Wow, it has been such a long time since I last posted here. I now have a clearer head and am thinking more logically, so I thought I would present some ideas I have for the upcoming offseason.

 

Our main needs that need to be met to improve the ballclub next year are:

1. Starting Rotation Depth

2. Veteran Starting Catcher

3. Reliable Center Fielder

 

Now, having identified these weak points, I have come up with some proposed offseason moves.

1. Trade SP Dontrelle Willis to the Tampa Bay Rays for CF Rocco Baldelli and C Dioner Navarro.

With this move, the Marlins get a top-quality, relatively inexpensive starting CF, albeit injury prone, and a solid catching prospect who already has good MLB service time. The Rays get a SP who could help give them a trio similar to the "Big Three" in Oakland. Also, the Rays already have another young catcher in Shawn Riggans who is ready to step in at catcher for them.

 

2. Sign SP Matt Clement and SP Kris Benson to 2 year contracts worth $4 million each.

Both pitchers are coming off injury, but remain nice starting pitchers and would provide veteran leadership in the rotation. With a trade of Dontrelle Willis, the Marlins would need to find someone who can lead the young rotation and both pitchers would fill the need.

 

3. Resign SP Byung Hung Kim and IF Aaron Boone to 1 year contracts.

The Marlins need as much depth as they can and resigning both players would provide that depth. Kim has thrived playing for the Marlins and I see him taking a paycut from last season to remain with the team. Aaron Boone did an admirable job filling in for the injured Mike Jacobs in the beginning of the season before suffering an injury himself. He is an excellent leader and still has the skills to be a great asset off the bench.

 

4. Sign OF Cliff Floyd to a 1 year, $1.25 million contract with a mutual option for 2009 for $1.15 million.

A Marlins fan favorite, Cliff Floyd can still swing the bat and make a considerable contribution off the bench. I know Cliff Floyd would love to come back to Florida so he can retire as a Marlin after this season or next season. He would provide great leadership and example off the bench and could spell Josh Willingham in leftfield.

1) Dontrelle has to get more than an injury risk and a catcher who was good for only 2 months out of the season

 

2) No no no no no

 

3) I think we bring Boone back, and although I'd love BK's rubber arm, I doubt he comes back. The starting pitching market is so thin someone'll give him a million more than we'll offer

 

4) I'd like Cliff for the bench, but not for that much since I expect us to still be on a tight budget. If we aren't on a budget, then great.

1. No. Rocco finished the season on the 60-day DL and I believe he can't be traded until he's activated for spring training. And as much promise as Navarro had a few years ago, I don't know if it's family problems or just a matter of talent but he's never produced with any regularity at the ML level. And trying to put together a trade with TB is an exercise in futility anyways. The guy most apt to be traded btw is Carl Crawford, who has one more year (read value) before his contract mushrooms.

 

2. Maybe and No.

 

3. Yes and Yes.

 

4. Not a snowball's chance in hell Cliff ever is part of this organization again. He burned that bridge a long time ago. And who cares what Cliff's agent says he wants after five years of bad-mouthing the team.

A better alternative to Matt Clement would be Kerry Wood

Rocco Baldelli is top notch?

1. No. Rocco finished the season on the 60-day DL and I believe he can't be traded until he's activated for spring training. And as much promise as Navarro had a few years ago, I don't know if it's family problems or just a matter of talent but he's never produced with any regularity at the ML level. And trying to put together a trade with TB is an exercise in futility anyways. The guy most apt to be traded btw is Carl Crawford, who has one more year (read value) before his contract mushrooms.

 

2. Maybe and No.

 

3. Yes and Yes.

 

4. Not a snowball's chance in hell Cliff ever is part of this organization again. He burned that bridge a long time ago. And who cares what Cliff's agent says he wants after five years of bad-mouthing the team.

 

Now that you mention Carl Crawford, there are rumors around that the White Sox and Rays are discussing a trade that would send Jon Garland and another player to the Rays for Carl Crawford. If that is the case, why would we not be able to trade Dontrelle Willis for Carl Crawford? It would make sense for both sides. We could place Crawford in CF. Wow, we would have a hell of a lineup with Crawford. Just imagine.

 

C Paul LoDuca (Likely to sign with Marlins.)

1B Mike Jacobs

2B Dan Uggla

3B Miguel Cabrera

SS Hanley Ramirez

RF Jeremy Hermida

CF Carl Crawford

LF Josh Willingham

 

That is a near unstoppable lineup with Ramirez and Crawford at the top and the power hitters from 3 to 7, and the veteran LoDuca at the number 8 spot. We would rival the Mets lineup for sure.

1. No. Rocco finished the season on the 60-day DL and I believe he can't be traded until he's activated for spring training. And as much promise as Navarro had a few years ago, I don't know if it's family problems or just a matter of talent but he's never produced with any regularity at the ML level. And trying to put together a trade with TB is an exercise in futility anyways. The guy most apt to be traded btw is Carl Crawford, who has one more year (read value) before his contract mushrooms.

 

2. Maybe and No.

 

3. Yes and Yes.

 

4. Not a snowball's chance in hell Cliff ever is part of this organization again. He burned that bridge a long time ago. And who cares what Cliff's agent says he wants after five years of bad-mouthing the team.

