The hierarchy in baseball often suppresses opportunities for its members too rise up in class. Without a total upheaval it will likely forever remain this way. From time to time one of the poverty stricken clubs will rise above its fiscal status and crash the party with young brash players, but as its parts accrue in value they are often sold off.

 

The lower level clubs often work as a feeder system for those at the top of the food chain. They almost work as a higher level farm system for these clubs. The richer clubs such as the Dodgers and Red Sox sit back and lick their chops when a team rich with young talent like the Devil Rays come to town. They essentially get to scout these players for six years while they are playing out their rookie contracts knowing that they will ultimately price out of their current market.

 

Look at the Marlins for instance. They have been able to defy the odds by winning two World Championships while operating under one of the lowest payrolls in the game. After winning the 1997 pennant they were forced to cut costs and held an auction for their most skilled players. Only two players from that club were retained until 2003 when they were crowned again, Luis Castillo and Rick Helling.

 

As players leave through free agency, in some cases, their clubs are compensated with draft picks, but this is hardly the cure to new found deficiencies. When you need to replace Gary Sheffield chances are your going to come up short. When you have Vinny Chase in the starring role of a movie and you end up with Johnny Drama in the sequel people are going to be disappointed. Do you really think a draft pick is going to make up for the loss of Miguel Cabrera or Hanley Ramirez when the time comes? In basketball or football it?s a lot easier to address your needs through the draft, those players have an instant impact and the success rate is far higher than in baseball. Even when a player returns on the investment it can take several years before the said prospect makes it to the show. It will be impossible to find another pair of guys like Ramirez and Cabrera and I?m willing to bet that any general manager would gladly give up all of his draft picks to land one of them. They?re probably counting down the days until they hit the market like all the internet pedophiles have been doing with Hayden Panettiere?s 18th birthday.

 

Just imagine if the Marlins had the funds to retain their superstars throughout the years. They won two championships while operating with a Triple A payroll. This essentially is the dynasty that never was. I know that if they would have held on to certain players they would have lost out on others in the draft, but I?m not interested in that right now. This is just a hypothetical situation to illustrate what could have been if they had a Yankee sized budget.

 

Starting Pitchers: Brad Penny, Josh Beckett, AJ Burnett, Dontrelle Willis, and Johan Santana

 

 

I?ll admit it; I cheated by putting Santana on the list. He was traded before the Marlins selected him in the 1999 Rule V draft in a prearranged deal to that sent him and a bag of cash to the Twins for Jared Camp. If you?re wondering Camp was a lifetime minor leaguer and retired following the 2002 season. Hey, I never said the Marlins were infallible. Even without Santana around this could be one of the most dominate rotations in baseball. The one- two punch of Penny and Beckett would be right up there with Jake Peavy and Chris Young. Penny is third in the league behind the Padres golden arms and Beckett leads the majors with 16 wins, which really means nothing, Tim Wakefield is currently tied for the lead, but that total does compliment his 3.21 ERA and 152 strikeouts. Burnett is somewhat of a strange case. When he signed that huge contract he became the most overrated player in baseball. Because of that his talents have become devalued. I?ll admit that he isn?t worth $55 million, but only because he is always injured. When Burnett went on the disabled list following his June 28 start he was leading the league with 106 strikeouts. His 3.85 ERA isn?t spectacular, but a return to a friendly ballpark and a DH-free league would take about half a run off that figure.The problem is keeping him in the rotation. He exceeded 200 innings only twice in his in career. 100 K?s seemed flashy in June, but if that total remains at the end of the season it doesn?t really do much good. He isn?t being paid a superfluous amount of money to sit on the bench. That?s exactly how you get labeled with that dreaded phrase.Willis is having an off year but with those three guys ahead of him they could certainly afford it. I?ve been waiting all year for him to pitch his way out of this funk but it just keeps getting worst. He?s allowed 36 runs in his last ten starts, and he?s given up runs in all of his appearances this season except one: a four inning outing against the Braves on July 1.

