from the Miami Herald: "Pitchers near deals"

 

Posted on Tue, Dec. 07, 2004

 

MARLINS NOTEBOOK

Pitchers near deals

BY KEVIN BAXTER

kbaxter@herald.com

 

A pair of former Marlins pitchers could be returning to Florida as early as this week, and the team also remained in the running Monday to sign free agent outfielder David Dellucci.

 

But with the clock ticking toward tonight's midnight deadline for offering salary arbitration to free agents,the club appeared ready to let 18-game winner Carl Pavano and valuable utilityman Mike Mordecai go.

 

Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest has all but finalized deals with Mets' left-hander Al Leiter and Atlanta reliever Antonio Alfonseca, although both sides appear to be willing to wait until tonight's arbitration deadline passes before signing off on any deals. If the Marlins were to sign either player before the deadline, they would have to give up a draft pick as compensation.

 

''I can tell you that the reports of serious negotiations with the Marlins are accurate,'' Randy Hendricks, the agent for Leiter, said in an e-ail Monday. ``We have talked to other teams as well, including the Yankees.''

 

The Marlins have made Leiter, 39, a one-year offer worth at least $6 million and have reportedly talked to him about moving up to the team's broadcast booth when he retires.

 

Leiter, who makes his offseason home in Weston, last started for Florida in the deciding game of the 1997 World Series, though he did not get the decision in the Marlins' 11-inning victory. He went 10-8 and ranked ninth in the National League with a 3.21 ERA in 30 starts last season.

 

Alfonseca, meanwhile, has received a multiyear offer from the Marlins that calls for a substantial raise from the $1.35 million he earned last season. And though the Braves might still opt to offer arbitration to Alfonseca, 32, who posted career bests for wins (six), appearances (79) and ERA (2.57) last season, Juan Iglesias, the pitcher's Coral Gables-based agent, said his client has a strong preference to return to Miami where he would compete with Guillermo Mota for the closer's job left vacant by Armando Benitez's departure.

 

The Marlins have reportedly also made a multiyear offer worth between $1.5 million and $2 million for Dellucci, 31, who set career highs with 17 homers and 61 RBI in 107 games with the Rangers last season. The Arizona Diamondbacks are also still in the running for the left-hand-hitting slugger.

 

But Pavano and Mordecai, teammates in Montreal and Florida, probably won't be with the Marlins next season. Pavano spent Sunday and Monday in Baltimore before flying to Seattle, where he will meet with Mariners officials today. He has already visited Boston, New York and Detroit and will travel to Anaheim later this week.

 

Agent Scott Shapiro refused to count out Florida, which has already made a three-year, $21 million offer to Pavano. But the 28-year-old is believed to be seeking a deal at least five years, and the Marlins are unlikely to go that far. Neither is the team likely to offer him arbitration before tonight's deadline, which would prohibit it for negotiating with him again until May 1.

 

Mordecai, an 11-year veteran and one of the Marlins' grittiest players, said he doesn't expect the Marlins to offer him arbitration either but said the club did make a ''unique'' proposal he refused to discuss in detail.

 

''If I'm playing next year, it will probably be with another club,'' said Mordecai, who made $425,000 last year when he played four positions, hitting .226 in 69 games.

 

 

SETBACK FOR CONINE

First baseman Jeff Conine, who underwent surgery to repair his right shoulder shortly after the season, suffered a setback in his rehabilitation when he reinjured the shoulder playing paddleball near his family's home in California two weeks ago.

 

Conine will have his arm in a sling until after Christmas following a second shoulder operation, this to repair injuries sustained when he crashed into a wall. He will begin rehab after that and is expected to be 100 percent well before spring training.

 

 

Sun-Sentinel said Pavano will be offered arbitration, so the two reports conflict.

 

Wow, this is good news, I think. Leiter was top 10 last year in ERA, BBs and BAA in the NL. He's still quality for sure. And he's lefty. Not AS good as Pavano, but just a notch below probably. Quality pick up if it happens.

 

Pulpo's coming back?! That's awesome. McKeon will make him feel at home just like he did for Benitez. Surprised to see that it's for a multiyear deal though. The Marlins haven't done that in recent years. Interesting. I hope both deals happen.

Noooooo....not Alfonseca.....

Noooooo....not Alfonseca.....

