dolfinfan305

Now the Marlins need someone to be the 5th starter until Burnett comes back around June....i think a good candidate would be Mike Nannini

Whens the last time we werent to confident about a Beinfest trade...umm...Clement/Alfonseca for Tavarez/D. Train...how did they trade work out?

Go back to your hole Ziggy!! We are talking about the Mark Redman deal not about Farnsworth. Why dont you back to cubstalk.com where you belong! is that the messageboard they run from a refrigerator box under the interstate? LOL

And we got cash and a prospect too we are getting cash OR a prospect

Go back to your hole Ziggy!! We are talking about the Mark Redman deal not about Farnsworth. Why dont you back to cubstalk.com where you belong!

Was picked in the Rule 5 draft by A's from Reds in 2002...we had a chance to pick him if we didnt have our roster maxed out

Seems to have good stuff...2001 in 64 IP had 102 K's

If we are to truly be in position to defend out championship we should'e signed someone like Rondell White and moved Conine to first. We have become good by developing our players but when your in a championship run you dont have time for that (ex: Choi).

Link to recent Ozuna article http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/col...t=.jsp&c_id=col

We might as well have non-tendered Encarnacion. This Ezi guy doesnt look good at all.

Found who we took in minor league phase...Chris Bass SS Pitt, Adam Bonner OF TB, Peter Bauer rhp Toronto, and Jim Goelz ss Boston....we only lost one player Chris Key Lhp

Mike Nannini!!

Do any of you guys know when the minor league phase of the Rule V Draft is going to be conducted. We got Frank Gracesqui in the minor league phase one of the last times out.

