Center field, 'pen top Marlins' wish list

New closer, supporting arms are Florida's priorities this winter

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

MIAMI -- Different year, same set of priorities.

 

Solidifying the bullpen once again is a primary objective for Florida as Sunday's start to the free-agency signing period approaches. At the upcoming General Managers Meetings in Naples, Fla., the Marlins' front office will be targeting two top areas of need: relievers and a center fielder.

 

"It's clear, the numbers bear it out," general manager Admin Beinfest said. "The bullpen, we'd like to solidify it and make it as deep as possible."

 

Clearly, the statistics were telling for Florida in 2006. As encouraging as finishing 78-84 was this past season, it's unknown what the record could have been with a more stable bullpen.

 

Marlins relievers were 16-28 with a 4.67 ERA (ranked 24th in the Major Leagues). Another troubling number was the relievers combined to walk 258 batters. Only Kansas City (272) had more. And the Marlins tied the Braves for the most blown saves (26) in the National League.

 

With limited financial resources, the Marlins will explore all avenues for quality arms: free agency, trades and searching from within.

 

Florida does have the luxury of having an abundance of young arms in the organization. A number of those pitchers are projected starters, but out of necessity, the team may be more willing to convert some of them to relievers.

 

A year ago that paid off when lefty Taylor Tankersley, a first-round pick in 2004, was switched from a Minor League starter to a reliever. Called up in early June, Tankersley and veteran closer Joe Borowski were the two most dependable relievers.

 

Now a free agent, Borowski will test the market, and his strong 36-save season in 2006 may have pushed the right-hander out of the Marlins' price range. Tankersley is an option to close or remain an eighth-inning setup choice.

 

At the start of this past season, right-handers Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco worked out of the bullpen. Both moved into the rotation in May and remained fixtures.

 

Some of the starter options to be used in relief are Renyel Pinto, Jose Garcia and Yusmeiro Petit.

 

Sergio Mitre, comfortable in a starting role, spent most of the season on the disabled list. The right-hander felt uncomfortable pitching out of the bullpen. Mitre could possibly be dangled as trade bait. If he stays, he offers experience as a starter.

 

Chris Resop and Randy Messenger are hard throwers who are in the mix for setup spots.

 

"I don't think anything is ever set, especially with young players," Beinfest said. "Their challenge now is to come out and perform consistently. They've shown they can do it. Now, to really be a great big leaguer, you have to do it consistently. That's something we'll be watching for in '07."

 

The bullpen took a big hit when two promising young arms underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. Logan Kensing had his procedure in August, while Carlos Martinez went through his operation in early July. Because of the long recovery period for patients of that procedure, it is unlikely either right-hander will pitch in 2007.

 

Center field remained in flux throughout 2006. Before last Spring Training, the club explored its options, but stuck with Reggie Abercrombie for most of the first half.

 

For much of the second half, Alfredo Amezaga, who had primarily been a middle infielder, was switched to center. Cody Ross also saw time there. Abercrombie, Eric Reed and Joe Borchard are other candidates heading into 2007.

 

Minor League prospect Brett Carroll is expected to get a shot at winning an outfield position in Spring Training.

 

"As far as the outfield, we'll talk specifically about center field," Beinfest said.

 

Some of the names that have been tossed out as trade options are Willy Taveras of the Astros and Chris Duffy of the Pirates. Boston prospect David Murphy, who saw some action with the Red Sox in September, caught the Marlins' attention last season.

 

Because of their financial concerns, it will be more challenging for the Marlins to pursue higher-priced options. Juan Pierre, a standout on the 2003 World Series championship team, has filed for free agency after a year with the Cubs.

 

The Marlins remain fond of Pierre, who owns a home in South Florida. But with the speedster in line to make upwards of $5 million a season, he may be out of the team's price range.

 

If the team goes outside of the organization, parting with some of its surplus pitching would be its most realistic way to address its center-field need.

 

The Marlins are hopeful to bring back veteran Wes Helms, who had a standout 2006 season being used as a platoon option at first base as well as a defensive replacement and pinch-hitter.

 

Another challenge will be to sign their three arbitration-eligible starters: ace Dontrelle Willis, three-time All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera and catcher Miguel Olivo.

 

Retaining Willis and Cabrera will cost about $12 million. They are expected to be the leaders of the club.

 

"There's going to have to be some work done," Beinfest said. "We want to try to get better. This team has shown what it can do. Now we want to continue down that road."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

24 year old Brett Carroll who hit .231/.303/.422 in his first trip to AA is not competing for a spot on the roster, let alone a starting OF slot. uh.

24 year old Brett Carroll who hit .231/.303/.422 in his first trip to AA is not competing for a spot on the roster, let alone a starting OF slot. uh.

 

Yea when I read that I was like :blink: :blink: :blink: I know who he is and is isnt all that to get a starting job.. That's why I put it in bold because I was :banghead :banghead :blink: :blink: :blink:

24 year old Brett Carroll who hit .231/.303/.422 in his first trip to AA is not competing for a spot on the roster, let alone a starting OF slot. uh.

Carroll is a real option to fill our hole in CF..He is just having an oustanding performance in the AFL...remember that is where the Marlins picked up on Dan Uggla.

:banghead

The names Chris Duffy and Willy Taveras have come up way too often this offseason in articles on CFs the Fish are eyeing. The Marlins can do much better than this craptastic duo, though it may take a few million to do so.

This is humorous. I have faith in whoever the Marlins put out in Center. I'm sure you were overreacting when you found out that Dan Uggla was going to be our starting Second Baseman and that didn't turn out too bad, did it? And when Reggie Abercrombie was strong in the preseason no one seemed to care. When we have a team that doesn't wanna spend ANY money, just throw anyone out there and hope they do fine. Give them a chance.

