Commentary: Fans deserve answers on Delgado deal

By Joe Capozzi

 

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

 

Sunday, October 09, 2005

 

The Marlins are asking their fans to purchase season tickets for 2006. Too bad the club is making fans wonder what they are buying.

 

General Manager Admin Beinfest could not have been more cryptic when asked if fans could expect a nucleus of talented players to anchor the team next season.

 

"I definitely think so,'' he said last Sunday. "The nucleus is here when you talk about the Cabreras and Willises and Hermidas.''

 

"And Delgado," a reporter interjected, assuming Beinfest had forgotten another player certain to return, slugger Carlos Delgado.

 

Instead, Beinfest only repeated the name and smiled. "Fish, fish, fish,'' he said, teasing the reporter for trying to elicit a comment on Delgado.

 

And that is all that's been said about the future of the most-expensive free agent ever signed by the Marlins.

 

No one in the front office will even confirm what Delgado said owner Jeffrey Loria told him four weeks ago in Houston ? to ignore rumors that the team's stalled plans for a new stadium will force the Marlins to trade him.

 

The team's silence could be rooted in the possibility that the Marlins will shop Delgado ? and the $48 million left on the four-year, $52 million contract he signed in January.

 

The Marlins say they are losing money, and it would cost $80 million to field a roster comparable to the 2005 edition that cost a club-record $65 million. Something's gotta give, so maybe part of it is the $13.5 million owed Delgado next year.

 

Marlins President David Samson has said that Delgado's contract was structured to escalate next year because the club knew that it finally would be done paying pitcher Mike Hampton, who collected $9 million from Florida this year.

 

Still, Delgado is expensive. And if Florida wants to trade him, there are only a handful of teams that could afford to take him. The Marlins certainly aren't in a financial position to facilitate a trade by absorbing a chunk of his contract.

 

If the Marlins do find a trading partner, don't expect them to get equal value. They couldn't afford a superstar's salary.

 

Delgado was one of baseball's most desirable free agents last winter. The New York Yankees were first on his wish list, but they wanted him to sign before he gauged the market.

 

He chose the Marlins ? and agreed to a long-term deal ? because he was told the organization was committed to winning. If the Marlins do trade Delgado this winter, what message does that send to potential free agents wondering if they might join the Marlins some day?

 

Delgado does not have a no-trade clause. Although he has not complained about the team's silence concerning his future, he is curious as to why the front office won't confirm publicly what he says Loria told him.

 

Delgado's agent, David Sloane, has had no conversations with the Marlins on the subject.

 

"Jeffrey Loria gave Carlos his word that he won't be traded,'' Sloane said. "Until we have reason to believe other than that, Carlos is taking Mr. Loria at his word.''

 

The Marlins not only missed the playoffs and finished tied for third in the NL East, but they finished next-to-last in the NL in attendance. A reasonable person might assume that the club would want to give fans every possible incentive to come to the park.

 

Why not call a news conference ? or at least issue a statement ? to say that the Marlins plan to build the 2006 team around Delgado, Cabrera and Willis?

 

They've done it before, in July 2003, when they announced that Mike Lowell would not be traded.

 

In the meantime, go out and buy your season tickets. Just don't ask what you're paying to see.

 

Link

 

An answer would be nice, but perhaps the FO is keeping it's options open depending upon whether they can get some salary relief by dealing Lowell.

I'm sorry, but it's simply bad business for them to come out right now and say they are not trading Carlos Delgado, even if they have no intention of actually trading him.

 

There's a big difference between making such an announcement during a playoff race (i.e. Lowell in 03) and during the off-season.

 

Lets say we come out today and say we're not trading Delgado and then 2 months from now someone offers us something we can't/shouldn't pass up for the viable future of our ballclub. Obviously, trading him is a PR hit, but doing so after you said you wouldn't...

I dunno who expects Delgado to leave. I'm assumming he is back unless something drastic happens with the stadium.

I would be very upset if we trade him. I just don't see how they could make the team better by trading a lefty hitter posting .300, 30, 115 year in and year out. We don't have offense as it is, so it would make little sense to let him go. If they do deal him, watch out... no free agents are going to want to come here and many players with partial no-trade clauses will include the Marlins among the teams that they can't be traded to without permission.

