December 10, 200421 yr 12/10/2004 2:42 PM ET Marlins sign Alfonseca, Jones By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Bolstering the bullpen is at the top of the Marlins' checklist during the Winter Meetings. On Friday, the team welcomed some additional relief. The Marlins have reached agreement with veteran relievers Todd Jones and Antonio Alfonseca. Alfonseca is expected to be officially announced after he completes his physical. His two-year deal is for $4.75 million. Jones, 36, has agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. Alfonseca, 32, becomes the second former member of the 1997 World Series champion Marlins to return to South Florida. On Wednesday, left-handed starter Al Leiter signed a one-year deal. A setup reliever this past season in Atlanta, Alfonseca will compete with Guillermo Mota for the closer spot. Should Alfonseca not close, he provides experience in the setup role. Jones, meanwhile, will lead a list of setup relievers vying to bridge the bullpen Alfonseca and Mota. The right-handed Jones, a Pell City, Ala., native, played for the Reds and Phillies last season. He went 8-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 51 games with Cincinnati, and participated in 27 games, going 3-3 with a 4.97 ERA with Philadelphia. Jones told the Birmingham News that he selected the Marlins over the Reds. "I had a lot of fun in Cincinnati, but I think it came down to Florida -- on paper, [Florida] has a little bit better team," Jones said. "With this maybe being my last go-round, I have got to go to the best team." Jones broke into the league with the Astros in 1993. He has also pitched for the Tigers, Twins, Rockies and Red Sox. In his first stint with the club, Alfonseca pitched for Florida from 1997-2001. In 2000, he logged 45 saves, which at the time tied Bryan Harvey for the season franchise record. That number held up until Armando Benitez logged 47 saves in 2004. Benitez recently signed as a free agent with the Giants, creating a void in the back end of the bullpen. Alfonseca comes off a 6-4 season with a 2.57 ERA, appearing in a career-high 79 games. He struck out 45 in 73 2/3 innings, while walking 28. The Marlins dealt Alfonseca to the Cubs days before the 2002 season in a trade that included energetic left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis. With the Cubs in 2002, Alfonseca recorded 19 saves in 28 opportunities. Switched to a setup role, Alfonseca hasn't collected a save the past two seasons. Even with Alfonseca, the Marlins are continuing to push for additional relief help. The additions of Jones and Alfonseca provide veteran experience to a bullpen that includes Tim Spooneybarger, Nate Bump and Ben Howard. Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
December 10, 200421 yr Has anybody else notice that we have brought back two pitchers that got us two of our current starters Leiter(AJ) and A.Alfonseca (Willis)...just a thought
December 10, 200421 yr Has anybody else notice that we have brought back two pitchers that got us two of our current starters Leiter(AJ) and A.Alfonseca (Willis)...just a thought 631816[/snapback] :lol We sure know how to come out at the top of those deals... :mischief
December 10, 200421 yr Author Has anybody else notice that we have brought back two pitchers that got us two of our current starters Leiter(AJ) and A.Alfonseca (Willis)...just a thought 631816[/snapback] Yup, I was thinking that all smug too...then Las Vegas hit. My cousins live there, I want nothing more to do with the place.
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