August 25, 200323 yr Mike Berardino Sunday column http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...,2504518.column With a week to go before the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason eligibility, the Marlins are among a handful of teams trolling for additional lefty relief help. According to teams that have talked with the Marlins, that is their primary wish now that Miguel Cabrera has nailed down left field and Chad Fox has filled the seventh-inning relief role. Tigers lefty Jamie Walker has cleared waivers, but Detroit is insisting on Marlins catcher Ramon Castro. No deal. The Marlins wisely realize Castro is too valuable to their future with Pudge Rodriguez playing himself into a commanding position for free agency. Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes and Arizona's Mike Myers -- both submarining lefties -- have cleared waivers as well. The Marlins could make a play for Fuentes, especially after McKeon spent at least 30 minutes talking with Colorado General Manager Dan O'Dowd before Wednesday's game. Phillies slugger Jim Thome has said he found Fuentes particularly dastardly. The Braves couldn't get the overworked Ray King through waivers, so they pulled him back. Curiously, the Reds hadn't put Felix Heredia on waivers as of Friday, but plenty of teams, including the Marlins, would be interested. Only problem there is, the Reds have let it be known they would want a premium prospect or two for the ex-Marlin. Or, as Joe Angel used to call him, El Gato Flaco. Two more possibilities include Indians veteran Terry Mulholland and the Rangers' Ron Mahay. Both lefties could be had relatively cheaply and could get key outs down the stretch.
August 26, 200323 yr Sadly the Yankees aquired Heredia today. I was hoping "El Gato Flaco" could make his return. But if it meant parting with a prospect or two.....
August 26, 200323 yr i think Heredia is now a Yankee Yep, we needed him so he can at least replace Almanza but the Yanks got him! Those Yanks...
August 26, 200323 yr Myers sounds good to me. Just bring him in against leftie(s) once a game, and be done with it.
August 26, 200323 yr The reason I would be wary of Fuentes is that his style puts a lot of strain on the elbow, and we know all about elbows, right Mr. Burnett?
August 26, 200323 yr Anyway, if we do get a lefty, who gets bumped (pun intended) from the bullpen? I'd assume Nate would be sent back to AAA.
August 26, 200323 yr Anyway, if we do get a lefty, who gets bumped (pun intended) from the bullpen? I'd assume Nate would be sent back to AAA. That would be hard. Nate has been pretty good for us (in my opinion), so that would be hard to send him back to AAA.
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