gomarlins9703

Jason Taylor may hang it up At 32, DE makes 'no guarantees' about his future By Harvey Fialkov and Alex Marvez South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted January 1 2007 INDIANAPOLIS -- Could Jason Taylor have played his last game for the Dolphins? The Pro Bowl defensive end didn't discount the possibility following Sunday's 27-22 season-ending loss at the Colts. "Anything can happen," Taylor said when asked whether he would consider retirement in the offseason. "I'm not going to get into [possible reasons]... To be honest, yes, I will have to think about it and there are no guarantees." Considered the front-runner for the Defensive Player of the Year award, to be announced Friday, Taylor capped his standout season with a fumble recovery, four tackles and a hurry against the Colts. But Taylor, who will be 33 entering next season, has endured five consecutive years without a playoff appearance. Taylor also has struggled with a back injury since the preseason. "It's worse [this year]. [i'm] older. It gets tougher to get through some days during the week," Taylor said. "I was talking to Peyton [Manning] ... I would do anything in the world -- except for my wife and kids -- to play next week. But we didn't make it." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/footbal...-dolphins-front great.

awful

i think koplove has a good shot at making the team

sampson said he will fill the wes helms role

was a bit surprised Yourkin did not appear on Ramp's list

uhh, i feel horrible :confused

If Alfonseca comes back to the Marlins will he be the first player to have three stints with the team? David Weathers did

thank God

Looks like Joe Dillon will compete for the open bench spot vs. Edgar Gonzalez. and wood

dumb. real sex offenders get off easy, while an consenting teen gets ten years. Sad.

i agree that NBA players are sissys

can't say i disagree...

if your willing to travel about an hour to newport news, you can fly non stop for $225

hopefully he'll go to 790, although i do find kevin rogers hillarious

um... i thought we were looking for a defensive upgrade. This guy is the worst CF defensively I have ever seen and even has a worse arm than JP. No thanks.

its amazing how the marlins can have "intense" negotiations going on all day and nothing being leaked in a place where everyone is jampacked and despret to get ahold of anything.

