Marlins tender five key players

Relievers Perisho, Gracesqui not offered contracts

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

MIAMI -- A handful of core Marlins players expected to make major contributions in 2005 were tendered before Monday's deadline.

It came as no surprise the Marlins tendered key arbitration-eligible players Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota and Tim Spooneybarger. That means they all will be with the club in 2005. With arbitration, salary figures will be exchanged on Jan. 18. If both sides can reach agreement beforehand, arbitration hearings will be conducted from Feb. 1-21.

 

Not tendered were left-handed relievers Matt Perisho and Franklyn Gracesqui, who recently underwent shoulder surgery and will be out about six months. While Gracesqui is not arbitration eligible, he was on the 40-man roster. All players on the 40-man roster had to be tendered by Monday's deadline or they would become free agents.

 

Perisho and Gracesqui become free agents, and they can still sign with the Marlins.

 

A situational left-handed reliever, Perisho went 5-3 with a 4.40 ERA last season. For much of the season, he was the only left-hander the Marlins had out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old will test the market before making a decision.

 

"Matt was a very productive situational left-handed reliever," said Perisho's agent, Scott Shapiro. "Matt is very appreciative of the opportunity the Marlins provided him last year, and he would entertain coming back next season if their offer is where the market is."

 

Beckett, the Opening Day starter the past two seasons, is in his first year of arbitration. The three-year veteran, and 2003 World Series MVP, is seeking his first injury-free campaign.

 

In 2004, Beckett served three stints on the disabled list for a blister, strained lower back muscle and a skin tear to the same middle finger inflicted by the blister.

 

After his postseason heroics from the year before, Beckett was considered a preseason Cy Young Award candidate last season. But the injuries and inconsistencies resulted in a 9-9 record with a 3.79 ERA in 26 starts.

 

Burnett, the subject of recent trade rumors, has five years of Major League service time, and he is eligible for free agency after the season.

 

The flame-throwing right-hander was 7-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 20 games last season. Recovering from Tommy John surgery, Burnett turns 28 on Jan. 3. Typically, pitchers reach full strength in their second season back from Tommy John surgery. If so, there is no telling what kind of year the Arkansas native may have. His fastball triggered 100 mph on the radar gun in 2004.

 

If he remains a Marlin, Burnett and Beckett are expected to contend for the Opening Day start.

 

Like Burnett, Lo Duca is in his final season of arbitration. The 32-year-old catcher was acquired by the Marlins on July 30 in a trade with the Dodgers. Lo Duca appeared in 52 games as a Marlin, batting .258 with three home runs and 31 RBIs.

 

The Marlins are expected to work out a multi-year contract with Lo Duca, which would avoid the possibility of going before an arbitrator.

 

Before the trade to Florida, Lo Duca hit .301 with 10 homers and 49 RBIs with the Dodgers, earning a trip to the All-Star Game.

 

Mota, included in that trade with the Dodgers, is considered the front-runner to be the Marlins closer. The 31-year-old right-hander has two more seasons of arbitration before he can file for free agency after the 2006 season.

 

Regarded as one of the leagues best setup relievers, Mota logged 96 2/3 total innings last season, including 33 2/3 innings in 26 games as a Marlin. He was 1-4 with a 4.81 ERA for Florida, after going 8-4 with a 2.14 ERA as a Dodger.

 

Spooneybarger is up for arbitration for the first time. The right-hander missed all of last season because of Tommy John surgery performed on Sept. 9, 2003. Spooneybarger is being looked at to provide setup help.

 

Spooneybarger last pitched on June 11, 2003 at Milwaukee. He went on the disabled list June 17 of that season and had his ligament replacement less than three months later.

 

The Marlins' 40-man roster now stands at 36.

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

 

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They let two possible lefties go? Perisho was effective against left-handed hitters. It was primarily when Jack tried to stretch him out for two innings he struggled. Perhaps they will re-sign him at a lower salary.

 

Gracesqui could have been kept for the league minimum, so why not offer it to him?

My thoughts on Perisho from the other thread:

 

Perisho can re-sign with the Marlins. They just might not have want to given him the 750k in arbitration he would have gotten and try and get him for the minimum, or just less than what he would have gotten in arbitration. Yeah, the FO is cheap like that.

 

And Gracie is hurt, so why pay him I guess is their thinking.

And Gracie is hurt, so why pay him I guess i their thinking.

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I can see not wanting to leave him on the 40 man roster if he is injured. But why not just option him back to AAA? Perhaps they want to sign him to a minor league contract at a lower salary.

Too bad for Gracesqui, i'll miss him.