Sun-Sentinel article

 

Marlins discuss Lee-Conine deal

 

By Mike Berardino

Staff Writer

Posted July 7 2003

 

Jeff Conine, one of the most popular Marlins ever, could be coming home.

 

According to two major league sources, the Marlins and Baltimore Orioles are discussing a swap of first basemen: Derrek Lee for Conine.

 

While Conine, at 37, is 10 years older than Lee, their production is similar. Conine is batting .287 with 12 home runs and 63 RBI.

 

Lee, after his annual slow start, was batting .255 with 16 homers and 48 RBI.

 

Both are making $4.25 million this season. Lee's salary is expected to rise into the $6.5 million range next year through arbitration.

 

Conine is still due $5 million after this season, including a $250,000 buyout on a team option for 2005. The Orioles could be willing to cover part of Conine's remaining obligation.

 

Lee is superior defensively, but Conine is considered a better run producer. With runners in scoring position, Lee is hitting .267 compared to Conine's .321.

 

For their careers, Conine (.303) has hit almost 50 points higher than Lee in the clutch.

 

Lee's swing has never fit Pro Player Stadium, where he has hit just 34 of his 114 homers (30 percent) with the Marlins. Conine is a career .300 hitter in nearly 1,300 at-bats at Pro Player.

 

Conine spent the first five Marlins seasons (1993-97) with the club, earning the title of Mr. Marlin. He homered in his only All-Star at-bat and was named Most Valuable Player at the 1995 All-Star Game, the only Marlin to receive that honor.

 

Conine split time at first base with Darren Daulton during the stretch drive in 1997, then was traded to Kansas City that November in the ownership-mandated fire sale.

 

It appeared Conine might return to the Marlins as a free agent after the 1999 season, but he eventually re-signed with the Orioles. Conine still lives in Weston in the offseason and is heavily involved with the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.

 

Coincidentally, Jeff Conine Bobblehead Night is scheduled for July 20 at Pro Player Stadium.

 

Having moved within three games of the wild card, the Marlins are trolling for bullpen help as well. The Rangers' Ugueth Urbina could be a fit, especially if the Marlins are willing to take back fellow right-hander Jay Powell.

 

Urbina, who would replace the injured Tim Spooneybarger as Braden Looper's primary setup man, is making $4.5 million on a one-year deal. Powell, midway through a three-year deal that pays him $3 million a season, is due about $4.5 million through next year.

 

Powell, winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, has battled vertigo and a finger injury en route to a 9.66 ERA. His past three outings have been scoreless.

 

Meanwhile, should rookie left fielder Miguel Cabrera (.241) continue to struggle at the plate, the Marlins could make a run at Rangers left fielder Juan Gonzalez, sources said. Gonzalez, a free agent after the season, rejected a trade to Montreal last month but could be willing to join the Marlins for several reasons.

 

Marlins catcher Pudge Rodriguez is a former Rangers teammate and remains one of the slugger's closest friends. South Florida's proximity to Puerto Rico, where Gonzalez lives, and the area's heavy Latin American influence would be the other selling points.

 

The Rangers are willing to cover the remainder of Gonzalez's $12 million salary provided they get young pitching in return.

 

Mike Berardino can be reached at mberardino@sun-sentinel.com.

 

Gotta love all the Marlins talk! Think about it, you're going to lose Derek Lee anyway next year. So instead you trade for a VETERAN clubhouse guy Jeff Conine, MR. MARLIN, who also happens to be hitting better than Lee, and you get Baltimore to cover some of his salary so Conine could even stick around next year. I'll take it.

 

LOL Sunday July 20th is Conine Bobblehead Night! Could he be back for his own bobblehead night?

Lee/Conine swap. Interesting. Even financially interesting. Long-time Lee fan (who suggested putting him in Jupiter for first-half of the season, waiting for his customary second-half rally). Gettting impatient. Conine, ten years older than Lee is not the defensive 1B that Lee is (but, then, who is?) But, Conine is an extraordinary athlete. He's a clutch hitter, and this deal reminds me of the Darren Daulton investment. Leadership. Maturity. Talent. And he is still Mr. Marlin.

If this Juan Gone thing is serious, trade Lee, move Cabrera to 1st and put Juan in LF....

 

CF Pierre

2B Castillo

C Pudge

3B Lowell

LF J.Gonzalez

RF ENcarnacion

SS A. Gonzalez

1B Cabrera

P -

 

:w00t

do the conine thing, maybe we can get some pen help too....do the conine thing cause he provides lefty pop and clutch hitting, not to mention leadership and maturity, conine is a good producer

Long-time Lee fan (who suggested putting him in Jupiter for first-half of the season, waiting for his customary second-half rally).

Arnie, were you serious about this?

do the conine thing, maybe we can get some pen help too....do the conine thing cause he provides lefty pop and clutch hitting, not to mention leadership and maturity, conine is a good producer

last time i checked he was right handed.

last time i checked he was right handed.

oh right, oops

Arnie, were you serious about this?

