July 9, 200323 yr CHICAGO ? Determined to upgrade their shaky bullpen, the Marlins appeared to be closing in on a deal with the New York Mets for All-Star closer Armando Benitez. According to two major league sources, the Marlins had emerged late Tuesday night as the frontrunner for Benitez's services. They would likely send pitching prospects to the Mets, with right-handers Nate Bump, Justin Wayne and Blaine Neal and Double-A left-hander Ryan Snare among the primary bait. The last-place Mets, who recently traded away All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar in a salary dump, probably would pick up the vast majority of the roughly $3.2 million that remains on the Benitez contract, sources said. Benitez, 30, can be a free agent after the season. He has blown six of 27 save chances this year but has converted 16 of his past 18. That includes a two-inning save against the Marlins on June 25, when he struck out three and was as dominating as ever. Benitez, 2-3 with a 3.11 ERA, has 197 career saves. Since the start of the 2000 season, Benitez had converted 138 of 156 save chances, an 89 percent success rate. The fiery Dominican possesses a high-90s fastball, a high-maintenance personality and a reputation for struggling in high-pressure situations. His recent meltdown in an interleague loss to the New York Yankees had Shea Stadium fans booing him off the mound. He has blown six of 10 save chances in the postseason, including one in the opener of the 2000 World Series against the Yankees. The Yankees, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants were among the teams that expressed trade interest in Benitez, but in each case interest had cooled. The Yankees, for instance, were said to be concerned with how Benitez would handle the switch to a setup role in front of Mariano Rivera. With the Marlins, Benitez could share save situations with closer Braden Looper, who Tuesday converted his 16th save in 19 tries. Looper, however, struggled mightily with his control. While Marlins starters were tied for sixth in the National League with a 4.02 ERA and a 35-31 record, their bullpen ranked 12th at 4.53. Marlins relievers had blown nine of 26 save chances and gone 12-13. Bruce Benedict, a special-assignment scout with the Mets, was at Wrigley Field this week to watch the Marlins play the Chicago Cubs. Tuesday, he watched Bump, a former first-round pick of the Giants, toss 21/3 innings of one-run ball to pick up his second big-league win. The Marlins entered the season believing their bullpen was a strength, but ineffectiveness sent ex-closer Vladimir Nunez to Triple-A Albuquerque while a mid-June elbow injury landed setup man Tim Spooneybarger on the disabled list. Spooneybarger is expected to miss at least another month with a sprained elbow ligament. Im sure you guys have read this, and i know we've talked about benitez in other topics, but just throwing this out there cause it gives names of who we would give....fine by me to give em wayne and neal!!!! would like to keep snare and bump though, but since muts are paying ALL of benitez salary, wouldn't mind giving em all four....its not like they want hutchinson or denny or any of our studs.....lets get this done BEINFEST!!!!!!!!
July 9, 200323 yr Author by the way.....how has snare done this year...and did he come in the dempster deal?? i forget...
July 9, 200323 yr Seems Front Office may agree with me that Looper is not the closer for a play-off team. Not sure they are taking the right trade-track but at least they recognize our problem.
July 9, 200323 yr Read that article in context and remember who the writer is, Mike Berardumbo. I'm convinced that his "sources" are the voices he hears in his head when he looks at himself in the mirror. The guy is a Class A Jacka** who has a personal vendetta against the Marlins. Ryan Snare is too high a price to pay for Benitez, especially if he's only going to be here this year. Justin Wayne and Blaine Neal for Benitez, I like. But we'll see.
July 9, 200323 yr by the way.....how has snare done this year...and did he come in the dempster deal?? i forget... Ryan Snare: 5-4; 3.67; 18GS; 103.0 IP; 37BB; 77K Yes, Snare came in the Dempster deal and he was ranked the second to third best pitcher in the Marlins system behind Willis and Bautista by what source I don't remember.