Top 10 first basemen (Note: Players with less than 200 major league at-bats were considered) 1. Travis Hafner, Indians Before he was traded to Cleveland this winter by the Texas Rangers, the 25-year-old Hafner saw success at each level in which he played. Last year with Triple-A Oklahoma he hit .342 and led all minor leaguers with a .463 on-base percentage. In the last four years, the left-handed Hafner has hit a combined .347 against fellow southpaws. Hafner, who also has 20-plus home runs each of the last four seasons, showed plate discipline last season, walking more times (79) than he struck out (76). 2. Hee Seop Choi, Cubs After injuring his wrist in 2001, Choi rebounded last year by hitting .287 with 26 homers for Triple-A Iowa before earning a September callup, becoming the first positional player from Korea in the majors. His success continued in the Arizona Fall League where he batted .345 and belted eight homers in 25 games. The 6-5 left-handed hitter set career-highs last season in games (135), home runs and RBI (97) and led the Pacific Coast League with 95 walks. 3. Jason Stokes, Marlins Stokes' transition from short to full-season Class A last year exceeded expectations as he hit .341 and led all minor leaguers with an astounding .645 slugging percentage. The 20-year-old right-handed hitter, a second-round pick in the 2000 draft, hit a league-high 27 home runs and had 75 RBI in 97 games in the pitcher-friendly low Class A Midwest League. Stokes, a member of SportsTicker's 2002 All-Teen Team, finished his season with a .421 on-base percentage, good for second best in the league. He should be ready for spring training after having minor offseason surgery to remove a cyst on his left wrist. 4. Justin Morneau, Twins In his first full season of Double-A ball, Morneau hit .298 in the Eastern League and set career highs in home runs (16) and RBI (80). Hampered by injuries at the start of the season, Morneau, a third-round pick in the 1999 draft, came on strong in the second half and finished the year with 31 doubles and a .474 slugging percentage. Originally a catcher, the 6-4 left-handed hitter's move to first gives his teammates a large target at the corner. His defense is average, but his pure hitting will compensate. Morneau, 21, makes solid contact with a strong stroke with potential to hit 30-plus homers a year. 5. Casey Kotchman, Angels Kotchman is a rare breed because not only does he see the ball well for a 19-year-old, but his defense is above average. Kotchman, the 13th overall pick in the 2001 draft, has a solid glove and good footwork at the corner, scooping balls out of the dirt and saving errors. The transition from aluminum to wood in his rookie season proved tough, but he rebounded nicely last year in the low Class A Midwest League by hitting .281, with 45 percent of his hits going for extra bases. His power is not overwhelming with only five homers last season, but the 6-2 left-handed hitter is a complete player for his age. Kotchman had a .411 on-base percentage and drew more walks than he struck out, a sign that he does not get himself out. 6. Adrian Gonzalez, Marlins After excelling in low Class A ball in 2001, the 19-year-old left-handed hitting Gonzalez skipped a level and became the youngest player in the Eastern League last year. Gonzalez, the first overall pick of the 2000 draft, batted .312 with 55 extra-base hits and 103 RBI in 2001, earning him SportsTicker's Teenager-of-the-Year award. Last season his average dropped to .266, but Gonzalez still produced 34 doubles, drove in 96 runs and hit .303 with runners in scoring position. Gonzalez belted 17 homers last year, but only three of those were on the road -- away from home run friendly Hadlock Field. Unable to play in the Arizona Fall League due to tendinitis in his right wrist, he will likely start in Double-A again next year. 7. Brad Nelson, Brewers Splitting time between low Class A and high Class A last year, the left-handed Nelson led the minors with 116 RBI and 49 doubles. The 19-year-old is a power hitter, as he slugged .507 and hit 20 homers for the season. Listed at 6-2, 220 pounds, Nelson, a fourth-round pick in the 2001 draft, batted .289 and hit .321 with runners in scoring position last year. A converted third baseman, Nelson is still adjusting to the move and is an average defender. With less stuff thrown to him in the strike zone, Nelson's willingness to draw walks will be tested at a higher level. 8. Lyle Overbay, Diamondbacks Overbay is a strong contact hitter who sprays the ball to all fields. Overbay has hit over .300 each of his four minor league seasons, combining for a .345 average. Last year, he drove in over 100 runs for the second straight season and hit .343 at Triple-A Tucson. The 25-year-old led the loop with 40 doubles and hit a career-high 19 homers, but his on-base percentage slipped a bit to .396. 9. Ken Harvey, Royals Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Harvey dominated the Arizona Fall League this year. A fifth-round pick in 1999, Harvey broke league records in batting (.479), slugging (.752) and on-base percentage (.537) in 35 games. The 24-year-old, who took home league MVP honors, switched his stance at the start of the 2002 season and batted a career-low .277 in the hitter-friendly Triple-A Pacific Coast League. But the righthanded-hitting Nebraska product showed some power with Omaha last season, doubling his home run total from 2001 to 20 homers and hitting a career-high 30 doubles. 10. John Gall, Cardinals Gall has a tremendous ability to make contact, witnessed by a .316 average in his first Double-A season. The 24-year-old Gall, who set multiple Pac-10 batting records while at Stanford, was an 11th-round pick in the 2000 draft. Unlike many prospects, Gall has adjusted quickly at each level. The right-handed batter tied for third in the minors with 68 extra-base hits last year with New Haven and set career highs in homers (20) and RBI (81) in 135 games. Gall, who has played both at third and in the outfield, is not known for his defense. He needs to draw more walks to help his on-base percentage, which was a lowly .265 in the Arizona Fall League. Others to watch: Tagg Bozied (Padres), Chin-Feng Chen (Dodgers), Chris Duncan (Cardinals), David Kelton (Cubs), James Loney (Dodgers), Eric Munson (Tigers), Corey Myers (Diamondbacks), Michael Snyder (Blue Jays), Scott Thorman (Braves). Taken from here

On a side note, here is Hee Seop Choi's numbers from the Venenzuelan League: G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR RBI SH SF HP BB IB SO SB CS AVG 23 85 13 23 42 7 0 4 14 0 2 0 11 1 25 0 0 .271 OBP SLG .347 .494