 

Brad Penny: Acquired via trade with the Diamondbacks. Marlins recieved Penny, Vladimir Nunez and Abraham Nunez for Matt Mantei in 1999. He was then part of a 2004 trade with the Dodgers that returned Paul Lo Duca, Gullermo Mota and Juan Encarnacion.AJ Burnett: Was traded to Marlins in 1998 via the Mets for Al Leiter and Ralph Milliar. He then signed with the Blue Jays in 2005 as a free agent.Josh Beckett: Drafted by Marlins in 1999. Was traded to Boston for Hanley Ramirez in 2005 (see below: Lowell, Mike)

 

Dontrell Willis: Traded by the Cubs with Jose Cueto, Ryan Jorgensen and Julian Taverez to the Marlins for Antonio Alfonseca and Matt Clement

 

 

Positional Players:

 

Catcher: Ivan Rodriguez

Pudge isn?t the man he used to be but he is still one of the better backstops in the league. Mike Piazza could have also qualified at this position but we like Gary Sheffield better so Piazza never existed. Mike Redmond wouldn?t be a bad choice either, but were sticking with Pudge for veteran leadership.

Signed as a free agent in 2002. Signed by the Tigers in 2004.

 

First Base: Derrek Lee

Lee is one of the finest hitters in the national league but he hasn?t been the same since being injured last season. He won?t be flirting with 50 home runs or a .600 slugging percentage anymore. Instead it looks like he is going to be around 30 and .500 for the rest of his career, and I?m fine with that as long as he is still putting up this line: .320/.400/.500.

Was traded from the Padres to the Marlins in 1997 for Kevin Brown. Was then Traded to the Cubs in 2003 for Hee Seop Choi and Mike Nanni.

 

Second Base: Luis Castillo

I?m telling you right now that Dan Uggla?s 2006 season was a fluke. I personally think his best year(s) is behind him. So for now we?re keeping him in minors. Castillo gets on base, is a .294 career hitter, and plays solid defense. You need a guy like that around. It doesn?t hurt that Uggla basically played his way out of the spot by hitting .246.

Signed with Marlins in 1992 as an amateur free agent. Was then traded to Twins for Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler in 2005.

 

Shortstop: Edgar Renteria

I Can?t take Ramirez because he was acquired in the Josh Beckett/Mike Lowell trade. Believe me there are far worst players to ?settle? on than Edgar. He was playing some of the best baseball of his career this year after a few down ones in 2005 and ?06, but is now down and out. If the season were to end today his .336 batting average and .487 SLG would be the highest marks of his career and his .392 OBP would rank second. Obviously we would rather have Hanley but we want to keep this thing realistic. Not that Beckett and Lowell are bad players, but I?m sure Theo has second guessed this move a few times.

Signed as an amateur free agent with the Marlins in 1992. Traded to the Cardinals for Armando Almanza, Braden Looper, and Pablo Ozuna

 

Third Base: Mike Lowell

Lowell is one of the true unheralded hero?s of baseball. He does so many things so well but somehow manages to fly under the radar. It doesn?t help that he constantly gets compared to Hanley either. Offensively he has no true weaknesses. His line of .324/.380/.514 is as good as anybodies. He strikes out every 9.6 at bats, or in other words once every 2.5 games. Playing on the Red Sox has significantly helped him out in RBI department, as he has already racked up 93 this year. Defensively he leaves something to be desired. His .951 fielding percentage and 15 errors are both the worst marks of his career, and a far cry from his gold glove season in 2005.

Traded by the Yankees to the Marlins for Mark Johnson, Ed Yarnall, and Todd Noel in 1999. Was then traded to the Red Sox in 2005 along with Josh Beckett and Guillermo Mota for Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Harvey Garcia, and Jesus Delgado.

 

Outfield: Miguel Cabrera

Go ahead and make your doughboy jokes, but this man is one of the top three players in baseball? offensively. He became the Marlins fulltime third basemen in 2006 even though he is somewhat of a liability at the hot corner. I don?t really understand the move because his .943 fielding percentage there is a far cry from the .978 he put up as a leftfielder. This could be a result of his weight but who cares when you can hit the ball like he does. His line this year: .321/.400/.590 with 30 HR, and 91 RBI. He has already amassed 134 homers and 495 RBI through his career with a .312 average. Oh, and did I mention he?s only 24?

Singed as amateur free-agent in 1999 and still a Marlin

 

Outfield: Josh Willingham

Willingham has some real potential. He has respectable power numbers (21 homers and 85 RBI), but like most sluggers, he strikes out far too much. Even though he struck out 99 times through Sunday he still managed to put up respectable figures in the OBP and batting average columns (.274/.373).