July 9, 200323 yr Author Seems Front Office may agree with me that Looper is not the closer for a play-off team. Not sure they are taking the right trade-track but at least they recognize our problem. :angry :banghead :banghead damn it arnie!! this will not be a looper bashing thread.........if benitez comes, he will not automatically be the closer, in fact, he would most likely be the set up man.........what is it with you man!! your looper coments really get my riled up!! :banghead :banghead :banghead :angry :angry
July 9, 200323 yr Fish Fan, I don't think the article meant that all 4 would be dealt, just that those are some available names. I'd send them Wayne and Neal for sure. Rather keep Bump though... The line about Benitez "sharing" the closer role with Looper sounds fishy to me. I doubt either pitcher would be too keen on that idea. Make Benitez the 8th inning setup guy & use Looper for the 9th. If Looper can't hold down the job, you can always swap them. But up to now Braden hasn't done anything to lose the job. Only thing that worries me about Benitez is that reputation of blowing games in big pressure situations. But maybe a move to less-stressful Pro Player would help him.
July 9, 200323 yr Author Fish Fan, I don't think the article meant that all 4 would be dealt, just that those are some available names. I'd send them Wayne and Neal for sure. Rather keep Bump though... The line about Benitez "sharing" the closer role with Looper sounds fishy to me. I doubt either pitcher would be too keen on that idea. Make Benitez the 8th inning setup guy & use Looper for the 9th. If Looper can't hold down the job, you can always swap them. But up to now Braden hasn't done anything to lose the job. Only thing that worries me about Benitez is that reputation of blowing games in big pressure situations. But maybe a move to less-stressful Pro Player would help him. oh yeah, i know it didnt mean all 4 would go, i just really wouldnt mind if they did all go, snare and bump i want to keep.........we'll see what goes down....i agree, benitez should start out by setting up, if it works then keep it........but what are you talking about the Pro not being stressful........isnt it one of the loudest stadiums with the most fans in the bigs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shifty :whistle :lol :lol
July 9, 200323 yr Author Ryan Snare: 5-4; 3.67; 18GS; 103.0 IP; 37BB; 77K Yes, Snare came in the Dempster deal and he was ranked the second to third best pitcher in the Marlins system behind Willis and Bautista by what source I don't remember. thanks for the info.. :thumbup
July 9, 200323 yr Loop in the set-up role looks like the most likely option. If the Marlins send off one (or more) pen arms to get Benitez they are cutting off their nose despite their face. Who cares if you have a good closer if your bullpen can't get to the 9th with a lead?
July 9, 200323 yr All those guys are expendable with Snare hurting the most. Good lefty with #4 potential. Wayne is still young and striking out a lot of hitters lately...seems like a good deal for both sides...that Met farm system is going to start to look awesome.
July 9, 200323 yr Loop in the set-up role looks like the most likely option. If the Marlins send off one (or more) pen arms to get Benitez they are cutting off their nose despite their face. Who cares if you have a good closer if your bullpen can't get to the 9th with a lead? Bump is expendable...its not like hes some dominant fixture in the pen...just a temporary solution. Phelps/Sanders can hold the lead through the 6th/7th innings the its Loop/Mando time. And when Borland/Spooney come back our pen is very very solid.
July 9, 200323 yr i would think Armando would be a set up guy but either way, it would be nice to have another solid arm in the pen and for the Bump lovers(not that i hate him but i dont think he's god).....he has given up a run in every appearance he has made i believe
July 9, 200323 yr Man this trade isnt gonna happen this is just trade talks. thanks for setting us straight Mr GM
July 9, 200323 yr Man this trade isnt gonna happen this is just trade talks. Another wild card in the making! :mischief
July 9, 200323 yr Man this trade isnt gonna happen this is just trade talks. Where's edcanes when you need him? He'll tell us if this deal will happen!
July 9, 200323 yr And if it is hurry up beinfest we dont wanna be talkinf trades if it aint true get conine and benitez fast TODAY!PLEASE!
July 9, 200323 yr Only thing that worries me about Benitez is that reputation of blowing games in big pressure situations. . Exactly. He is horrible when the game means something. Harmando Boonitez takes over for Armando Benitez.
July 9, 200323 yr this trade has a very good chance of happening actually... NONE of us can know for sure...but if it does I hope they take Bump and Wayne...and maybe Neal if they require...leave Snare though!
July 9, 200323 yr Yea they can have Wayne, I don't mind about Neal but I like him, except I want Bump more than Snare... Bump looks like he might be something special...
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