Posted October 17, 200519 yr From this past season, the Marlins have 13 players who are free agents. They are: Antonio Alfonseca, A.J. Burnett, Jeff Conine, Damion Easley, Juan Encarnacion, Alex Gonzalez, Lenny Harris, Todd Jones, Jim Mecir, Brian Moehler, Mike Mordecai, Paul Quantrill and Ismael Valdez. The team already has stated it has no interest in bringing back Burnett, who had a fallout with the club after making critical comments late in the season. Mecir, a terrific competitor, says he is retiring. Quantrill may also retire, although he is thinking about it right now. One of the players likely to return is Conine, who has a home and family in South Florida and wants to return. Moehler has expressed an interest in staying, and the team probably will offer him a contract. It is unclear whether the team has interest in signing Gonzalez, who had a bone chip removed from his right elbow in late September. Gonzalez wants a three-year contract and would love to return. The team offered him a one-year deal before the season, and it hasn't talked about a contract since. Easley is a valuable backup middle infielder who should get the call to return. Encarnacion is not expected back. Jones had a tremendous season, collecting 40 saves. He wants a two-year deal, and he probably will get it -- probably elsewhere. Harris wants back, and look for him to get another shot -- at age 41 -- to build on his pinch-hit record. Alfonseca has a home in the area, and he would like to return. Mordecai will be in the organization. He feels he can play, offering a minimum-salary veteran middle infielder. If the team doesn't have plans to sign him as a player, he likely will return as a Minor League manager. He managed the team's Jamestown club in the New York-Penn League in 2005 before being called to play for the Marlins in September. Valdez probably won't be back. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla
October 17, 200519 yr I'd feel better if we signed Mordecai as our backup middle infielder and let Easly go. Heck, if we don't resign Gonzo then maybe we can split time at SS with Mordecai and Andino. Then the season after have Andino take the spot full time. I also hope we make a real effort to keep Jones around.
October 17, 200519 yr I'd feel better if we signed Mordecai as our backup middle infielder and let Easly go. Heck, if we don't resign Gonzo then maybe we can split time at SS with Mordecai and Andino. Then the season after have Andino take the spot full time. I also hope we make a real effort to keep Jones around. hmmm why mordy over easly??
October 17, 200519 yr To be honest, I said that basically out of favoritism. I can't claim that mordy is the better player over easly.
October 17, 200519 yr Author I'd feel better if we signed Mordecai as our backup middle infielder and let Easly go. No way.
October 17, 200519 yr Teams with budget issues cut money in two areas: bullpen and bench. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think Wilson's got the inside track for the utility job next season because he'll be playing at the minimum, and it seems that we're trying to find ways to give Andino a year at AAA, meaning that there's no place left for Wilson other than the big-club's bench. I like Easley, but his million can be spent elsewhere...
October 17, 200519 yr Teams with budget issues cut money in two areas: bullpen and bench. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think Wilson's got the inside track for the utility job next season because he'll be playing at the minimum, and it seems that we're trying to find ways to give Andino a year at AAA, meaning that there's no place left for Wilson other than the big-club's bench. I like Easley, but his million can be spent elsewhere... I'd like to get Niner back at a discount, and Easley is not a $1 mil man anymore. Hasn't he taken 2 consecutive $750-800K contracts? With his injury issues and the fact that our team has been overly loyal he could probably be had for around $500K. Jon Mabry due to his versatility is one bench guy I'd love to see us nab in FA. Former Fish as well. Willingham and Dillon/Wilson could fill the other two bench spots(considering we go with a 12 man pitching staff), and the only player in the millions would be Conine.
