Posted October 3, 200519 yr Relievers John Riedling and Tim Spooneybarger were released on Monday by the Marlins, a day after the club finished an 83-79 campaign. The Marlins also released Triple-A Albuquerque infielder Derek Wathan. Signed as a free agent last offseason, Riedling was expected to provide veteran experience to the back of the bullpen. But he was injured in Spring Training, and never was consistent. While his record was 4-1 for the Marlins, he had a 7.16 ERA in 29 appearances. In 27 2/3 innings, Riedling struck out 16 and walked 14. The right-hander went on the disabled list on Aug. 29 with shoulder tendinitis. He spent time this season pitching at Albuquerque. Spooneybarger had a rough tenure with the Marlins, undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in September of 2003. Before the surgery, he last pitched for the Marlins in early June of that season. In 33 games in 2003, the right-hander was 1-2 with a 4.07 ERA, throwing 42 innings. In July, Spooneybarger experienced more elbow problems during a rehab assignment with Class A Jupiter. Making a start in hopes of returning to the Marlins this season, Spooneybarger doubled-over in pain after throwing a pitch in the first inning. He then underwent a second Tommy John surgery along with a procedure to repair a muscle problem in the same elbow. The Marlins acquired Spooneybarger after the 2002 season from Atlanta for Mike Hampton. Wathan, the son of former big leaguer John Wathan, was with the Marlins in Spring Training, but the 28-year-old wasn't called up during the season. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla
October 3, 200519 yr Is Spooney being non-tendered with the intention of signing him at a lower rate, or is he just gone?
October 3, 200519 yr Spooney is gone :crying Well I guess I will see him around Palm Beach :shrugs SPOONEYSTALKER!
October 3, 200519 yr Spooney is gone :crying Well I guess I will see him around Palm Beach :shrugs SPOONEYSTALKER! Sorry but we just happen to run into each other very often :whistle
October 3, 200519 yr Wow. Spooneybarger was a failure. We got totally owned trading Mike Hampton to the Braves and paying for most of Hapmton's contract.
October 3, 200519 yr Shame about Spooney, and I also thought Riedling would be a great addition last offseason.
October 3, 200519 yr Wow. Spooneybarger was a failure. We got totally owned trading Mike Hampton to the Braves and paying for most of Hapmton's contract. First of all how does being injured make you a failure? I guess he was a failure at being healthy if you want to go there... :whistle And secondly that was purely a salary dump move, CJ & Preston had large contracts & the Marlins needed to shed them. Getting Spooneybarger helped make the deal look a little more legit, but really wasn't a make it or break it part of the deal. Did '03 work out okay for you?
October 3, 200519 yr The Marlins must really think Spooney's career is over, because it's not like he was costing them a whole lot.
October 3, 200519 yr Wow. Spooneybarger was a failure. We got totally owned trading Mike Hampton to the Braves and paying for most of Hapmton's contract. Sheeesh, how many times does the Hampton deal have to be explained to newbies? The net effect of the trade that resulted in the aquisition of acquiring Pierre and paying Hampton for three years was to SAVE THE MARLINS A NET of $23+ million. And on top of that the Braves have to now pay him something like $43 million over the next three years and the guy just had Tommy John surgery on Sept 27th and will miss next season so the $13.5 million they'll be paying him will be money down the drain. "According to the Associated Press, the Braves are responsible for $48.5 million of the $84.5 million owed to Hampton. Over the next three seasons, Florida will pay the Braves $30 million to cover most of Hampton's contract, while the Braves pay him $5.5 million over the same span. Atlanta then picks up the rest: $13.5M in 2006, $14.5M in '07 and $15M in '08." I'd say all in all the Marlins made out like bandits on this deal!
October 3, 200519 yr Wow. Spooneybarger was a failure. We got totally owned trading Mike Hampton to the Braves and paying for most of Hapmton's contract. Sheeesh, how many times does the Hampton deal have to be explained to newbies? The net effect of the trade that resulted in the aquisition of acquiring Pierre and paying Hampton for three years was to SAVE THE MARLINS A NET of $23+ million. And on top of that the Braves have to now pay him something like $43 million over the next three years and the guy just had Tommy John surgery on Sept 27th and will miss next season so the $13.5 million they'll be paying him will be money down the drain. "According to the Associated Press, the Braves are responsible for $48.5 million of the $84.5 million owed to Hampton. Over the next three seasons, Florida will pay the Braves $30 million to cover most of Hampton's contract, while the Braves pay him $5.5 million over the same span. Atlanta then picks up the rest: $13.5M in 2006, $14.5M in '07 and $15M in '08." I'd say all in all the Marlins made out like bandits on this deal! Plus, no Hampton deal means no money to sign Pudge in '03, and who else did we get in that trade? Juan Pierre...the '03 team MVP...
October 3, 200519 yr Sad about Spooney and Wathan. Wathan has some value as a Mike Mordecai utility paper. Unfortunetly as relief staffs grow, utility guys are going to have to look more like Freel or Figgins to earn thier bench spots. Spooney's a great talent, but if it's going to take 18 months to fully recovered, as said himself earlier, it might be worth to do as Marlins2003 suggested and relinquish our terms and never look back. That's saying nothing bad of Riedling who is obviously having a tough time adjusting to his father's passing and pitched much better in this second half than we give him credit for. He certainly wasn't the only veteran free agent to flop for us this year.
October 3, 200519 yr Wow. Spooneybarger was a failure. We got totally owned trading Mike Hampton to the Braves and paying for most of Hapmton's contract. Sheeesh, how many times does the Hampton deal have to be explained to newbies? The net effect of the trade that resulted in the aquisition of acquiring Pierre and paying Hampton for three years was to SAVE THE MARLINS A NET of $23+ million. And on top of that the Braves have to now pay him something like $43 million over the next three years and the guy just had Tommy John surgery on Sept 27th and will miss next season so the $13.5 million they'll be paying him will be money down the drain. "According to the Associated Press, the Braves are responsible for $48.5 million of the $84.5 million owed to Hampton. Over the next three seasons, Florida will pay the Braves $30 million to cover most of Hampton's contract, while the Braves pay him $5.5 million over the same span. Atlanta then picks up the rest: $13.5M in 2006, $14.5M in '07 and $15M in '08." I'd say all in all the Marlins made out like bandits on this deal! Wow, I didn't realize the Hampton deal was so long.
October 3, 200519 yr Since Mike Hampton's contract was insured, the Braves (once again) have to pay very little of his contract next season. All in all, the Marlins and Braves made out like bandits in that trade. The Rockies will EVENTUALLY save money from it in 2006-2009.
October 4, 200519 yr It's a shame really but you can't blame the FO for wanting to clean out the closets a bit. We all had such high hopes for Spooney. I didn't expect Reidling to amount to much, so no loss there as far as I'm concerned.
October 4, 200519 yr Glad to see that Beinfest is taking out the trash. :thumbup Hey next time a big corporation downsizes to save money write the CEO an erotic love poem as a reward for "taking out the trash."
October 4, 200519 yr Since Mike Hampton's contract was insured, the Braves (once again) have to pay very little of his contract next season. All in all, the Marlins and Braves made out like bandits in that trade. The Rockies will EVENTUALLY save money from it in 2006-2009. The typical insurance on a major league pitcher is somewhere in the realm of 30-35% (of the contract $$$) to pay 80% of the amount covered. So if you do the math they still will be paying at least half of what he's owed in 2006.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.