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A few years ago I would have agreed with you, but he was very impressive last year. That was no suprise, spending a season under Mazzone in Atlanta. He could be one of the best bullpen bargins this offseason if he can carry that success over.

But Pavano and Mordecai, teammates in Montreal and Florida, probably won't be with the Marlins next season.

:thumbdown

a couple of good arms. i like it.

From the NY Post:

LEIT'S OUT ON AL'S MET DAYS

By MICHAEL MORRISSEY

 

December 7, 2004 -- Al Leiter's tenure with the Mets will officially end at midnight, when the club declines to offer him arbitration. That's when a new era in Flushing will truly begin.

 

Leiter, the face of the team's starting rotation since 1998, is leaning toward accepting a one-year deal with Florida, two industry sources said yesterday. The deal could be worth as much as $8 million.

 

A Met source confirmed the Amazin's have no plans to offer Leiter arbitration. They declined a $10 million option earlier this offseason and gave the 39-year-old lefty a $2 million buyout.

 

Of course, anything could happen until the moves become official — including a last-minute bid by the Yankees to trump the Marlins' offer. A mystery third team has jumped in at the 11th hour to woo Leiter, one source said.

 

However, a different source told The Post that Florida recently sweetened its offer by $1 million, and that the Marlins assured Leiter he could use a private jet to travel to New York to be with his family.

 

Leiter did not return a call for comment.

 

The lefty is a Type A free agent, which means if the Mets offered him arbitration and he didn't accept, they would get a first-round pick as compensation from whoever signed him. However, the team's risk is that he would accept arbitration — and general manager Omar Minaya clearly doesn't want him back.

 

An industry source told The Post last week that the Mets pulled their lukewarm one-year offer off the table to Leiter after he accepted it, a bush-league move that no doubt embarrassed the pitcher. Minaya is parting ways with Leiter after similarly washing his hands of John Franco.

 

...

The big news is that we're not going to offer Carl arbitration.

 

What the hell is up with that?

 

We have to offer him arbitration, and if we don't, Beinfest needs to be fired.

 

It's a no-brainer: Pavano came off of his best (fluke) season for his career, so signing a one year deal (which is what accepting arbitration is) does nothing but lower his value for next season. Plus, if Pavano does accept arbitration, I'd rather pay him a lot more for one season than give him a 4-5 year deal at $9-$10 mil a season. And, with giving Leiter a one year deal, we're going for it in 2005, so one year of Pavano as our #4 is better than nothing.

Swift you are right again. If Benifest really thinks Pavano will come back to Florida he has mental issues. Why would we not offer Pavano arbitration? Pavano will get 10 mil a year probably for four years, we all know Florida won't do that.

Well, we'll know tonight (or more precisely 12:01am tomorrow) whether they do or not but my guess is the writer has it wrong and Swifty is correct.

 

Not offering Pavano arbitration means he CAN'T come back to the Marlins, at least until May 1, and that makes no sense for either side.

Regarding Alfonseca, I wasn't all that interested in him but you can't ignore the numbers he put up last season. If there's one thing we learned last season its that you can't have too much help in the bullpen.

Going for Alfonseca doesn't surprise me. Giving him a raise and a multiyear deal does.

 

I don't understand why they don't want to keep Mordi. Without Red and Mordi there is a big change in that dugout.

 

And Leiter @6M > Leiter @7M

Regarding Mordecai and the "unique offer" he received, does everyone else assume as I do that it was a coaching job? I'd say a player/coach but it's been so long since we've seen one I assume the collective bargaining agreement prohibits player/coaches (because I wouldn't think the player's union would allow a member to be both a player and in management).

 

Anyone know?

If this was any other year, I wouldn't be happy that we're about to acquire Alfonseca but he could have a Benitez-like year. Before 2004, nobody thought very highly of Benitez except for Beinfest and I can easily see the same thing happening with Alfonseca.

 

In Beinfest we trust.

 

I'm not happy at all about losing Mordey though, we already lost Red and now we must lose Mordey? UGH.

Regarding Mordecai and the "unique offer" he received, does everyone else assume as I do that it was a coaching job? I'd say a player/coach but it's been so long since we've seen one I assume the collective bargaining agreement prohibits player/coaches (because I wouldn't think the player's union would allow a member to be both a player and in management).

 

Anyone know?

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I was thinking more along the lines of a ST invite with an option to coach if he doesn't make the club. Although player coach is intriguing...