October 17, 200519 yr Teams with budget issues cut money in two areas: bullpen and bench. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think Wilson's got the inside track for the utility job next season because he'll be playing at the minimum, and it seems that we're trying to find ways to give Andino a year at AAA, meaning that there's no place left for Wilson other than the big-club's bench. I like Easley, but his million can be spent elsewhere... I'd like to get Niner back at a discount, and Easley is not a $1 mil man anymore. Hasn't he taken 2 consecutive $750-800K contracts? With his injury issues and the fact that our team has been overly loyal he could probably be had for around $500K. Jon Mabry due to his versatility is one bench guy I'd love to see us nab in FA. Former Fish as well. Willingham and Dillon/Wilson could fill the other two bench spots(considering we go with a 12 man pitching staff), and the only player in the millions would be Conine. I'd love Mabry, but I don't think the Cards let him go, nor do I particularly think he'd be over anxious to come back here...isn't he a mid-west guy? To my knowledge, Easley was on a one year $1 million contract this season. Dillon probably won't be on the bench, and if Easley is signed, Wilson's wasted on the bench...you don't need two utility infielders. Here's my bench (assuming we carry 12 pitchers): Conine Willingham Wilson Treanor (maybe upgrade here?) Harris
October 17, 200519 yr Teams with budget issues cut money in two areas: bullpen and bench. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think Wilson's got the inside track for the utility job next season because he'll be playing at the minimum, and it seems that we're trying to find ways to give Andino a year at AAA, meaning that there's no place left for Wilson other than the big-club's bench. I like Easley, but his million can be spent elsewhere... I'd like to get Niner back at a discount, and Easley is not a $1 mil man anymore. Hasn't he taken 2 consecutive $750-800K contracts? With his injury issues and the fact that our team has been overly loyal he could probably be had for around $500K. Jon Mabry due to his versatility is one bench guy I'd love to see us nab in FA. Former Fish as well. Willingham and Dillon/Wilson could fill the other two bench spots(considering we go with a 12 man pitching staff), and the only player in the millions would be Conine. I'd love Mabry, but I don't think the Cards let him go, nor do I particularly think he'd be over anxious to come back here...isn't he a mid-west guy? To my knowledge, Easley was on a one year $1 million contract this season. Dillon probably won't be on the bench, and if Easley is signed, Wilson's wasted on the bench...you don't need two utility infielders. Here's my bench (assuming we carry 12 pitchers): Conine Willingham Wilson Treanor (maybe upgrade here?) Harris My thinking of Mabry was with Nunez and Rodriguez and Gall etc. etc. that Mabry might just be the odd man out. Sad to say, he is a very classy guy and would be valuable to any team that picks him up. I just hope that is us. As for upgrading at C, I like Treanor, part of me wishes we hadnt done whatever we did to piss DiFelice off, but then again we have two backup C on the team right now with Willingham and Treanor, I dont think it is overly necessary to spend much time nor energy to find another. And as you know, I am a big Easley fanboy, so of course I dont want to get rid of him.
October 17, 200519 yr I still feel Easley's pain. I can still that play in my head as I watched him collapse like a sack of potatoes. I like John Mabry tons but I think time has passed him by. Where's he going to play, right field? Not a chance. If Lenny decides to give it one more try, how many lefties do you need coming off the bench? I'm happy with Treanor as the number two guy and Willingham backing him up. But as for trading Juan Pierre, people don't realize it but most teams used a shift against him that rivaled the one so often spoken about for Carlos Delgado. I think given an off-season to work out ways to counteract it, JP will return to form and again drive teams crazy and opposing pitchers mad with frustration as he dances off first base or threatens to score from second. Even with arbitration looming he won't be that expensive next season that the Marlins can't afford him. The two biggest question marks among everyday players in my book remain what to do with AGon and Mike Lowell? While I'd like to see AGon gone, there's no pretty scenario when it comes to Mike Lowell, unless maybe he plays second (which means Castillo either moves to SS or is traded) or perhaps (knowing this won't be received well) he becomes our leftfielder. Absent some miraculous offensive rebirth it's probably better for both parties he finds a new home, even if it costs the Fish many millions of dollars.
October 17, 200519 yr i say leave mikey alone... ok so i like certain players and mikey is one of them...but look at the options for him...None are good except the one no one really cares for "Give him another year to see if he'll hit 275 with 24 homers". I personally don't care for what is going to happen this off season. No wonder Giradi is back tracking. He is going to get a team that is not only falling apart, but not getting any better any time soon. Does anyone here REALLY believe andino will ever be a true major leaguer? I don't think Hermida is good at all. He may become as great as a Ricky Leedee one day (I hope). But how good is that really? All I know is that a lot of people had high hopes for Abraham Nunez (where is he now) even Mr. Lame Duck Ismael Valdes...and as we can see they were typical bust as I for one anticipated. lets keep mikey...dump encarnacion and Agon...keep antonio and jones...then take it from there.
