October 7, 200421 yr Q. What's the story with Rafael Palmeiro's contract with Baltimore? I think it was that he needed x amount of at bats as a first baseman, or else the O's could opt of the contract, or something like that. I know whatever the clause is, the O's made sure he didn't qualify, so will he be a free agent? This is THE guy the Marlins need in this lineup. A veteran, possible hall-of-famer, who played his whole career in the AL, who was recently disrespected by his former team. Sound familiar? (::cough, Pudge, cough:: ) A left-handed veteran with power, experience, and not to mention a Miami native. My toes are tingling, Kevin, tell me what's up with Rafie. Rob, miami 10/06/04 A. In my opinion, Palmeiro is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer. He needed to play 140 games on defense this year to trigger the option on his contract for next season. Through Aug. 28, he had played first base in 117 of Baltimore's first 128 games, but the Orioles used him in the field just 13 times in September. That gives the Orioles to option to buy him out of the final year of his contract cheaply, which they'll probably do. They may try to resign him at a lower price but I would expect Rafael to look elsewhere, even for less money, because obviously the Orioles were not fair with him. Whether or not that means the Marlins will be players I don't know. With Conine at first and no DH in the NL, there's no place to play Palmeiro. However if Lowell leaves and they move Cabrera to third, that would mean Conine would go back to left and Palmeiro could play first. The Marlins could also try to trade Conine, who does not have a no-trade clause. Certainly the team needs a left-handed hitter like Palmeiro. But the Marlins' offer would likely be very low and Palmeiro would have to consider taking a major hometown discount. I think he'll definitely one more year since he's 78 hits short of 3,000. He may also try to stick around long enough to reach 600 HR; he has 551 now. Kevin Baxter 10/07/04
October 7, 200421 yr Que venga el viejo!!!!! The cubans here will go crazy if they sign him. No se if he can still play better than Conine but it will be nice and who knows if he can be a mentor for the young guys. So cool they might get him!!!
October 7, 200421 yr I'd rather spend the money on a younger slugger that we could count on for a few more years.
October 7, 200421 yr if we could sign him cheap...and if for some reason Lowell decided to leave sure cause then we move conine to LF cab's to 3B and Raf to 1b..
October 7, 200421 yr if we could sign him cheap...and if for some reason Lowell decided to leave sure cause then we move conine to LF cab's to 3B and Raf to 1b.. 585345[/snapback] Even if Lowell didn't leave, shipping off Encarnacion puts Cabrera in right, Conine in left, and Raffy at 1B.
October 7, 200421 yr if we could sign him cheap...and if for some reason Lowell decided to leave sure cause then we move conine to LF cab's to 3B and Raf to 1b.. 585345[/snapback] Even if Lowell didn't leave, shipping off Encarnacion puts Cabrera in right, Conine in left, and Raffy at 1B. 585349[/snapback] good point...thanks
October 7, 200421 yr Id rather not get him his numbers are declining hardcore 585361[/snapback] he still puts up better #'s than conine.
October 7, 200421 yr Id rather not get him his numbers are declining hardcore 585361[/snapback] he still puts up better #'s than conine. 585368[/snapback] thats not saying much
October 7, 200421 yr I'd say get him to be our everyday 1st baseman, put Conine in left and Cabrera back in right. We need lefty-balance, and since I think it's safe to say we've already taken ourselves out of the Beltran/Drew/Delgado sweepstakes, he may be the best we're going to get. HOWEVER, I am much more intrigued by the prospect of trading for Sosa. I mean, both are in decline, both are sure fire hall of famers, but Sosa is a much bigger draw.
October 7, 200421 yr Id rather not get him his numbers are declining hardcore 585361[/snapback] he still puts up better #'s than conine. 585368[/snapback] thats not saying much 585374[/snapback] and they both put better #'s than encarnacion. so while palmeiro is not the ideal freeagent, he still is an improvement.
October 7, 200421 yr About the last guy I could imagine the Fish having an interest in is Palmiero. He's expensive and broken down, can't play regularly, has lost alot of bat speed. He's the equivalent of having George Fraiser "greeting" guests at the front door of a Las Vegas casino.