Lets hope we can get another "Matt Mantei" to help out our bullpen. 2003 Rule 5 Draft Preview By Josh Boyd December 10, 2003 WHAT: Rule 5 Draft WHEN: Monday, December 15, 9 am CT WHERE: New Orleans, Winter Meetings Teams are allocating more time and resources to scouting and preparing for the Rule 5 draft than ever before. One American League baseball operations official said his team has had as many as four people pouring over scouting reports and crunching numbers in the office. And that doesn't include the countless hours scouts spent evaluating potential draft targets over the course of the season. A record 28 players were selected last December, a trend most front office executives expect to continue. "We definitely see it as a productive avenue for acquiring players," said Matt Slater, the Dodgers director of professional scouting. "Our scouts are aware of every team's Rule 5 eligibles when they go in to scout a team." With payrolls on the decline all around baseball, the cost of selecting a prospect and bringing him to spring training for evaluation is not prohibitive. Twelve of the 28 players selected last year remained in the majors all season. That doesn't include Derek Thompson and Luke Prokopec, who spent the year on the disabled list and must be kept on 40-man rosters for the 2004 season. Who And Why There are two schools of thought on which type of player to select: the long-term project with high upside, typically a versatile middle infielder; and the major league ready contributor, more often than not, a bullpen arm. It's similar to the college versus high school debate, except in this case teams are forced to keep the player on their 25-man major league roster all season. Though rebuilding teams are more likely to grab an inexperienced prospect, they can't always afford to carry a player who is not ready to contribute either because it can be a burden on the manager or detrimental to the development of other young big leaguers. "Usually these are players that are on Triple-A reserve lists with above-average tools or stuff and have probably performed in the lower levels of the minor leagues," said a National League executive from a small-market club. "As an organization, we are less likely to select one of these players and burden our manager with carrying this player, unless we feel he is ready, which is unlikely." If the Indians, for example, can't count on their starters to pitch deep into the game, Eric Wedge is going to need depth and flexibility in his bullpen, not just a Class A mop-up man. It essentially reduces the major league roster to 24. For this reason, many teams have turned their attention to uncovering major league-ready players. Between 1990-1995, 32 percent of the 92 players drafted remained in the majors the next season. Sixteen were pitchers, and as a group they averaged 60 innings with a combined 4.49 ERA in their season on the roster. Few of those picks stuck around to contribute significantly thereafter. A few exceptions, such as Matt Mantei, continued on to a successful future. Most posted ERAs around 5.00 and provided little long-term help for the club that selected them. The 13 position players drafted during that period provided even less immediate help, hitting .245, contributing an average of 127 at-bats. Catchers Eddie Taubensee and Kelly Stinnett were the only two who earned significant playing time after their first season following the Rule 5 draft. In 2003, seven pitchers made the cut, and most of them were pitching in meaningful situations by season's end. Blue Jays righthander Aquilino Lopez and Tigers righty Chris Spurling earned stints as their team's closer, while righthander D.J. Carrasco led the Royals pen with 80 innings pitched. Relievers with plus pitches are likely to be the focus of the Rule 5 draft again in 2004. Much of Lopez' and Carrasco's success can be attributed to their above-average sliders. Counter-productive Another reason pitchers are most popular is that position players picked based on raw tools and projection who survive the first season on the roster often suffer from the lack of playing time. "Teams who take raw athletes hoping to add depth to their system often are doing the player a disservice," the AL baseball operations official said. The temptation to draft a low-level prospect with a high ceiling is often too much for a rebuilding club to pass up. Last winter, the Brewers started the draft by selecting Mets Class A third baseman Enrique Cruz. Instead of getting much-needed everyday action in the minors, the 21-year-old spent most of the year on the Brewers bench, hitting .085 with 30 strikeouts in 71 at-bats. The Orioles kept 23-year-old shortstop Jose Morban on their roster all year, also costing him a year of development. In 71 at-bats, he hit .141. "Where are (Felix) Escalona and (Luis) Ugueto now?" the AL executive asked, referring to a pair of middle infielders selected in the 2001 Rule 5 draft. "What young player can improve by taking a year off?" Not many. Jay Gibbons is an exception, but he had a full year of Double-A experience and the Orioles managed to get him 225 at-bats in his rookie year. While players such as Escalona and Ugueto, contributed the year following the draft, their