from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Landing Blum could be boost for bench

-- Juan C. Rodriguez

Posted December 2 2004

 

With Damion Easley and Lenny Harris re-signed for next season, the Marlins are considering Geoff Blum to help fill out their bench.

 

Blum said the Marlins are among the teams that have contacted his agent, but they have yet to make a formal offer. The Devil Rays released Blum on Nov. 20.

 

The switch-hitting Blum last season hit .215 with eight homers and 35 RBI in 339 at-bats and played five positions. A career .254 hitter, Blum spent his first three seasons with the Expos before moving to the Astros.

 

"[The Marlins] would be a good fit in the sense that I've played for most of the coaching staff and management," Blum said.

 

Landing Blum, 31, likely would signal the end of Mike Mordecai's tenure here. As of Tuesday, Mordecai had not heard from the Marlins regarding next season.

 

"I let them know I'd like to come back if they wanted me," said Mordecai, who earned $425,000 in 2004. "It boils down to whether they want me or not. Money won't be an issue."

 

Harris, who signed a minor league deal Tuesday, would receive $425,000 if he makes the club.

I wouldn't know Blum if I fell over him and I do know Mordecai (at least his play and his contribution to the team). To me it comes down to the old saying, "better the devil you know than the one you don't know".

 

Absent some compelling reason (a Dellucci, Gibbons etc. added to the bench) I don't see where jettisoning Mordy improves our team a single bit. I personally hope Mordy remains a part of the Marlins family in one fashion or another.

This is getting to be really annoying. We are only mentioned in deals for utilility or journeyman players that get paid 50% off the league minimum. Either that or we are only mentioned when another one of our high-profile free agents (read "good players") sign with another team. Oh, well... this is the price of being cheap... :banghead

This is getting to be really annoying. We are only mentioned in deals for utilility or journeyman players that get paid 50% off the league minimum. Either that or we are only mentioned when another one of our high-profile free agents (read "good players") sign with another team. Oh, well... this is the price of being cheap... :banghead

624995[/snapback]

no not cheap,poor :banghead

My goodness, Delucci and Blum are not difference makers. If we don't sign Pavano, shouldn't we have a little extra money to spend? Delgado might only cost 7 or 8 million. What a lineup that would be:

 

1-Pierre CF

2- Castillo 2B

3- Cabrera RF

4- Delgado 1B

5- Lowell 3B

6- LoDuca C

7- Conine LF

8- Gonzalez SS

 

 

We could trade Encarnacion again for nothing, like last time.

SIGN A REAL f***ING PLAYER

Guys,

 

Brad Penny and Choi cost us about $4MM last season. Benitez around $3.5M and Pavano $3.8M. Add'em up and that is approx. $11.5M

 

This season Encarnacion, Mota and Lo Duca will cost approx. $11MM.

 

So before you start asking why the team is so CHEAP, do the math. Within the next couple of seasons we will lose Encarnacion and Conine (approx $7.5M) and hopefully we may see Hermedia, Reed, Olson, Stokes, etc.

 

The one thing I would like to see is smart moves looking towards the future. Sign players like Cabrera, Willis, AJ, etc to long-term deals and avoid arbitration years altogether.

I guess going after guys with .215 batting averages is our priority right now

The only reason I can see us signing Blum over Mordy is that he offers more power off the bench.

The only reason I can see us signing Blum over Mordy is that he offers more power off the bench.

625097[/snapback]

 

and a little more versatile

 

 

... eh

 

 

at least its an upgrade over mordy

 

 

poor mordy

I think this Geoff Blum story is a lot of crap.

We're not trading low-salaried Mordy for another mediocre, versatile back-up.

A 215 hitter for Mike Mordecai? Get real.

We don't really need the versatility with Easley (1B IF RF), and possibly Josh Willingham (C 1B LF RF) or Joe Dillon (1B 2B 3B), on the roster.

 

Why not sign Blum and Mordy to minor league deals and let them and Lenny Harris fight for the final roster spot?

We don't really need the versatility with Easley (1B IF RF), and possibly Josh Willingham (C 1B LF RF) or Joe Dillon (1B 2B 3B), on the roster.

 

Why not sign Blum and Mordy to minor league deals and let them and Lenny Harris fight for the final roster spot?

625393[/snapback]

I agree we've got enough utility infielders(you even forgot Josh Wilson). It would be a pointless signing.

Willingham and Dillon haven't proved anything.

 

Blum would be a good signing.

Willingham and Dillon haven't proved anything.

 

Blum would be a good signing.

625417[/snapback]

Yeah maybe we should just get rid of our whole minor league system all together. :thumbup