer, Banfield... this is around $9m). Loria would have never done this. Likewise, they haven't cheaped out with Meyer, Bleday, and Watson. We can debate whether these were good expenditures of money for the farm, as all of those names aren't creating real value yet, but they rose to the occasion and spent more than needed here. I will credit them for that financially. It's hard to peg the MLB roster, but they haven't been cheap with Garcia (they guaranteed a 4th year and really spent for him), Sandy (largest contract ever for a P with his service, I was expecting $5-7m less on the deal and no option), and Aguilar (he is a luxury player at his $7-8 arbitration tender price with acceptable Cooper/Lewin cheaper replacements). There is not much more to evaluate here (I guess we can say they low balled Starling Marte, if that's true), but those 3 moves are not cheap moves to me. Those 3 moves say they understand and are going to go for it. They don't sign Garcia if they don't have a plan. They sign Dickerson/Duvall 1 year deal again. I think they are going to put together a team we like by the end, but saying the team is in amazing shape as-is is too far for me. They have glaring short and longterm holes at CF. They have longterm issues at C (are Banfield, Fortes, and Mack good?), 1B (if Lewin fails), and 3B (nothing beyond Anderson) and need a minimum of 5+ WAR to add to the team this year. They only can really do that in CF/bench/bullpen players (or a larger positional reshuffle). They also need a BIG farm year, because I'm expecting one of Meyer/Watson/Eury and Burdick/Nunez/Morisette to get shot out for players, and combined with Misner, Scott, Nicolas, and Thompson being shipped out, and likely another guy or two being traded at the deadline, we're talking about half the Marlins top 16-20 prospects being shipped out, and another multiple (Sixto, Cabrera, Bleday, Meyer) graduating to MLB level. The farm will be OK after that, but they need to commit to going over-slot with their 2nd/3rd draft pick and spending big in IFA to replenish things. They did an incredible job getting guys like Mack/I. Lewis/Eury last few years this way, so they definitely need to do it again and not forget to address the minors, as they put finishing pieces on the majors. It's basically what I have been fuming about - they have every tool in front of them to succeed right now and only themselves will hold them back. Which is why this is a do or die moment for me. I'll never trust this front office if they don't realize what they have right now and finish the job. They are absolutely CHEAP and worse than Loria if this team has any deficiencies at the MLB level opening day.

I disagree with giving up both Pablo and Meyer for someone who, as of now, a one hit wonder who played in the most hitter friendly park. He may sustain it, I just don't want to overpay and get burnt. Also the Orioles wouldn't take Pablo, they're not exactly on the cusp of competition here. And no I don't disagree with all the other moves that have been suggested, don't assume.

No.

I hate to break it to you, there is never baseball this time of year.

I don't view these things the same on a "cheapness" level. Resigning Realmuto as a 28 year old catcher for $100m+ when you're not going to contend for 3 years as the team around him sucks so maybe you extract value out of him when he's 31/32 would have been risky. Catchers don't usually age well. He's done it so far, but who knew/knows. The Realmuto decision wasn't a bad one. It was right to ship him out for a high end prospect and not spend on him. Loria left the team a mess and they had to course correct. Same with Marte. I'm not sure what the "fiasco" is to you, but if they low balled him for 3/$40 or whatever that's silly of them (to note, I don't believe for a second Marte's agent would let him sign a 3/$40 contract. No way with the way he was playing). Signing him for ages 33-35/36 for $60-80m is even more risky than Realmuto in 2018 for a guy whose value is dependent on being an above average center fielder/speed. Marte had a .372 BABIP (career .344) last year. The Mets contract is going to be a disaster for them, which I love because it's great for Marte as he's been through a lot (wife, etc.) and bad for the Mets. I'd take 5 years of Luzardo and $60m+ million to devote elsewhere every time. To note, Garcia and Marte have the same WAR projection next year (2.9 WAR), so hard to say you like one and not the other. The only difference is, the Marlins still need a CF but that doesn't mean Garcia is a bad player. This doesn't scream cheap to me (the initial lowball offer sure, but he's 33-35/36 so why not?). It was the right decision to not have emotions dictate a CF signing. He's not the right guy for this team unless we project a $120m+ payroll where it wouldn't matter (we can call them cheap for not spending $120m if we want?). For Garcia, a 4/$53 contract is not "cheap shit" to patch a hole. That's a legitimate FA starter contract. Most projections for Garcia had him making far less, so they really went out and got him. "Cheap shit" would have them signing Eddie Rosario for 1/$8 to fill the "Garcia" roll and hope for some magic. Which brings us to, have they done anything that shows they're not cheaper than Loria? Well, I just went over that. The farm system player investments are IMMENSELY different. It's why they have built a 22/23 man roster for $65m and have a farm stacked with 15+ guys who could be positive major leaguers. It's not just the output of signing all the guys mentioned, there have been organizational infrastructure/admin improvements. It's an IMMENSE difference in minor league/draft spending from Loria in this area, and they deserve credit. Loria does not sign VVM/Salas/Cappe/Mesa Jr./Mack/Banfield/Fulton/Fitterer, and maybe even passes guys like Watson and takes a cheaper player. So that brings us to the majors, and there was no reason to spend for 3 years, then the pandemic hit, and now we are here. I agree fully (have you seen me this thread?), that baseball teams have to sign guys and retain talent, but first, you can't fault them for making no-brain decisions(?), and second, this is why RIGHT NOW is the front office's moment and I am done with them if nothing happens. They've built up everything for this offseason, and if they lay an egg, they don't care and it's about the money. I will fully agree, they are worse than Loria if they don't see what they have and finish the job. It'll be because they are cheap or incompetent. I am optimistic neither of those will happen as everything besides Yelich has made sense for them, but you never know. We will see what we do, but we should all be horrified if they sign bench players to finish out this team.

All i know, is after 27 years as a marlins fan, i just wait and see. Not worth getting hopes up and being disappointed lol