development has since sputtered, and they're back in the minors. Between 1990-1995, Rule 5 picks including third baseman Freddy Garcia, outfielders Todd Steverson and Miguel Mejia were all carried on 25-man rosters and received less than 60 at-bats. It's impossible to gauge how detrimental it was to their careers. And while it's impossible to determine whether or not they would have gone on to more productive careers, the fact is only Garcia, who was noted for his raw power, returned to the majors. He hit .222 in 401 career at-bats. "I think the guys that dont develop the year after werent going to develop anyway," an NL director of pro scouting said. "A major leaguer is going to be a major leaguer." This doesn't bode well for Cruz or Morban, but as long as the risk in selecting a high-upside prospect remains low--$50,000 for the pick--teams will continue to roll the dice. Who To Look For In '04 Expect another active year of drafting. After several conversations with scouts and baseball operations officials, we've put together an extensive list of players who are attracting interest. Since clubs are still in the process of narrowing down their Rule 5 preference lists and most won't finalize their list until this weekend at the Winter Meetings, we've focused here on a few teams who are risking losing multiple players. We'll provide more coverage this weekend leading up to the draft. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh Pirates Rich Thompson, Chris Shelton, Jose Bautista, Frank Brooks, Henry Owens, Brandon Chaves, Jeff Bennett It's really a testament to the strength of their system, but the Pirates are running the risk of getting pillaged in this year's draft. Outfielder Rich Thompson and first baseman/catcher Chris Shelton are almost locks to be selected on Monday. Thompson, who was acquired in a steal this summer from the Blue Jays for journeyman righthander John Wasdin, was at his best in front of scouts in the Arizona Fall League. He is the ideal Rule 5 pick because his plus speed and ability to play all three outfield spots will allow him to step in as a fifth outfielder right away. Thompson, 24, was drafted by the Blue Jays in the sixth round out of James Madison in 2000. He hit .293-0-26 with 48 steals in 55 attempts between Double-A and Triple-A, so power is obviously not his game. However, Thompson understands this and is geared toward hitting the ball on the ground and to the opposite field. He makes consistent contact and has good instincts to hit. Shelton, 23, is coming off a .336-21-83 effort between Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona. His .568 slugging percentage and .441 on-base ranked among the best in the minors, and he earned the Carolina League MVP award. Despite his gaudy numbers, he doesn't overwhelm scouts. The attention Shelton has conjured in the Rule 5 is predicated on his ability to catch. After being drafted in the 33rd round out of Utah in 2001, he primarily caught in his first season, but split time between first base and catching the last two years. In 38 games behind the plate last year, Shelton threw out 25 percent of basestealers. He has average arm strength at best, but doesn't have the most refined catch-and-throw mechanics. He's got a stocky, unathletic build at 6 feet and 200 pounds, and has often drawn comparisons to Craig Wilson. Shelton could be carried as a third catcher, and his plate discipline and power could make him a valuable righthanded option off the bench. Perhaps the best athlete in the Pirates organization, Jose Bautista is enjoying a second consecutive solid winter in the Dominican Republic. He's showing off his versatility, which makes him an attractive Rule 5 option, by playing center field and right field, though he's only played third for the Pirates. Bautista was limited to just 162 at-bats at Class A Lynchburg after breaking his hand when he punched a garbage can out of frustration. Righthander Henry Owens might be the hardest thrower eligible for Rule 5 selection. A converted catcher, his fastball maxes out at 97-98, and he has a usable curveball, though the jump to the majors might be too much to ask. He has just 15 innings above low Class A. Righty Jeff Bennett was solid in the AFL and scouts saw his velocity spike up to 95 mph this summer. Lefthander Frank Brooks, acquired from the Phillies for Mike Williams in July, held opponents to a .202 average between Double-A and Triple-A. He works with a 90-91 mph fastball and 81 mph curveball with three-quarters break. His crossfire delivery is tough on lefties. Shortstop Brandon Chaves might be selected based on the strength of his defense alone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Toronto Blue Jays Tyrell Godwin, Josue Matos, Miguel Negron, Derrek Nunley, Ryan Houston With as many scouts and player development staffers who have left Toronto for other organizations within the last two years, other organizations are armed with more information on Blue Jays players than ever before. While they were successful in snagging Aquilino Lopez at the major league level and Jorge Sequea in the Triple-A phase of last year's Rule 5 proceedings, they also lost power lefty Franklyn Gracesqui to the Marlins in the minor league draft. Not