 

Now that you mention Carl Crawford, there are rumors around that the White Sox and Rays are discussing a trade that would send Jon Garland and another player to the Rays for Carl Crawford. If that is the case, why would we not be able to trade Dontrelle Willis for Carl Crawford? It would make sense for both sides. We could place Crawford in CF. Wow, we would have a hell of a lineup with Crawford. Just imagine.

 

C Paul LoDuca (Likely to sign with Marlins.)

1B Mike Jacobs

2B Dan Uggla

3B Miguel Cabrera

SS Hanley Ramirez

RF Jeremy Hermida

CF Carl Crawford

LF Josh Willingham

 

That is a near unstoppable lineup with Ramirez and Crawford at the top and the power hitters from 3 to 7, and the veteran LoDuca at the number 8 spot. We would rival the Mets lineup for sure.

 

 

 

where are you hearing that LoDuca is likely to sign with the fish everything ive heard says hes too pricy....and i definetly agree that navarro is not a guy that we would want...i mean we already have a catcher that hits in the low .200's

Speaking of Baldelli, personally, I sometimes think if you could afford to let the guy get truly healthy again and get him off that damn artificial grass crap, he stands a good chance of resurrecting his career ala Magglio Ordonez (not necessarily the numbers, but the resurrection).

 

At this point though, you don't pay much of anything for that experiment.

To understand the Crawford dynamic go to Cot's and look at his contract, and while you're there look at Baldelli's as well.

 

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/t...7267025321.html

Speaking of Baldelli, personally, I sometimes think if you could afford to let the guy get truly healthy again and get him off that damn artificial grass crap, he stands a good chance of resurrecting his career ala Magglio Ordonez (not necessarily the numbers, but the resurrection).

 

At this point though, you don't pay much of anything for that experiment.

Real grass has no advantage over field turf.

dream a) ARod and whoever would like to take a huge paycut to win a championship

 

dream b) ARod

 

 

stick Cabs at 1st and trade Jacobs for whatever catcher you can find as long as he is good with the glove, has some experience and can handle a staff

Real grass has no advantage over field turf.

 

uh huh.

yeah, keep waiting to get an even clearer head and able to think MORE logically, I honestly wouldn't do any of those moves, save for Boone or BK on the cheap

While there is certainly little to talk about this point in the offseason, most of the names you've mentioned I wouldn't touch with a ten meter pole.

 

We would be getting completely raped in that Tampa trade. Navarro isn't much better than Miguel Olivo is and Baldelli is damaged goods. I would have traded for Baldelli last season with lesser talent, but the fact that he had another injury plagued season makes him no longer an option.

 

I disagree about Baldelli. I think he's still a tremendous option, but I don't think he's a centerpiece centerfielder in terms of trade value. If the Marlins and Devil Rays put aside the notion that they need to categorically win every trade they make and just realize that they're a great match for each other and help each other out in a trade that benefits both sides equally.

 

We could have a high-profile trade involving Crawford or Upton, a middle of the road trade involving Baldelli or an exchange of headaches involving Dukes.

 

I'd love to have any of those guys as an outfielder, and I think some of our nearly there arms have to interest Tampa.

 

As for Baldelli, I agree that Willis is too much to give up, but an exchange of two lesser arms would be amenable to both sides.

Barf.....no more Matt Clement...hated him the first time he was here.

my head hurts

my baitzim itch

Real grass has no advantage over field turf.

 

uh huh.

It's not astroturf. Live in the present. You have no idea.

Real grass has no advantage over field turf.

 

uh huh.

It's not astroturf. Live in the present. You have no idea.

So tell me do you shave yet?

 

I believe I actually referred to it as "artificial grass crap".

 

You might want to see what sports medicine specialists say about even the new surfaces (and underlayment), their complaints that with less "give" than real grass there's still an excess of surface related injuries.

my head hurts

 

 

That's exactly what I was thinking just reading the first post. :lol

Has anyone ever considered the possibility of trading for Coco Crisp?

 

I'm sure the Red Sox are going to want to make way for Jacoby Ellsbury...kid's gonna be a stud.

 

I don't think the Red Sox would want much for Crisp

Crisp isn't that good

 

and his $4.75mil is too much for a subpar player

Crisp isn't that good

 

and his $4.75mil is too much for a subpar player

 

 

He had a pretty decent year in '05 at the plate and he plays great defense

 

I think he could be the kind of guy that can be transformed into a pretty decent hitter

 

but yeah, 4.75 mil is a bit much for him

I wonder if Boston would do something like Gregg and Jacobs (shift Youk to 3B), for Coco, Kottaras (check post stats), and some cash.

 

We could then sign Cliff Floyd for nothing and sport something like...

 

CF Crisp S

SS Hanley R

RF Hermida L

3B Cabrera R

1B Hammer R

LF Floyd/Cody L

2B Uggla R

C Kottaras/Treanor L

 

Resign Boone, sign a 5th OF who can play CF and compliment Floyd/Cody defensively, and tell me that is not one kick ass positional depth chart. Wouldn't hurt the bank if the assumption is Boston throws in some dough and Dontrelle goes before the trade deadline.

Crisp sucks though

 

he'd be due $10 mil over the next 2 years too