 

No, not serious. Just frustrated waiting each year for Lee's second-half rally. It was so predictable. If his pay came out of my pocket, I would have him start early in Puerto Rico or somewhere. (You know, I made a joke about Hollandsworth this weekend. Suggesting a swap between Pat Burrell, hitting less than 200 and Hollandsworth. No profanity. Was cut off by the Moderator. Guess I need to change my sense of humor herein.).

You had me worried there for a second. I assumed your original comment was "tongue-in-cheek." Thanks for setting the record straight.

 

Not sure why there was a prob with the Holly/Burrell comments.

 

Perhaps a sensitive Phillie fan took exception?

I'd love to get Jeff Coooooooooonine back. He's my favorite MLB Player of All-Time.

yea i like that deal,i'll probably be back in a couple of days cuz my computer,or mouse is messed up so peez.

The Conine for Waste of Skin Lee is a great move. Apprently the O's are even considering paying a significant sum of Conine's salary to make the deal happen. For me, as well as the rest of the D. Lee haters here, this is about as good as it can get as far as decent value for an ovverated guy who can't hit until it's July.

 

Gonzalez, on teh other hand, is a mistake. A career whiner with little left for the field who the Marlins would be renting for two months. Gonazlez is crap.

This needs to be done. It makes so much sense. Leadership, money, and production.

 

And the bonus is that DLee may flourish in the AL, which is off our radar screen.

 

Do it, Beinfest. By July 20 (JC Bobblehead day) would be cool.

Mr.Marlin back in teal?

 

I would love it especially considering your trading D.Lee straight up for him.

At the very least, we should pull the trigger on the Texas bullpen deal, if we could get Urbina and Powell. Urbina is an excellent reliever that could improve this awful bullpen greatly. Powell, the former Marlin, is probably better than Almanza right now anyway.

yes im back,i had to buy a new mouse,again this trade would be awesome cuz lee aint gonna be here next year anyway so why not get a productive 1st baseman.

how sick would that be if we got Urbina and Powell?

 

i like the Conine one but the Urbina one may be even better

 

"wipes drool from chin*

how sick would that be if we got Urbina and Powell?

 

i like the Conine one but the Urbina one may be even better

 

"wipes drool from chin*

How about Marlins acquire both?

 

Conine trade upgrades offense and other is a much needed bullpen help.

This needs to be done. It makes so much sense. Leadership, money, and production.

 

And the bonus is that DLee may flourish in the AL, which is off our radar screen.

 

Do it, Beinfest. By July 20 (JC Bobblehead day) would be cool.

Exactly. In a park like Camden Yards, Lee could put up big numbers. He's always been a bad fit for the Pro. I would definately miss that glove at first, but getting Conine would almost remind me of the Marlins picking up Dutch Daulton for the '97 playoff run. If the O's picked up some of Conine's salary, it would make sense for next year too. It'd be hard to pass that up.

 

Conine could play cheaper and still contribute just as much with the bat. I am not as much a DLee basher as most here, but I'd still be pleased with the move.

this would be awesome

We have to get jettison Lee and his salary this year if we hope to keep the nucleus of this team together in 2004. His estimated 2004 arbitration-driven $6.5-7.0 mil is more than this team can handle.

As for Conine, on the face of it that would be terrific although the Gonzalez, Urbina, Powell thing has some advantages. What impresses me is that Admin Beinfest is out there looking for THE BIG DEAL to get the Marlins to the playoffs.

Jeff has been playing well, he is a RISP hitter and the symbolism of his membership on the 1997 shouldn't underestimated. He's no Lee defensively, but who is? One would have to expect he'd be with us for this season and next, which gives our minor league firstbaseman time to mature. Fascinating.

The Texas rumors intrigue me as well. If only Gonzalez' health were better. Urbina could have a tremendous impact on our bullpen staff (I can't speak to Powell's value as he's had one problem after another).

I think the big question is - what can we offer in young arms to satisfy the Ranger's needs? Perhaps there's a three-way in the making here.

 

The idea of Pudge and JuanGon together again has a certain magic about it. If JuanGon stays healthy (he has quadriceps problems right now when he run full-out) whoever winds up with him can expect another 20+ homeruns in the second half.

 

This is going to be a fun week to see what our FO can accomplish.

trade bait: JUSTIN WAYNE

If Conine come back he will draw fans out to PPS.

Conine has a YTD 1B fielding percentage of .991 (7 errors). He can flat out play the position.

 

No, he will not make the spectacular DLee plays, but his offense more than makes up for lack of dazzle.

 

Pull the trigger, Beinfest. ASAP

I say if the marlins FO gets the chance to swap Lee for Conine do it, especially if the Orioles pay some of Conine's salary. With Conine, you are not only getting a 1st basemen, but he can play 3b and LF also. What would make that even better if we could throw in some prospects to try and get Kerry Lightenberg. I proposed this trade a couple weeks ago. It was kind of just wishful thinking, I can't believe there might be some truth to the deal.

 

Also, if we have a chance to get Urbina, and the Rangers pay his salary that would be awesome. A Looper-Urbina combination would be awesome.