October 17, 200519 yr i say leave mikey alone... ok so i like certain players and mikey is one of them...but look at the options for him...None are good except the one no one really cares for "Give him another year to see if he'll hit 275 with 24 homers". I personally don't care for what is going to happen this off season. No wonder Giradi is back tracking. He is going to get a team that is not only falling apart, but not getting any better any time soon. Does anyone here REALLY believe andino will ever be a true major leaguer? I don't think Hermida is good at all. He may become as great as a Ricky Leedee one day (I hope). But how good is that really? All I know is that a lot of people had high hopes for Abraham Nunez (where is he now) even Mr. Lame Duck Ismael Valdes...and as we can see they were typical bust as I for one anticipated. lets keep mikey...dump encarnacion and Agon...keep antonio and jones...then take it from there. Hermida is not good at all? Are you mentally ill? I guess you have to be pretty sh*tty to be guranteed a starting job as a 21 year old. He just cant get it right can he? Andino is Alex Gonzalez Jr...the potential to play exceptional defense and hopefully incorporate power w/o average...he hit the ball hard quite a few times this season. And with Luis manning the other side of the bag that will make his defense that much better. I love Mikey as much as anyone and think there are reasons for hope, but at the same time we cant sacrifice the team for an $8 mil dollar defensive specialist, when we have a guy that can play 3rd just as well or better already.
October 17, 200519 yr i say leave mikey alone... ok so i like certain players and mikey is one of them...but look at the options for him...None are good except the one no one really cares for "Give him another year to see if he'll hit 275 with 24 homers". I personally don't care for what is going to happen this off season. No wonder Giradi is back tracking. He is going to get a team that is not only falling apart, but not getting any better any time soon. Does anyone here REALLY believe andino will ever be a true major leaguer? I don't think Hermida is good at all. He may become as great as a Ricky Leedee one day (I hope). But how good is that really? All I know is that a lot of people had high hopes for Abraham Nunez (where is he now) even Mr. Lame Duck Ismael Valdes...and as we can see they were typical bust as I for one anticipated. lets keep mikey...dump encarnacion and Agon...keep antonio and jones...then take it from there. Hermida is not good at all? Are you mentally ill? I guess you have to be pretty sh*tty to be guranteed a starting job as a 21 year old. He just cant get it right can he? Andino is Alex Gonzalez Jr...the potential to play exceptional defense and hopefully incorporate power w/o average...he hit the ball hard quite a few times this season. And with Luis manning the other side of the bag that will make his defense that much better. I love Mikey as much as anyone and think there are reasons for hope, but at the same time we cant sacrifice the team for an $8 mil dollar defensive specialist, when we have a guy that can play 3rd just as well or better already. Andino had a nice line shot that hit the wall...I watch the games. But don't fool yourself into believing that he will have power. I remember Mr. Nunez hitting about 10 homers in spring training and during the season he could barely get it past the middle of the outfield.
October 17, 200519 yr i say leave mikey alone... ok so i like certain players and mikey is one of them...but look at the options for him...None are good except the one no one really cares for "Give him another year to see if he'll hit 275 with 24 homers". I personally don't care for what is going to happen this off season. No wonder Giradi is back tracking. He is going to get a team that is not only falling apart, but not getting any better any time soon. Does anyone here REALLY believe andino will ever be a true major leaguer? I don't think Hermida is good at all. He may become as great as a Ricky Leedee one day (I hope). But how good is that really? All I know is that a lot of people had high hopes for Abraham Nunez (where is he now) even Mr. Lame Duck Ismael Valdes...and as we can see they were typical bust as I for one anticipated. lets keep mikey...dump encarnacion and Agon...keep antonio and jones...then take it from there. Hermida is not good at all? Are you mentally ill? I guess you have to be pretty sh*tty to be guranteed a starting job as a 21 year old. He just cant get it right can he? Andino is Alex Gonzalez Jr...the potential to play exceptional defense and hopefully incorporate power w/o average...he hit the ball hard quite a few times this season. And with Luis manning the other side of the bag that will make his defense that much better. I love Mikey as much as anyone and think there are reasons for hope, but at the same time we cant sacrifice the team for an $8 mil dollar defensive specialist, when we have a guy that can play 3rd just as well or better already. Andino had a nice line shot that hit the wall...I watch the games. But don't fool yourself into believing that he will have power. I remember Mr. Nunez hitting about 10 homers in spring training and during the season he could barely get it past the middle of the outfield. Well I guess it's a good thing that Andino's shots off the wall happened in the regular season. Quit trying to start controversy.
