July 31st trade deadline comes around...

 

Beinfest's phone is ringing from teams who want Luis Castillo. The Marlins are on a hot streak and have climbed to just 2 games behind in the wildcard race.

 

Do you keep the hot team together for a wildcard run and risk losing Castillo for nothing after the season?

 

Or do you deal him for value now, and risk breaking the team chemistry up and the obvious "salary dumping cheap front office" cries from the media?

 

I'm not going to start going through trade offers, there's too many to mention. Point is, would you be willing if the offer was decent?

You have to at least keep your options open. The players know baseball is a business and if the FO makes a move to IMPROVE THE TEAM, then its cool. If they make the move simply to DUMP PAYROLL, its bad. I believe Loria and Beinfest want to win so if (or when) castillo gets moved it should be to bolster a weak point on the team ie. bullpen, or even 1b (couldn't help myself!)

You have to do it. And you can call it whatever you want (Salary Dump, Firesale, etc) but the plain truth is that there is no way a team should throw away all the interest and equity they have built in a player for absolutely nothing. Same goes for Lowell, Lee and any other player that will become too expensive to keep after arby or FA.

 

 

And no, don't fantasize and think that they can afford these guys next year. They can't. And even if they could afford one or two, it would be irresponsible to gamble all the players they would get in a deadline trade in order to see if they could maybe sign them in the offseason.

 

The only way they should keep the players is if they have a 3+ LEAD in the Wildcard. Because if they gamble and keep the players and then don't make the playoffs hey have nothing on the roster next year and the media will skewer them just the same for being irresponsible. THen baseball is really dead is SoFl for ever and for real.

With the described scenario, they better get some quality players that can contribute NOW and no next year.

 

We have to keep in mind, that when Luis leave he will free up $$$$ to spent elsewhere. I think Luis deserves every penny on his paycheck. And if we are in the WC fight he should stay here until he is an FA

 

just my .02

NO NO NO

 

you must show the people of South Fla that you want to win........ therefore you only make moves to improve this team for this year........

 

i totally 100% disagree with you Fish

I will keep the team together.

me and ramp have discussed this..... and we both agee on cheap but good BULL pen Help...

Have to trade Castillo and Lee so we can Keep Lowell. It sucks but what are we going to do? We don't have enough money to keep all 3. Also if we don't make a deal and keep the players we have without making the playoffs we are screwed. We have to pull the trigger and get major league ready talent thats cheap to keep us on track for the WC.

My worthless 2 cents:

 

You keep Castillo as long as you can, unless there is an offer that just cannot be refused. In my opinion, a team that can make the best offer is not one currently looking for a second baseman, but are desperate for a good leadoff man.

 

No, I don't have anyone in mind at the moment, but that is the kind of team that I believe could make the best offer. They would probably offer their starting second baseman (which did not need replacing) and something else that would help us out, possibly bullpen help. Remember, if a team is in dire need to fill a hole for a run, they are the ones you can milk the best.

 

Yes, it would hurt PR, but it is the kind of thing that can be mutually beneficial for both teams making a run.

 

JMO

later......