October 7, 200421 yr I'd say get him to be our everyday 1st baseman, put Conine in left and Cabrera back in right. We need lefty-balance, and since I think it's safe to say we've already taken ourselves out of the Beltran/Drew/Delgado sweepstakes, he may be the best we're going to get. HOWEVER, I am much more intrigued by the prospect of trading for Sosa. I mean, both are in decline, both are sure fire hall of famers, but Sosa is a much bigger draw. 585395[/snapback] sorry if i'm being ignorant here, but how the heck would we afford Sosa? :mischief2
October 7, 200421 yr Id rather not get him his numbers are declining hardcore 585361[/snapback] he still puts up better #'s than conine. 585368[/snapback] if you consider better number to be more HR's. :confused Conine will be more valuable next year than raffy.
October 7, 200421 yr Id rather not get him his numbers are declining hardcore 585361[/snapback] he still puts up better #'s than conine. 585368[/snapback] if you consider better number to be more HR's. :confused Conine will be more valuable next year than raffy. 585447[/snapback] and higher OBP and OPS too. and mor rbi's.
October 7, 200421 yr I'd say get him to be our everyday 1st baseman, put Conine in left and Cabrera back in right. We need lefty-balance, and since I think it's safe to say we've already taken ourselves out of the Beltran/Drew/Delgado sweepstakes, he may be the best we're going to get. HOWEVER, I am much more intrigued by the prospect of trading for Sosa. I mean, both are in decline, both are sure fire hall of famers, but Sosa is a much bigger draw. 585395[/snapback] sorry if i'm being ignorant here, but how the heck would we afford Sosa? :mischief2 585429[/snapback] We wouldn't. He is due 18 million next year, and if he is traded 19 million in 06. That is about 1/3 of our payroll for a declining out fielder who isn't that good anymore. We'd be better off making a run at Beltran who is in his prime and try and pay him 12-14 mill a year.
October 7, 200421 yr Author I'd say get him to be our everyday 1st baseman, put Conine in left and Cabrera back in right. We need lefty-balance, and since I think it's safe to say we've already taken ourselves out of the Beltran/Drew/Delgado sweepstakes, he may be the best we're going to get. HOWEVER, I am much more intrigued by the prospect of trading for Sosa. I mean, both are in decline, both are sure fire hall of famers, but Sosa is a much bigger draw. 585395[/snapback] sorry if i'm being ignorant here, but how the heck would we afford Sosa? :mischief2 585429[/snapback] We wouldn't. He is due 18 million next year, and if he is traded 19 million in 06. That is about 1/3 of our payroll for a declining out fielder who isn't that good anymore. We'd be better off making a run at Beltran who is in his prime and try and pay him 12-14 mill a year. 585457[/snapback] We could. In a Mike Hampton type deal where the Cubs eat up his salary. Its pretty clear that either Dusty or Sammy have to leave Chicago, and chances are its Sammy. If the Cubs take Encarnacion in exchange for Sammy and take a big chunk of his contract he could be ours. But you'd have to figure a lot more clubs will line up to take him with less of a subsidy. Sammy would have to tell the Cubs he'll only waive the no trade clause for the Marlins in that case. Its a longshot, like getting Admin Walker last season.
October 7, 200421 yr I doubt the Cubs would eat more than half of his contract unless we throw in some very good prospects. Even then, why would we want to be paying 8-9 million for a player on the downslope of his career, who has been caugt corking his bat, thus is known as a cheater?
October 7, 200421 yr Allow to use this thread to express my joy in seeing the cursed Cubs once again not going anywhere except to Rush Street.
October 7, 200421 yr Author Allow to use this thread to express my joy in seeing the cursed Cubs once again not going anywhere except to Rush Street. 585519[/snapback] :lol :thumbup We'd give Sammy a chance because that's what we did with this closer who blew saves and was on the downslope of his career too, Armando Benitez. Plus he is freakin Sammy Sosa. He'd sell twice as many jerseys as Pudge alone. Its a huge PR move, but you're right, the cubbies would have to be desperate to get rid of him for it to happen.
October 7, 200421 yr Even then, why would we want to be paying 8-9 million for a player on the downslope of his career, who has been caugt corking his bat, thus is known as a cheater? 585516[/snapback] Four 60 home run seasons? 500+ career homeruns? Sure-fire Hall of Famer? One of baseball's top 5 icons? That's called TICKET SALES.
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