October 17, 200519 yr i say leave mikey alone... ok so i like certain players and mikey is one of them...but look at the options for him...None are good except the one no one really cares for "Give him another year to see if he'll hit 275 with 24 homers". I personally don't care for what is going to happen this off season. No wonder Giradi is back tracking. He is going to get a team that is not only falling apart, but not getting any better any time soon. Does anyone here REALLY believe andino will ever be a true major leaguer? I don't think Hermida is good at all. He may become as great as a Ricky Leedee one day (I hope). But how good is that really? All I know is that a lot of people had high hopes for Abraham Nunez (where is he now) even Mr. Lame Duck Ismael Valdes...and as we can see they were typical bust as I for one anticipated. lets keep mikey...dump encarnacion and Agon...keep antonio and jones...then take it from there. Hermida is not good at all? Are you mentally ill? I guess you have to be pretty sh*tty to be guranteed a starting job as a 21 year old. He just cant get it right can he? Andino is Alex Gonzalez Jr...the potential to play exceptional defense and hopefully incorporate power w/o average...he hit the ball hard quite a few times this season. And with Luis manning the other side of the bag that will make his defense that much better. I love Mikey as much as anyone and think there are reasons for hope, but at the same time we cant sacrifice the team for an $8 mil dollar defensive specialist, when we have a guy that can play 3rd just as well or better already. Andino had a nice line shot that hit the wall...I watch the games. But don't fool yourself into believing that he will have power. I remember Mr. Nunez hitting about 10 homers in spring training and during the season he could barely get it past the middle of the outfield. there are growing pains with any young player. We had them with Miguel, Dontrelle, etc. I don't think Andino is ready, but Hermida is as ready as any young player would be. This is the Florida Marlins, and we are going to have a mix of young a veteran players. We aren't the Yankees
October 18, 200519 yr Well I think keeping Conine and Easley are important because almost everytime you needed some kind of hit out of one of these two, they always delivered. As great as Gonzo has been for the team defensively, he has never lit the world on fire with his offense. And that is painful to say because without him, we wouldn't have won Game 4 of the WS 2 years ago.. If there was one other player that I wish we could resign, it would be Todd Jones. Its a shame that every season this team has to go out and find another pitcher that will step up and be that dominant closer that they so desperately need. Two years ago we all thought it was Looper and it turned out to be Uggie, last season it was Armando and we couldn't sign him for longer than one year, and now Todd Jones has an incredible season and he'll be lost. Its a damn shame...
October 18, 200519 yr I would think Conine and Jones have the most difficult decisions to make. For some obvious reasons Jeff Conine would want to stay in South Florida, his family, restaurant, his familiarity with and comfort level at PPS. The question is, whether his desire (read, pride) to find an everyday job (which he certainly showed hecan still play with his second half performance in 2005) will outweigh the benefits of staying here in a utility role. As for Jones, I have to wonder how well he'll do in a less friendly pitcher's park. Again, pride may play a part in the decision this 37 year old player makes. I'm sure he'd like to go out being a success. Going to city like Philly or Houston may diminish his success as he enters the autumn years of his career. In short, I suspect Conine stays (with a lesser but performance-laded contract) and Jones is at least a 50/50 chance of returning. But of course nothing happens until a new manager is hired...
October 18, 200519 yr I would think Conine and Jones have the most difficult decisions to make. For some obvious reasons Jeff Conine would want to stay in South Florida, his family, restaurant, his familiarity with and comfort level at PPS. The question is, whether his desire (read, pride) to find an everyday job (which he certainly showed hecan still play with his second half performance in 2005) will outweigh the benefits of staying here in a utility role. If we do trade Lowell, there could be two corner OF jobs available, with Miggy moving to third. Of course, he'd have to battle Hermida for the RF job, but we could conceivably re-sign Conine with the LF job in mind for him.