many organizations will leave a lefthander who throws in the mid-90s for the taking, and Gracesqui was added to the Marlins 40-man roster this offseason. This year, outfielders Tyrell Godwin and Miguel Negron, and righthander Josue Matos are being considered as potential major league picks. Because Negron missed most of the season with nagging leg injuries, Godwin is more advanced at the plate. Both are capable of playing all three outfield positions, though Negron is more athletic. "(Godwin) projects a lot differently than originally thought coming out of college," an NL scout said. "Now, he's lost his speed because he's bulkier, but he hasn't added much power." Negron, who is making up for lost time by playing for Carolina in Puerto Rico, has to realize the importance of keeping the ball on the ground. Matos signed with the Blue Jays as a six-year free agent following a career-best year for the Mariners in Double-A San Antonio. In his first year as a reliever, he fanned 104 in 88 innings while allowing just 58 hits. His fastball tops out at 92 mph. Righties Derrek Nunley and Ryan Houston have fastballs that reach the upper-90s. Nunley's secondary stuff is more refined, while Houston has shown little but arm strength at this point. Lefty Ryan Costello may attract some interest in the minor league phase. His fastball tops out at 93 mph. Shortstop Manuel Mayorson could be selected based on his defensive ability. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cincinnati Reds Brian Shackelford, Ty Howington, Alex Farfan, Eric Valent The Reds don't boast a deep farm system, but they had limited space available on their 40-man roster, protecting 39 heading into the Rule 5 draft. Lefty Brian Shackelford has impressed scouts over the last two years in the Arizona Fall League. The Reds acquired the 27-year-old lefty in a spring training deal with the Royals Damaso Espino and Alan Moye. Shackelford spent the first four and a half years of his pro career as an outfielder in the Royals system before making the conversion to the mound in mid-2002. He's not entirely new to pitching as he was a starter in college for Oklahoma. He does a good job of mixing four pitches, including an 88-92 mph fastball, slider, cutter and changeup. Lefties hit just .158 against him in limited Triple-A exposure. Another southpaw, Ty Howington is one of the most high-profile prospects available, and one of dozens of former first-rounders who weren't protected. Even with their roster situation, it's hard to understand why they would expose him to the Rule 5 draft. Howington hasn't had success outside of high Class A yet, and he's been troubled by nagging injuries that have led to mechanical issues. His velocity dipped into the mid-80s early in the season as he struggled to get his full range of motion back after 2002 elbow and shoulder problems. Howington's changeup ranks among the system's best, and by fall instructional league his fastball was back to 88-91 mph, still not quite the 93-94 mph he hit in 2001. One of the lower-tier clubs could add a quality lefty with power potential to their pitching inventory by stealing Howington. Righthander Alex Farfan has the best fastball in the Reds system, though he hasn't displayed the consistency or command. It would be a reach to put him in the majors, but power righty Jorge Sosa made a similar jump with similar stuff two years ago. If outfielder Eric Valent doesn't get popped in the major league draft, he will almost certainly go in the minor league phase. He has struggled in three brief big league stints (.161 in 93 at-bats), but has never received steady playing time. His lefthanded power potential will help him find a new home soon. Righty Ricardo Aramboles has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and he's coming off shoulder surgery, so it's unlikely he'll be drafted. However, last spring he was nearly ready to step into the Reds bullpen, and some team might take a flier and place him on the disabled list until he's ready. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Atlanta Braves Alec Zumwalt, David Watkins, Matt Merricks, Bryan Digby As one of baseball's deepest systems, it's natural to expect the Braves to lose a player in the Rule 5. While they offer some intriguing arms, there is still no guarantee they will lose a player. Last year righthanded reliever Buddy Hernandez was drafted by the A's but returned after a rough spring tryout. In the previous draft, righty Kevin McGlinchy went to the Devil Rays with the first pick, though he was injured and never amounted to a major leaguer. Alec Zumwalt showcased his live arm in the AFL. He shows a good feel for pitching despite making the transition from the outfield just two years ago. He hit .217 in 743 at-bats before moving to the bullpen. His 62 strikeouts in 64 innings and 1.98 ERA this season are a good indication of the progress he's made. He throws 90-94 with an average slider and changeup. David Watkins and Bryan Digby are also power bullpen arms, though Digby's injury history is probably enough to scare teams off. Matt Merricks held lefties to a .200 average between two Class A levels, which could make him an option for a team seeking a lefty specialist. From Baseball America