Drafted in 2000 and still a Marlin

 

Outfield: Gary Sheffield

Maybe Sheffield needs to start some controversy because he has really cooled off since the All-star break. Pre-numbers: .303/.410/.560, 21 HR, 58 RBI, 12 SB. Post: .220/.312/.333, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 8 SB. He is still one of the best offensive players in baseball regardless of the slump.

Acquired in 1993 when he was traded to the Padres for Trevor Hoffman. He was then traded for Mike Piazza in 1998.

That team would a payroll over $120M atleast.

 

You could probably do this for every team and come up with a few possible dynasties.

:lol

 

Santana on the list

As far as I'm concerned, the Beckett/Willis/Penny/Pavano/Burnett team is the dynasty that never was.

i like that we have no center fielder.

I like that Outfield, that would be the worst defensive outfield in baseball history, and who the hell plays center? :lol

 

Also liked how he brought up Rick Helling as a guy they retained until 2003 when he was traded halfway through 1997 and didn't comeback until almost the end of 2003, and if he meant guys on both teams, how could he forget about Conine?

 

and Santana being on there is laughable like Ramp mentioned.

Actually, Castillo was the only one to survive the entire time between 1997 and 2003. If you remember, though, Castillo didn't perform well in 1997 and was eventually replaced by Craig Counsell. Rick Helling and Jeff Conine were on both teams but played in other places for most of the time in between.

 

Florida Marlins 1997 Roster

Florida Marlins 2003 Roster

blogs are f'n retarded

Actually, Castillo was the only one to survive the entire time between 1997 and 2003. If you remember, though, Castillo didn't perform well in 1997 and was eventually replaced by Craig Counsell. Rick Helling and Jeff Conine were on both teams but played in other places for most of the time in between.

 

Florida Marlins 1997 Roster

Florida Marlins 2003 Roster

 

Actually, if memory serves, Helling wasn't on the team when they won the series in 97. I think he was traded to Texas before the deadline for Dennis Cook. Can someone confirm this (because I'm lazy).

Juan Pierre in CF...

Actually, Castillo was the only one to survive the entire time between 1997 and 2003. If you remember, though, Castillo didn't perform well in 1997 and was eventually replaced by Craig Counsell. Rick Helling and Jeff Conine were on both teams but played in other places for most of the time in between.

 

Florida Marlins 1997 Roster

Florida Marlins 2003 Roster

 

Actually, if memory serves, Helling wasn't on the team when they won the series in 97. I think he was traded to Texas before the deadline for Dennis Cook. Can someone confirm this (because I'm lazy).

 

You're right, but he got a ring out of it.

Juan Pierre in CF...

 

To increase the level of difficulty?

i like that we have no center fielder.

Damn, even at the hypothetical best, we still can't get a center fielder.

Actually, Castillo was the only one to survive the entire time between 1997 and 2003. If you remember, though, Castillo didn't perform well in 1997 and was eventually replaced by Craig Counsell. Rick Helling and Jeff Conine were on both teams but played in other places for most of the time in between.

 

Florida Marlins 1997 Roster

Florida Marlins 2003 Roster

 

Actually, if memory serves, Helling wasn't on the team when they won the series in 97. I think he was traded to Texas before the deadline for Dennis Cook. Can someone confirm this (because I'm lazy).

 

You're right, but he got a ring out of it.

 

Actually he's mistaken... it was Ed Vosberg.

 

Helling and Dempster were acquired from Texas in 96 for Burkett, and then Texas got Helling back for Vosberg.

So many names that I wish we still had.

i like that we have no center fielder.

Damn, even at the hypothetical best, we still can't get a center fielder.

mark kotsay?

:lol

 

Santana on the list

 

 

My same thoughts... :lol

Damn, even at the hypothetical best, we still can't get a center fielder.

:lol

Just about every player is a Dombrowski guy. That says a lot.

That team would a payroll over $120M atleast.

 

You could probably do this for every team and come up with a few possible dynasties.

 

 

$115 million

 

Sans a centerfielder (Juan Pierre makes $7.5 million), a bench and a bullpen.