:mischief2 :nailbite

Marlins interested in Rays' Baldelli Club must decide whether it will part with a starting pitcher LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Upgrading center field is a main objective for the Marlins, and Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli has definitely piqued the team's interest. Whether the Marlins will be willing to part with a front-line starting pitcher to secure the services of Baldelli remains a hurdle and point of discussion within the organization at the annual Winter Meetings. Strong starting pitching is the foundation of the franchise, and general manager Admin Beinfest is reluctant to part with any of the parts in place. Still, the team is open to exploring all available options, and a talent like Baldelli has the team weighing whether to part with one of the four rookie starters from this past season. Word of the Marlins' interest in Baldelli spread quickly, and was confirmed by sources on Monday afternoon. But prying Baldelli away from the Rays may be difficult, because the 25-year-old is signed to a team-friendly contract that will net him $750,000 in 2007 and $2.5 million in 2008. The deal has a $6 million option for 2009 and a $4 million buyout. By today's skyrocketing salary standards -- former Marlin Juan Pierre recently signed a five-year, $44 million contract with the Dodgers -- Baldelli is a comparably inexpensive alternative. As attractive a talent as Baldelli is, he has been plagued by injuries, and this past season, he played in just 92 games, batting .302 with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs. The fact Baldelli has health concerns, however, may work to Florida's advantage making a trade for the center fielder. Two starters the Marlins are adamant about not trading this offseason are Dontrelle Willis and Josh Johnson. Again on Monday, sources noted that Willis is not available. The club also is not eager about parting with Scott Olsen and Anibal Sanchez. Ricky Nolasco becomes the most probable trade choice, but the team also is in no rush to deal the 23-year-old right-hander. A source on Monday said if the Marlins offered Olsen, they probably would be able to seal a deal for Baldelli. In 2006, Johnson, Olsen, Sanchez and Nolasco became the first foursome of rookies in Major League history to reach double-digits in victories. Nolasco offers flexibility to the Marlins because he is versatile enough to relieve, and could factor into the closer mix if he should fall out of the rotation. In Beinfest's opinion, the Marlins' young rotation is pretty special. "Everybody has their own cup of tea, and is entitled to their opinion," Beinfest said. "But when we evaluate our pitching staff, our five incumbent starters from the way we ended last year, we think it's very strong. "When that pitching was performing, I don't think there was any smoke there. These were legitimately good, young pitchers that were throwing great. They gave us a chance to win every night, and we were winning our share of games." Houston's Willie Taveras once intrigued the Marlins as a trade option. But the club has cooled its interest in the Astros speedster. In the event the Marlins don't pull the trigger on a trade for a center fielder, they may continue to go with lower-profile choices. Internally, Reggie Abercrombie, who is playing Winter Ball in Puerto Rico, will again get a look, as will Alfredo Amezaga, Cody Ross and Eric Reed. Abercrombie has become somewhat of a fan favorite in Puerto Rico, because he hit a monstrous home run and is impressing fans by playing hard. If the Marlins go the entire season without making a major deal for a center fielder, the club may actually be better situated to fill that need in 2008. That's because a year from now, a number of promising prospects -- like Chris Volstad and Gaby Hernandez -- are progressing through the Minor League system. Once those young arms show they are big-league ready, the Marlins will be in better position to deal for a center fielder. The organization has even tossed around the idea of testing Jeremy Hermida in center, although he remains the front-runner to stay in right field. Center field, bullpen and a utility infielder top the Marlins' shopping list at the meetings. Ideally, Beinfest is after a closer with some experience. Among the possibilities are free agent Dan Kolb, who had his struggles the past few seasons. With the Brewers in 2006, the right-hander was 2-2 with a 4.84 ERA, striking out 26 while walking 20 in 48 1/3 innings. Another candidate who has closed is Milwaukee's Derrick Turnbow, who will earn $2.3 million in 2007 and $3.2 million in 2008. Other avenues to find a possible closer with experience are the Thursday Rule 5 Draft, as well as players who aren't tendered contracts in the upcoming weeks. The Marlins also are searching for a veteran right-handed hitter to take the place of Wes Helms, who signed as a free agent with the Phillies. One candidate is free agent Jose Hernandez, a 15-year veteran who made $850,000 for the Phillies in 2006. Hernandez would likely be signed for less than what he earned a year ago, where he appeared in 67 games, batting .267 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. Helms was an asset for the Marlins backing up Mike Jacobs at first base. Helms provided a platoon option against left-handed pitching and also became a defensive replacement in the late innings once Jacobs was hobbled by a right ankle injury. Now healthy, Jacobs is being slotted as the everyday first baseman, and he's expected to get a shot to face right-handed and left-handed pitchers. When the Marlins signed Helms for $800,000, he was brought in as a situational player to spot play at first and third base, along with being a right-handed bat off the bench. The Phillies envision Helms challenging for a starting role at third base, which is a main reason the veteran signed a two-year deal worth $5.5 million, plus an option for a third season. "When we signed Wes Helms, we used him the way we thought we were going to use him, and he was at a good price for us," Beinfest said. "That's for us. But that doesn't mean it doesn't mean it makes sense for someone else. They may use him differently and evaluate him differently. When we signed Wes, we thought of him as being used at third, first and being a primary right-handed bat off the bench. Then when Jake had the ankle problem, he became a defensive replacement. Had he come back, he would have had the same role." http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...sp&c_id=fla as far as helms' replacement, i'd like to see us sign jeff cirillo. He eats up lefty's and I really don't trust Jake against lefty's.