October 18, 200519 yr Why is everyone assumign that if conine returns he will be strictly a utility guy? I believe if lowell goes an OF spot is his to win, or at least split time with someone else. I believe he was wasted this year in the first half as he rotted on the bench. He can still play and shoudl split time with sumone.
October 18, 200519 yr I'd feel better if we signed Mordecai as our backup middle infielder and let Easly go. Heck, if we don't resign Gonzo then maybe we can split time at SS with Mordecai and Andino. Then the season after have Andino take the spot full time. I also hope we make a real effort to keep Jones around. Mordecai and Andino as our middle infielders...? :blink: :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
October 18, 200519 yr Why is everyone assumign that if conine returns he will be strictly a utility guy? I believe if lowell goes an OF spot is his to win, or at least split time with someone else. I believe he was wasted this year in the first half as he rotted on the bench. He can still play and shoudl split time with sumone. I can be wrong but my guess is that 2006 is the season when you see the rookies and underutilized young players get a chance to succeed, at least early in the season. Conine provides a terrific insurance policy if Hermida, Willingham, Aguila, etc. fail or don't seem to be pregressing as expected. On the otherhand if Conine comes into ST and sets the world on fire, he just might push some of the kids back on the bench. However it all works out, as long as Conine remains a Fish, it's all good.
October 18, 200519 yr Why is everyone assumign that if conine returns he will be strictly a utility guy? I believe if lowell goes an OF spot is his to win, or at least split time with someone else. I believe he was wasted this year in the first half as he rotted on the bench. He can still play and shoudl split time with sumone. I agree. I think he can be a .300, 10HR, 70-80RBI guy playing every day.
October 18, 200519 yr If I'm just looking at who's a free agent and whether I think they can help the team and are needed back I would say keep Niner, Moehler and Valdez. If money can be worked out I'd also keep Alfonseca and Encarnacion. I know its crazy to think about keeping Enc, but if the Marlins can rid themselves of Pierre and Lowell he can play CF and will be affordable. As for not giving a second thought about showing them the door good bye to AJ, Easley, SeaBass, Lenny, and Mordy. Remaining free agents are Jones, whom I would love to keep, but he'll fetch a pretty penny to do so, and Mecir and Quantrill. Mecir has indicated he would retire if i'm not mistaken, but I would love to keep him and Q had several pitching coaches last season maybe sign to a minor league contract with ST invite to see if whoever the pitching coach can get him fixed.
October 22, 200519 yr ok ok, all well and good but I'm starting to worry about the Carlos Delgado situation? Is this the wrong topic for it because I need opinions and thoughts from you guys...am I worrying for nothing? :confused
October 22, 200519 yr Teams with budget issues cut money in two areas: bullpen and bench. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think Wilson's got the inside track for the utility job next season because he'll be playing at the minimum, and it seems that we're trying to find ways to give Andino a year at AAA, meaning that there's no place left for Wilson other than the big-club's bench. I like Easley, but his million can be spent elsewhere... I'd like to get Niner back at a discount, and Easley is not a $1 mil man anymore. Hasn't he taken 2 consecutive $750-800K contracts? With his injury issues and the fact that our team has been overly loyal he could probably be had for around $500K. Jon Mabry due to his versatility is one bench guy I'd love to see us nab in FA. Former Fish as well. Willingham and Dillon/Wilson could fill the other two bench spots(considering we go with a 12 man pitching staff), and the only player in the millions would be Conine. I'd love Mabry, but I don't think the Cards let him go, nor do I particularly think he'd be over anxious to come back here...isn't he a mid-west guy? To my knowledge, Easley was on a one year $1 million contract this season. Dillon probably won't be on the bench, and if Easley is signed, Wilson's wasted on the bench...you don't need two utility infielders. Here's my bench (assuming we carry 12 pitchers): Conine Willingham Wilson Treanor (maybe upgrade here?) Harris That would mean we would carry 3 catchers I like keeping Harris and want Wilson on the bench I am a huge fan of Conine and think we have Willy as our main backup catcher and have Treanor in AAA
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