Obviously, trading him is a PR hit, but doing so after you said you wouldn't...

 

Haha no pun intended :plain

I thought this questions was asked and answered? Loria said Delgado is staying, Beinfest cannot make a move without Loria approving it. What is the issue?

 

How about Samson and his cronies working to get the Season Ticket Holders some better treatment and getting that ballpark done?

The thought that trading Delgado will affect future signings of free agents is not valid. Delgado signed with the team that he thought had the best chance of getting him to the World Series in 2005. He accepted 4 million for 2005 and freely accepted a contract without a no-trade clause. He was(is) at a point in his career where the ring means as much or than the deal. Future free agents of his stature will do the same, no matter what we do with Delgado.

Delgado isn't going anywhere, but if by chance he does get traded, can you imagine what we could get in return? Say hello to your 2006 Florida Marlins starting left fielder.... Mannnnnnnnnnnnny Ramireeeeeeeeez. That would definitely put fans in the seats.

I thought this questions was asked and answered? Loria said Delgado is staying, Beinfest cannot make a move without Loria approving it. What is the issue?

 

How about Samson and his cronies working to get the Season Ticket Holders some better treatment and getting that ballpark done?

 

 

Delgado said he was told by Loria that he wouldn't be traded. Neither Loria or anybody else in the FO has confirmed publicly that Delgado would not be traded. In fact, each time the question has been posed to either Samson or Beinfest they have danced around the question and not given a definitive answer. Their response leaves everyone thinking a Delgado trade is certainly possible.

 

Trading Delgado would be a huge disappointment. Our offense needs his power from the left side. But without a stadium deal in sight, Loria is going to have to manage the salary budget closely and if he decides a budget reduction is in order, then Delgado would have to be on the trading block.

Delgado isn't going anywhere, but if by chance he does get traded, can you imagine what we could get in return? Say hello to your 2006 Florida Marlins starting left fielder.... Mannnnnnnnnnnnny Ramireeeeeeeeez. That would definitely put fans in the seats.

 

Manny is slowly aging by baseball standards and his attitude is very questionable, those were main points as to why the Mets are still thinking about signing him or not. I hope Delgado does not leave, we could do pretty good next year with the new line up, I hope Hermida fills up Enc's spot real good, we could use it. Hopefully we do sign Gonzalez again, he is getting full treatment from what I have heard, he mentioned he has not been 100% for quite a few years so when this surgery goes by, he will be for real. He had a better year at th plate this year, hopefully he would be great next year at 100%

I realize I'm not the typical season ticket buyer, I'd buy season tickets if we were fielding a team of 25 Junior Felix's because I love the game, but to me this is making something out of nothing.

 

It doesn't matter to me, and to most fans whether Carlos Delgado is there or not, it isn't going to be the make or break factor in determining whether to buy tickets or not.

 

I don't know what's worse - no Marlins coverage (ala today's Herald -mini comment in BJ's column) or this kind of coverage, planting the seed in the fans' minds that maybe they shouldn't buy season tickets.

 

I doubt Delgado goes anywhere but he does and the team remains competitive, that's all that matters.

Delgado isn't going anywhere, but if by chance he does get traded, can you imagine what we could get in return? Say hello to your 2006 Florida Marlins starting left fielder.... Mannnnnnnnnnnnny Ramireeeeeeeeez. That would definitely put fans in the seats.

 

that makes no sense at all. Check Manny's contract, and Manny was more productive than Delgado so it is not like the Red Sox are going to pick up any money from Carlos contract.

 

 

 

 

I thought this questions was asked and answered? Loria said Delgado is staying, Beinfest cannot make a move without Loria approving it. What is the issue?

 

How about Samson and his cronies working to get the Season Ticket Holders some better treatment and getting that ballpark done?

 

I wonder what they will tell season ticket holders this round, since the "playoff priority" promise was a lie.

 

I can see less season ticket holders or a disgruntled base, If they trade Delgado and don't come back with a competitive team.

I don't think that a Delgado trade, if it happened, would have a signifigant effect on season ticket sales, which are already anemic. The Marlins IMO would be better served in more creative marketing to enhance the season ticket base. But that's a subject for another thread.