I think that we should try to sign Guerrero so we can defend our World Series championship better since we lost Pudge. Guerrero would replace Pudge in that aspect and if after year 2 or 3 of the contract, the Marlins have holes they need to fill they can always trade him and get 3 top prospects for him.

This is not the same article as "Marlins checking their list twice. One more note - Frisaro wrote here that were getting rid of Encarnacion which contradicts what he said before in another article. Marlins Winter Meetings checklist By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com MIAMI -- In the post World Series championship celebration, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria declared there would be no dismantling. This is 2003, Loria said, and times have changed. The front office is committed to holding together as much of the title team as possible, unlike the breakup of the 1997 championship squad by former owner H. Wayne Huizenga. Keeping true to his word, the Marlins have signed All-Stars Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell to multi-year deals, solidifying the infield. Reliever Chad Fox has re-signed, bolstering the back end of the bullpen. Though the core of the team is remaining in tact, there will be revisions. The team has to deal with a couple of key losses. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez, the MVP of the National League Championship Series, is moving on through free agency. Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee has been traded to the Cubs for first baseman Hee Seop Choi. And right fielder Juan Encarnacion isn't expected back. The loss of Rodriguez and Lee freed up money to sign Castillo and Lowell, while providing flexibility to pursue other players, especially bullpen help. Pitching, speed and defense again promise to be the strengths of the team. The Marlins plan to operate with a payroll in the $60 million range, and like they did last year, the front office is striving to be as competitive as possible while operating within budget. 2003 Finish: 91-71, second place (Wild Card), NL East. World Series champions. Deals so far: Traded 1B Derrek Lee to the Cubs for 1B Hee Seop Choi. Declined signing free agent C Ivan Rodriguez. Re-signed 2B Luis Castillo, 3B Mike Lowell, utility INF Mike Mordecai, RHP Chad Fox, INF Lenny Harris and OF Gerald Williams. Declined arbitration to RHP Ugueth Urbina, OF Todd Hollandsworth and RHP Rick Helling. Players eligible for arbitration: RHP Brad Penny, RHP A.J. Burnett, LHP Mark Redman, RHP Carl Pavano, RHP Braden Looper, RHP Toby Borland, LHP Armando Almanza, LHP Michael Tejera, C Mike Redmond, RF Juan Encarnacion, SS Alex Gonzalez, INF/OF Brian Banks, C Ramon Castro. Free agents: C Ivan Rodriguez, RHP Ugueth Urbina, RHP Rick Helling, OF Todd Hollandsworth Needs: The addition of Choi provides a left-handed hitter to a lineup minus lefty pop. But Choi remains unproven, and while the lineup was good enough to win the World Series in 2003, the team could use lefty bats with power. Juan Pierre and Choi are the only left-handers in the order, discounting the switch-hitting Castillo. The back end of the bullpen must be addressed, especially if Urbina doesn't return. The status of Looper, too, is up in the air. With Rodriguez not coming back, the Marlins could go with Ramon Castro and Mike Redmond behind the plate. But that doesn't rule out the team making a run for another veteran. Dealing strengths: Sometime before June, Burnett is expected to rejoin the rotation after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early May. That gives the Marlins a surplus of proven starters. Most likely to be dealt is arbitration-eligible left-hander Mark Redman, who tied for the team high with 14 wins. The Marlins dealt several key minor leaguers during the season to obtain Urbina and outfielder Jeff Conine. So the depth to deal at the minor league level isn't what it was. However, the minor league system has some quality players that could be used as trade bait, if need be. Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Marlins after free-agent closer Benitez Staff & wire reports Posted December 11 2003 An industry source characterized the Marlins' pursuit of right-hander Armando Benitez as "hot and heavy." The Marlins are hoping to land the free-agent closer, believing he would thrive in South Florida's less frenzied media environment. Benitez spent all but a fraction of the past five seasons with the New York Mets and briefly the Yankees. After acquiring him on July 16 and watching him make nine appearances, the Yankees shipped Benitez to the Mariners. He finished the season in Seattle with a hold, a blown save and a 3.14 ERA in 15 games (14 1/3 innings). Benitez, 31, was all but burned in effigy every time he trotted out to the Shea Stadium mound last season. He totaled a career-worst seven blown saves in 28 opportunities. But Benitez still boasts a 3.03 lifetime ERA and career average of 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Valdez refining skills in D.R. By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com In his first 12 Winter League games, Wilson Valdez is hitting .283 (13-for-46) with four RBIs, one double and one triple. (James A. Finley/AP) MIAMI -- Next season, the Marlins will look at Wilson Valdez as a possible backup infield replacement for Andy Fox. The 23-year-old Valdez showed marked improvement at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2003 and is refining his skills playing for Gigantes Del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League. "Defensively, he is outstanding," said Jim Fleming, the team's vice president for player development and scouting. "He has very sure hands and a strong arm." The mistakes he is making now are typical for young players. Many are self-induced and he continues his development. In his first 12 Winter League games, Valdez is hitting .283 (13-for-46) with four RBIs, one double and one triple. Once his bat is Major League ready, Valdez has the potential to be a quality everyday player. A natural shortstop, Valdez can also play second base. In fact, had the Marlins not re-signed All-Star Luis Castillo, Valdez would have been considered as a young replacement. "He has some quickness to his bat, but he's not a big producer," Fleming said. At 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, Valdez doesn't have much power. He is basically a singles hitter who will deliver a few doubles. On the bases, he has better than average speed but isn't a big threat to run. The team is encouraged that the right-handed-hitting Valdez has made improvements like going with the pitch. He will take an outside pitch to right field. The Marlins went with veterans Mike Mordecai and Fox as their backup infielders the past two seasons. Mordecai re-signed with the Marlins and Fox recently agreed to a minor league contract with the Rangers. Valdez, who turns 24 in May, can play three positions, including third base. Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Expos in 1997, Valdez struggled in his early minor league seasons. The Marlins claimed him off waivers in 2002. A promising prospect at the time he was drafted, Fleming said Valdez is getting to the point of being big-league ready. "Last year, mentally he made a big jump," Fleming said. "He is very hard on himself. But he didn't carry his [offensive struggles] to the field with him. He improved offensively. He will always be a singles guy." Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Thats what i like about Beinfest...he doesnt give multi-year contracts that easy so that the players have an extra incentive to better themselves and play better.

