November 13, 200619 yr http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport.../printstory.jsp Posted on Sun, Nov. 12, 2006 MARLINS Shopping spree is unlikely With the payroll set to remain low, Florida is likely to lose some of its free agents and struggle to fill its existing needs. BY KEVIN BAXTER kbaxter@MiamiHerald.com Bullpen help and a center fielder top the Marlins' wish list heading into what could be another challenging offseason for general manager Admin Beinfest and his staff. With Florida's frugal payroll expected to grow only slightly, the team won't be pursuing any high-priced free agents. In fact, the Marlins could have trouble keeping the players they have. Left-hander Dontrelle Willis and three-time All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera are eligible for arbitration this winter, and it could cost Florida a combined $12 million to keep them both -- a price the team appears ready to pay. But that's just $3 million less than the team's total on-field payroll on Opening Day last season, meaning there probably will not be room in the budget to bring back free agents Wes Helms, Matt Herges, Brian Moehler or Joe Borowski, holes Beinfest likely will try to fill with minor-league free agents or through minor trades. The Marlins will begin exploring both options in earnest when baseball's annual general managers' meetings open Monday at the Naples Grande Resort on the Gulf Coast. ''There's been some conversations already. But it's never really the same until you get face-to-face and you get your guys in the room . . . and you come up with all kinds of different ideas,'' said Beinfest, who already has signed journeyman reliever Nate Field to a minor-league contract. Shoring up the bullpen is Beinfest's top priority. Marlins relievers were second in the National League with 28 losses and had the third-worst ERA at 4.67 ERA last season. The bullpen also gave up the second-most walks in the majors (258) and tied the Atlanta Braves for most blown saves in the NL with 26. ''When you look around the game, there's no doubt there's going to be a lot of people looking for bullpen [help],'' said Beinfest, who has gone through four closers in as many seasons. ``We've tried to figure it out over the last five years. It's the one area that we've had the most trouble with. And we're just going to keep banging on it until we get it right.'' Florida also will be looking for a center fielder after the five players it started there last season combined to hit just .228, the lowest average in the league at that position. ''Heading into the meetings, our main thing will be to concentrate on those two areas, and we'll engage with teams talking trade about those two areas,'' Beinfest said. Although the general manager, in accordance with club policy, refused to rule out a trade involving Willis, such a move is unlikely. Instead, the Marlins, blessed with a set rotation in the majors and a bevy of talented, young starters in the low minors, probably will seek to trade some of their surplus arms. One possible trade partner is the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who are desperate for pitching and who previously have expressed interest in Marlins pitcher Sergio Mitre and Jason Vargas, among others. Tampa has a surplus of young outfield prospects it could offer. ''We're not looking to trade our pitching,'' Beinfest said. ``But if it's something that really matches up and we have conviction about it, knowing that we do have [pitching] depth, we could do it.'' ? According to The New York Post, former Marlins manager Joe Girardi will be introduced Monday as an analyst for Yankees games on YES Network.
November 13, 200619 yr One possible trade partner is the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who are desperate for pitching and who previously have expressed interest in Marlins pitcher Sergio Mitre and Jason Vargas, among others. Tampa has a surplus of young outfield prospects it could offer. Give me Baldelli, Crawford or Dukes please
November 13, 200619 yr One possible trade partner is the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who are desperate for pitching and who previously have expressed interest in Marlins pitcher Sergio Mitre and Jason Vargas, among others. Tampa has a surplus of young outfield prospects it could offer. Give me Baldelli, Crawford or Dukes please Tampa......again, these are the people who wanted Scott Olsen for Joey Gathright last year... It would probably take Dontrelle (and maybe more) to take either of the first two (and those trades wouldn't save much money either). Maybe we could get Dukes for those two, but Dukes is well, what Dukes has been so far. Could potentially be good, but that is significant trade filler to give for a guy who's (good) potential is offset by some way too significant discipline problems.
November 13, 200619 yr Truth hurts, truth sucks, but it could have been presented more accurately. I understand the name of the game in journalism in any form is sensationalism, but still, the title and context is unnecessarily overblown.
November 13, 200619 yr One possible trade partner is the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who are desperate for pitching and who previously have expressed interest in Marlins pitcher Sergio Mitre and Jason Vargas, among others. Tampa has a surplus of young outfield prospects it could offer. Give me Baldelli, Crawford or Dukes please Tampa......again, these are the people who wanted Scott Olsen for Joey Gathright last year... It would probably take Dontrelle (and maybe more) to take either of the first two (and those trades wouldn't save much money either). Maybe we could get Dukes for those two, but Dukes is well, what Dukes has been so far. Could potentially be good, but that is significant trade filler to give for a guy who's (good) potential is offset by some way too significant discipline problems. Dukes has some positives for a potential trade. He has lowered his trade value due to his antics in the minors and has the potential to bring a solid bat into our lineup. Negatives would be the possibility he turns into a clubhouse cancer and, from what I have read on Tampa Bay forums in the past, he is a subpar centerfielder defensively. I'd love to get Baldelli but the D'Rays would probably ask too much for him, not to mention Crawford for whom they'd demand the sun and the moon.
November 13, 200619 yr I especially liked Baxter's concern that there's not enough money to "bring back" free agents Matt Herges and Brian Moehler :banghead
November 13, 200619 yr I especially liked Baxter's concern that there's not enough money to "bring back" free agents Mat Herges and Brian Moehler :banghead :lol :lol
November 13, 200619 yr groundbreaking article. :lol It's obvious this guy hates the ownership when he laments the lack of funds to resign Moe, Herges, etc.
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