Regarding Mordecai and the "unique offer" he received, does everyone else assume as I do that it was a coaching job? I'd say a player/coach but it's been so long since we've seen one I assume the collective bargaining agreement prohibits player/coaches (because I wouldn't think the player's union would allow a member to be both a player and in management).

 

Anyone know?

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I was thinking more along the lines of a ST invite with an option to coach if he doesn't make the club. Although player coach is intriguing...

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Perhaps I'm fixating on the word "unique", but then again it's one of the most improperly used words in the english language.

I liked Mordecai as a solid veteran and player but I'm glad he's gone for one reason. This opens up a bench spot for a young guy with a lot of potential.

Signing Alfonseca isn't that bad, since like QuickGold said earlier in this thread,

"If there's one thing we learned last season its that you can't have too much help in the bullpen."

Last year's experience with some questionable guys coming in to pitch in crucial situations cost the marls games.

As far as the arbitration issue, I don't think you can blame Beinfest for that if the Herald is accurate (i would bet on the sentinel version). It is purely a budget issue with two aspects: 1- If leiter is signed at around $7 million we can't afford to have Pavano on the books for around $9 million. 2- Most likely he will not accept arbitration but can the Marlins really afford 3 first round picks? That would amount to $6 to $8 million in signing bonus money. ( No Jaimie Jones' please)

Beinfest would love to have three first rounders to prepare the farm system for the new stadium but it may not make sense $$ wise.

 

Alfonseca is a good signing as long as he is not closing. Look at his career numbers outside of Wrigley. Mota, Alfonseca and spooney make a nice right side to our bullpen. We just need a good lefty and this bullpen will be the best pen we have started the season with that I can remember.

So what exactly happens if we offer pavano arbritration? Do we get anything extra is he gets signed somewhere else?

 

Isnt the only downside that he might get some huge deal like Maddox did a few years back? If I remember correctly the braves offered maddox arbritation and it turned out to be like 15 million.

As far as the arbitration issue, I don't think you can blame Beinfest for that if the Herald is accurate (i would bet on the sentinel version). It is purely a budget issue with two aspects: 1- If leiter is signed at around $7 million we can't afford to have Pavano on the books for around $9 million. 2- Most likely he will not accept arbitration but can the Marlins really afford 3 first round picks? That would amount to $6 to $8 million in signing bonus money. ( No Jaimie Jones' please)

Beinfest would love to have three first rounders to prepare the farm system for the new stadium but it may not make sense $$ wise.

 

Alfonseca is a good signing as long as he is not closing. Look at his career numbers outside of Wrigley. Mota, Alfonseca and spooney make a nice right side to our bullpen. We just need a good lefty and this bullpen will be the best pen we have started the season with that I can remember.

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I made a similar comment yesterday that at some point too many picks may be counter-productive for a team with limited resources (read spend the money on the here and now until you have the resources to do otherwise). This morning the Rotoworld guys had a similar comment regarding the Herald article:

 

"...Unless he (Pavano) somehow hurts his shoulder shaking hands at the winter meetings, there's no way he's going to accept. The Marlins must not want to pay what it would take to sign the first- and supplemental first-round picks."

 

Still, it's hard to believe they'll let him go for nothng. But stranger things have happened.

 

BTW, I happen to agree with a nucleus of Mota, Spooney and AA, the Fish have a chance to start the season with a far superior bullpen than last season.

Couldnt the marlins get the 3 first round picks and then package 1 or 2 of them somewhere?

Couldnt the marlins get the 3 first round picks and then package 1 or 2 of them somewhere?

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Teams can't trade draft picks...yet.

Three things from this article trouble me

 

- Not offering Arbitration to Pavano. I can see the spin of not wanting to pay first rounders, but this is ridiculous. You need to at least get something in return. And what better chance do you have of building a stocked farm than this?

 

- Offer arbitration to Mordy, dammit.

 

- Alfonseca is getting over 1.35 mil? And he's getting a multiyear deal? But yet, we wouldn't give Benitez a multiyear deal? I'm starting to think this Front Office is bullpen shy.

While Alfonseca may still be in competition with David Ortiz for ugliest man alive, I don't think there's any question he rejuvinated himself with Atlanta. The stats are there, the stuff always has been... I say bring him in, but for too much...

I'm not convinced he'll repeat or do anything worth 1.35 mil (much less more!)

 

He shined under Leo Mazzone, shocked I was not.