MIAMI -- Less than 24 hours after the World Series ended, the formality of free agency began.

Three veterans from the 2006 Marlins took their first steps toward testing the open market. On Saturday afternoon, Brian Moehler, Matt Herges and Wes Helms were among the 59 players league-wide who filed for free agency.

 

Of the three, the Marlins are expected to make the strongest effort to bring back Helms, a productive situational player who batted .329 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 240 at-bats. Toward the end of the season, Florida used the 30-year-old in a platoon at first base along with Mike Jacobs. For most of the season, he was a defensive replacement for Jacobs along with being a productive pinch-hitter.

 

After the All-Star break, Helms batted .385 (50-for-130) with five home runs and 29 RBIS.

 

A versatile player, Helms can play first and third base and has seen action as a corner outfielder. He says he would welcome returning to the Marlins, but his first priority is to be an everyday player.

 

In assessing their squad for 2007, the Marlins must decide whether Jacobs will again be their regular first baseman. In his first full season, the left-handed-hitting first baseman batted .262 with 20 home runs and 77 RBIs. He struggled, however, against left-handed pitching, batting .182 with two homers and 11 RBIs.

 

Helms played a career-high 140 games, and his 240 at-bats were his most since he had 274 at-bats while with the Brewers in 2004.

 

Moehler, who turns 35 on New Year's Eve, spent the past two seasons with the Marlins. The right-hander was 7-11 with a 6.57 ERA in 29 games, with 21 starts, in 2006.

 

At this stage of his career, Moehler feels he is best suited to work out of the bullpen, along with being a spot starter. Most likely, he will not return to Florida.

 

The 36-year-old Herges tossed 71 innings and appeared in 66 games as a reliever. Moehler provided leadership for a young bullpen, while going 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA.

 

The Marlins are expected to revamp their bullpen, and it is uncertain if Herges is part of the plans.

 

Florida's other primary free agent candidate expected to file is closer Joe Borowski, who had 36 saves in 2006.

 

Source : www.floridamarlins.com

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...sp&c_id=fla

 

 

First time posting an article.

 

I find it interesting about the role of Mike Jacobs now, I like a scenario of maybe bringing back Helms for a possible everyday 1B and swap out Jacobs if it can give us a good CF in return. I know this has been discussed before with other people but that idea has always been something that has stuck out there.

Trading Jacobs wouldn't break my heart... Helms is the man. They need to re-sign him, pay him whatever he wants, lol.

I would prefer to keep both if possible, but I understand if Helms wants to be playing everyday.

 

I like Jacobs to eventually play everyday, but I also see Helms, being a super-dependable bat off the bench, as something very hard to find. If only we could keep him here to keep hitting game winning RBI PHs.

OH NO! NOT MOE!

i hope Moehler gets that huge contract he deserves after being so underpaid this season.

jacobs is young and has upside. helms is great for the now, but in the long term we need to go with the young guys.

Maybe Moehler can go play for the Yankees. I mean whatever they pay him, all he has to do is actually pitch for them and he'll be more worth it than Pavano.

No great shakes although i'd like Helms back.

HERGES ... Nooooooooo!

I really hope Helms finds a starting job somewhere with a nice paycheck. His 2006 was an excellent performance.

HERGES ... Nooooooooo!

i liked herges. joe just didnt know how to use him.

HERGES ... Nooooooooo!

Say it isnt so

HERGES ... Nooooooooo!

i liked herges. joe just didnt know how to use him.

Never would have been nice.

Herges wasn't THAT bad. I disliked him most of the season, but I got over it once Girardi started using him less often. He was overused horribly during the first month or two of the season and a bit again towards the end (although at that point there were few other options).

 

Moehler on the other hand...

so long moehler and herges, but not so much helms.

Re-sign Helms, so long other two guys.

:thumbup

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Helms was huge for us last season. Herges and Moe would not be big loses for the team.

Helms played a career-high 140 games, and his 240 at-bats were his most since he had 274 at-bats while with the Brewers in 2004.

Wow, that one year gap really makes me think "WTF?"

Herges did have some solid outings with us last season but he is not a workhorse. he is good to pitch twice a week. Can have a role in a very deep bullpen. Not many of those around lately. Moe...well...thanks for having been there ole buddy. Hope you enjoy early retirement. Moe wanna help coach my son's Pony League team? Shouldn't be a problem with all the time you are gonna have on your hands now

Heges ended up doing an okay job for us. In the beginning of the year, he killed us, I was stupified that he was still with the team. He ended up with an ERA under 4, so I was happy with him.

 

Helms we really need to bring back, he played well for us. He's a nice guy too, and a good veteran presence.

Bye Moehler :waving

 

I'd like to see Helms stay, but only for the right price.

Helms is the perfect example of what good scouting and a GM willing to trust in same can do for team like ours. Hopefully we'll see more of the same in 2007.

I'm willing to bet Moehler winds up with the Royals.

Tough spot on the Helms-Jacobs situation... that's a pretty decent rookie season Jacobs put together, but Helms was super.

 

I'd love to bring Wes back but it might be difficult if another team is willing to give him more at-bats, or even start.

 

I would be willing to part with Jacobs if he was part of a package that brought a very good CF back, & then use Wes at 1B.

 

I'm just not sure where I stand on how good Jacobs could be, and defensively he needs a lot of work.

HERGES ... Nooooooooo!

i liked herges. joe just didnt know how to use him.

 

 

 

:lol

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what was the Marlins' offer that Helms turned down?