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As for overall fan feelings, I don't think a Delgado trade by itself would be all that negative. If it happened, who knows what else it would bring back. I only see the dreaded "firesale" word bringing brought up if a Delgado trade is combined with a trade of Castillo or non-signing of Gonzo. Overall...who knows?

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In Beinfest We Trust

(and we hope Loria keeps the wallet open)

It's really sad that we even have to discuss this.

Keep Carlos in teal

I realize I'm not the typical season ticket buyer, I'd buy season tickets if we were fielding a team of 25 Junior Felix's because I love the game, but to me this is making something out of nothing.

 

It doesn't matter to me, and to most fans whether Carlos Delgado is there or not, it isn't going to be the make or break factor in determining whether to buy tickets or not.

 

I don't know what's worse - no Marlins coverage (ala today's Herald -mini comment in BJ's column) or this kind of coverage, planting the seed in the fans' minds that maybe they shouldn't buy season tickets.

 

I doubt Delgado goes anywhere but he does and the team remains competitive, that's all that matters.

 

 

If Delgado is traded (for anything less than an equivelant superstar such as Manny) then everyone will proclaim the Marlins are having a firesale even if this wasn't the case and the South Florida media will rip the team apart.

 

There will be a big impact if he is traded.

 

The Marlins IMO would be better served in more creative marketing to enhance the season ticket base. But that's a subject for another thread.

 

I agree, that whole "81 Reasons" advertising campaign this year was incredibly lame.

I can't possibly name names but what if...what if the Fish did trade Delgado and got back three or four starting-type players (or some combination including high value AA-AAA prospects) maybe a front line pitcher and 20+ hr guy, would you feel the same?

 

I don't believe Delgado will be traded, in fact I have a bet with a member here that he isn't, but if he were, and the trade worked as well for the Fish as the Wilson/Johnson trade or the say the Sexson trade worked out for the Brewers, as a fan I'm fine with that.

 

That said, I still believe this is much to do about nothing.

Can't Capozzi come up with something better than this? Write about the playoffs or something dude...

 

Ownership is not obligated to come out at the end of every season and list who he's going to keep and who he might deal, just to make every fan (and writer, apparently) happy. He may very well not plan to deal Delgado, but things can always change too. I disagree with Joe here.

 

:thumbdown

As any CBL fan will tell you, trading a guy like Delgado gives you a huge hit to your fan interest. So I dont forsee us trading him.

As any CBL fan will tell you, trading a guy like Delgado gives you a huge hit to your fan interest. So I dont forsee us trading him.

 

What's the CBL....and who or where are their fans?

As any CBL fan will tell you, trading a guy like Delgado gives you a huge hit to your fan interest. So I dont forsee us trading him.

 

What's the CBL....and who or where are their fans?

 

Conine Baseball League

 

Click on a team and look for the fan interest meter. :mischief

Can't Capozzi come up with something better than this? Write about the playoffs or something dude...

 

Ownership is not obligated to come out at the end of every season and list who he's going to keep and who he might deal, just to make every fan (and writer, apparently) happy. He may very well not plan to deal Delgado, but things can always change too. I disagree with Joe here.

 

:thumbdown

 

 

:thumbup

As usual the South Florida press doesn't speak for this fan. Beinfest had it right when he responded "Fish" as in fishing for a story.

I don't see a trade happening

The fact that's it's being discussed is a big enough hit to the fan-base that regardless of what happens, damage has been dones.

 

As a season ticket holder, I agree with Marlins2003 in that I would probably be at the games if they fielded an all AA infield, however, I would never buy season tickets again from this ownership if they were to massively purge this team for '06...never, ever. They forced the renewing season ticket-holders to lock in by September 1st (an unprecedented move by the Marlins), and then, when all is paid in full before the offseason even officially begins, the Marlins plan on ripping the carpet out from under the core of their fan-base? Bad business.

 

And since we were talking about marketing, I guess this is kind of relevant; in the renewal book, only 4 Marlins are featured, Cabrera, Willis, Pierre and Delgado...wouldn't that be something if half of the featured Marlins for the '06 season weren't with the team?