Koplove is the big name here

MIAMI -- Ideally, the Marlins would like to bring back veteran reliever Joe Borowski. Now, if the 35-year-old free agent signs elsewhere, Florida will not receive any draft pick compensation. Facing a midnight deadline Friday to tender the Type-A free agent a contract, the Marlins opted not to offer Borowski arbitration. While the Marlins still can continue negotiating with Borowski, they won't be entitled to a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere. Had the Marlins made a tender, and the reliever signed with another team, Florida would have received a first-round pick. Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest has been in discussions this week with Borowski's agent, Ron Shapiro. The risk the Marlins faced in tendering a contract offer is if Borowski decided to take it. Based on his experience, and the fact he had a career-high 36 saves in 2006, Borowski could have earned more than $3 million. This past season, Borowski signed for the league minimum of $323,000. But through incentives, the right-hander earned about $1.1 million. He's in line for a big pay raise. A few days ago, Borowski was close to signing a multiyear contract with the Phillies. However, that deal fell through after a physical was taken. The Phillies are concerned over the status of Borowski's right shoulder. Borowski has had shoulder problems in the past, but he enjoyed a healthy season with the Marlins in 2006, appearing in 72 games and throwing 69 2/3 innings. A source said Borowski pitched through some shoulder pain in the second half, but it didn't stop him from taking the ball whenever asked. Borowski, like the rest of the Marlins players, took an exit physical for Florida. Those results didn't raise any injury concerns. "He was OK for us all year," Beinfest said. A battler, Borowski was one of the team leaders on a youthful Marlins' squad. Beinfest says the club is looking for some experienced relievers for the back end of the bullpen. Borowski fits the mold because of his track record. Since the Marlins feature a staff that includes four starters who were rookies last season, the team wants those young pitchers -- and the team -- to feel confident the bullpen will protect leads. Unless they sign a veteran, the Marlins may have to look within for closing candidates. Two hard-throwing relievers, Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom, recently obtained in a trade with the Mets, are possibilities. As is lefty Taylor Tankersley, whom the team ideally wants in a setup role. "He did a nice job for us," Beinfest said of Borowski. "I'd say right now, looking at our roster, we don't have anybody in our 'pen who has [closed]. We can grow a closer from within, but we'd be asking a young guy to do that. "Joe has done it. He's definitely established himself as a back-of-the-game guy." The Indians are another team interested in signing Borowski, who likely will sign a one-year deal. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...sp&c_id=fla

According to ESPN.com, Joe Borowski flunked a physical that would have given him a multiyear deal with the Phillies. Apparently, there was enough wear and tear on his shoulder that the Phillies didn't want to commit long-term. Borowski's agents, Ron Shapiro and Michael Maas, continue to field one-year offers from several clubs, and it seems that the Phillies still could consider him on a shorter deal. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2680157

at first i was like blah, but i'm comming around, especially with the Angels trade.

Free agent center fielder Juan Pierre has agreed to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a source told ESPN.com on Monday. The deal is believed to be worth $44-45 million. The deal will become complete when Pierre passes a physical exam, the source said. Pierre, 29, is a .303 hitter over seven seasons with Colorado, Florida and the Chicago Cubs. He led the National League with 204 hits in 2006. The San Francisco Giants were also interested in Pierre, and had offered him a four-year deal in the $32-34 million range, a source said. good God

hendry is so dumb. no way soriano is worth this kind of commitment. whose to say he dosen't turn back into the soriano we saw in the World Series, or the Soriano who hit .220 on the road with the rangers two years ago. i'm guessing he signed so fast because no one came close to matching this offer. What an idiot Bowden is too... getting nothing and thinking he could really re sign him

The Phillies and Wes Helms have reportedly agreed to a two-year deal worth $5.5 million-$6 million. A club option for 2009 is included. Helms is a career .263/.316/.431 hitter against right-handers, so at least he has a substantial edge over the Phillies' apparent top choice, Mark DeRosa, there. However, he's not a very good defender. It's a lousy alternative, but if Helms slumps at the beginning of next season, the Phillies could drop him into a platoon role and go with Abraham Nunez at third base against righties. Nunez is just a .247/.313/.329 hitter against righties (and yes, it's easily his better side), but he does have quite an advantage with the glove. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6175216 Damnit. DAMNIT! Well, good luck to him. well that sucks. congrats to wes though... he deserves it... hopefully he sucks next year :mischief