You just produced your own antithesis by dropping the word Abercrombie.

 

Let's get someone decent.

The problem is that Loria says "Lets get someone cheap"

You just produced your own antithesis by dropping the word Abercrombie.

 

Let's get someone decent.

The problem is that Loria says "Lets get someone cheap"

 

No. The problem is that fans don't appreciate what they have for cheap and are always willing to bash.

I don't like any of the names mentioned for CF at all. I must admit though that I don't know much about Murphy.

 

 

I think even with the older age, Dave Roberts should get at least SOME consideration.

murphy is a like a B prospect, he has decent speed, decent power(i believe he had a couple of homers in his sept. cup), probably capable of hitting like .270 or so, has a pretty good arm(def not spectacular) and im not convinced he is a leadoff type guy...hope that helps

I think even with the older age, Dave Roberts should get at least SOME consideration.

I doubt he does. I'd like to get him, but this team is going to want to go young. He shouldn't be too expensive, so maybe they'll take a look at him.

It will be a wasted offseason if all the Marlins have to show for it is Duffy or Taveras as our centerfield solution and a collection of reclaimation projects to upgrade our bullpen. There is a good chance the Marlins take a step back next season if that happens. Which is really a shame when relatively few areas of the team need upgrades and the Marlins could probably go out in the FA market, sign the players we need and still field a team with a payroll only around $30 million (if not less).

It will be a wasted offseason if all the Marlins have to show for it is Duffy or Taveras as our centerfield solution and a collection of reclaimation projects to upgrade our bullpen. There is a good chance the Marlins take a step back next season if that happens. Which is really a shame when relatively few areas of the team need upgrades and the Marlins could probably go out in the FA market, sign the players we need and still field a team with a payroll only around $30 million (if not less).

 

:thumbup

24 year old Brett Carroll who hit .231/.303/.422 in his first trip to AA is not competing for a spot on the roster, let alone a starting OF slot. uh.

Carroll is a real option to fill our hole in CF..He is just having an oustanding performance in the AFL...remember that is where the Marlins picked up on Dan Uggla.

 

Uggla had a stellar year in AA before we got him, although he amazingly performed better at the major league level. But guys who haven't even come close to performing in the minors aren't what we should be counting on.

24 year old Brett Carroll who hit .231/.303/.422 in his first trip to AA is not competing for a spot on the roster, let alone a starting OF slot. uh.

Carroll is a real option to fill our hole in CF..He is just having an oustanding performance in the AFL...remember that is where the Marlins picked up on Dan Uggla.

 

 

uggla also was fairly decent in the regular season 2k5.

The names Chris Duffy and Willy Taveras have come up way too often this offseason in articles on CFs the Fish are eyeing. The Marlins can do much better than this craptastic duo, though it may take a few million to do so.

For some reason, I believe the Marlins know this and have a long list of potential CF candidates. They haven't been hinting those names to the press.

The names Chris Duffy and Willy Taveras have come up way too often this offseason in articles on CFs the Fish are eyeing. The Marlins can do much better than this craptastic duo, though it may take a few million to do so.

For some reason, I believe the Marlins know this and have a long list of potential CF candidates. They haven't been hinting those names to the press.

 

Every article I have seen this offseason listing centerfielders the Marlins are interested in has prominently featured the names Chris Duffy and Willy Taveras.

The names Chris Duffy and Willy Taveras have come up way too often this offseason in articles on CFs the Fish are eyeing. The Marlins can do much better than this craptastic duo, though it may take a few million to do so.

For some reason, I believe the Marlins know this and have a long list of potential CF candidates. They haven't been hinting those names to the press.

 

Every article I have seen this offseason listing centerfielders the Marlins are interested in has prominently featured the names Chris Duffy and Willy Taveras.

 

I think there has only been two (ignoring the roto-fillintheblank story pickups) that included both players - the PBP by Capozzi and a week or so later at flamarlins.com. But since it was Capozzi and Frsaro, one has to assume this came from someone inside the Marlins organization.

 

Source: news.google.com

Taveras has probably been mentioned more often than any other for a CF target. And while everyone here was saying what a bad idea that was from the start and how bad Taveras is, he did set a record for his club with a 30-game hitting streak.

 

I doubt writers with direct connections to the team are pulling names out of a hat while writing articles. It's not speculation.

I didn't accuse writers of making up names. Although that tends to happen a lot around this time of year although most professional writers tend to be named in the way Pierre was in the above piece.

I suggested it may not be in the Marlins' interest to show their cards to the press so early in the offseason. Let's face it. Very few people in South Florida are checking the papers for some glimpse of the team the Marlins will be putting on the field in April. So what purpose does leaking names to the press serve but to place expectations on part of the Marlins and undermine their attempts to acquire the players?

I didn't accuse writers of making up names. Although that tends to happen a lot around this time of year although most professional writers tend to be named in the way Pierre was in the above piece.

I suggested it may not be in the Marlins' interest to show their cards to the press so early in the offseason. Let's face it. Very few people in South Florida are checking the papers for some glimpse of the team the Marlins will be putting on the field in April. So what purpose does leaking names to the press serve but to place expectations on part of the Marlins and undermine their attempts to acquire the players?

I totally agree with that the Marlins have not allowed anyone a peek at their cards and are keeping their poker-face on. I think a minor league level trade will bring us our CF. Brett Carroll is a strong option to upgrade our CF situation, he has the tools and will be given a more than adequate chance in ST.

Brett Carroll has a 0.00% chance of winning any kinf of job out of spring training.