When the playoffs came around is when Pudge finally woke up and said "Need to audition for next year to get that last fat contract before i retire"...i bet he wouldnt have had such a good postseason if he already had a multi-year contract under his belts.

Javy Lopez shows interest in Marlins By Juan C. Rodriguez Staff Writer Posted December 10 2003 The interest is mutual. Chuck Berry, the agent for free-agent catcher Javy Lopez, on Tuesday said his client would consider signing with the Marlins. Now that Pudge Rodriguez is no longer in the 2004 equation, the Marlins are considering whether to make a run at Lopez. "We have talked," Berry said. "I'd say it's kind of exploratory. I think they're trying to decide what they're going to do now that they've gone from Plan A to Plan B. There could be a good fit there with Javy, but then again maybe not. It depends what some of their other plans are. "I've spoken to Javy, and he would definitely have interest in Florida. He would view that as a good place to play. It's possible we may have further discussions down the road." Those discussions are sure to take place in the coming days as teams prepare for the Winter Meetings this weekend in New Orleans. Considered a more affordable option than Rodriguez, Lopez already has received some contract offers and is expecting a few more within the week. Lopez, who earned $7 million with the Braves last season, turned 33 last month and is likely seeking a three- or four-year deal for around $8 million a season. After a horrible 2002 that saw Lopez hit .233 with 11 homers and 52 RBI in 109 games, he broke the major league home run record for catchers last season with 42 while batting .328. "Probably he will hope his next destination is his final one, not that this will necessarily be his last contract," Berry said. "One of the things he'd like to do is play a little bit of first base. If he does sign with an American League team it gives him the option of DH-ing. He's still looking forward to catching for the foreseeable future, but he would like to do a few of those other things as well to get a little bit of rest through the course of the season." Though Lopez won't contend for the Gold Glove behind the plate, his desire to play some first would give the Marlins some intriguing options. In addition to learning the position under one of baseball's best infield coaches in Perry Hill, Lopez could spell left-handed first baseman Hee Seop Choi against tough lefties. WAITING With the Marlins expected to cut Juan Encarnacion loose on Dec. 20 rather than offer him arbitration, several teams are lining up to bid for his services. According to industry sources, the Montreal Expos view Encarnacion as a possible replacement for free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. The Atlanta Braves have him on a short list to replace Gary Sheffield, who is expected to sign with the New York Yankees this week. In addition, the San Diego Padres have shown interest. Encarnacion, who drove in a career-high 94 runs last season, could earn up to $5.5 million through arbitration. ... Former Marlins closer Vladimir Nunez would have been eligible for salary arbitration had the club not taken him off their 40-man roster last month. Nunez, who spent most of last year at Triple-A Albuquerque, rejected the assignment and became a free agent. ... Manager Jack McKeon received another honor on Tuesday, receiving The Sporting News' Sportsman of the Year award. He shared the honor with Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil. Mike Berardino contributed to this report. Juan C. Rodriguez can be reached at jcrodriguez@sun-sentinel.com. Email story Print story MORE HEADLINES HYDE: Pudge, farewell but not good buy Lopez is possible solution at catcher Marlins, Rodriguez will part ways as offer falls short Slim hope of Pudge deal Time running out for Marlins, 'Pudge' Rodriguez WIRE HEADLINES Padres Agree With Otsuka; Mum on Lofton Promoter Gets Puerto Rico Expos TV Rights Brewers Send Cruz, Machado to Triple-A Rockies Close to Bringing Back Castilla Devil Rays Make Offer to Carl Everett Copyright ? 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

We got to sign Benitez...after him theres a dropoff in talent since we cant resign Urbina and Looper (if no arbit is offered)

Sounds like this is what Beinfest might be thinking about...Have Javy play a little at 1st to spell Choi and catcher to spell Castro.