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

MIAMI BEACH -- Wearing his familiar No. 35 jersey on Sunday night, Dontrelle Willis was the host of a weekend charity event that concluded at Lucky Strike Lanes. Considering that he isn't yet signed for the 2008 season, many are questioning if Willis' days in that Marlins jersey are numbered.

 

But on Sunday night, the D-Train's agent, Matt Sosnick, gave a strong indication that the energetic left-hander is part of Florida's future plans.

 

"If I were to guess, I'd guess Dontrelle is going to come back," Sosnick said.

 

Sosnick, who is based in California, said that he spoke briefly in a South Florida supermarket with Admin Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations, on Saturday. It was during that conversation that the agent was led to believe Willis will be with Florida in 2008.

 

"It's one of those deals where you never really know," Sosnick cautioned.

 

Willis, who made $6.45 million this past season, is arbitration-eligible for the next two years. He won't have the necessary service time to be a free agent until after the 2009 season.

 

Sosnick said that he spoke with Beinfest about when he wanted to discuss Willis' contract. The fact that Beinfest was frank in his response to that direct question has the agent believing the Marlins indeed plan to keep their ace.

 

"'We plan on Dontrelle being here, so we'll plan on doing it the normal time,' " Sosnick said, recounting his conversation with Beinfest.

 

In years past, "normal time" to begin discussions for Willis' contract began around Thanksgiving.

 

This year the Marlins have eight players eligible for arbitration, compared with four a year ago.

 

With twice as many players up for arbitration, Florida's front office is already making mapping out how to budget times for negotiations.

 

The other Marlins eligible for arbitration are Miguel Cabrera, Sergio Mitre, Miguel Olivo, Kevin Gregg, Matt Treanor, Alfredo Amezaga and Justin Miller.

 

Sosnick's group also represents Mitre.

 

Willis, who has a 68-54 career record with a 3.78 ERA, is Florida's all-time wins leader. But the lefty is coming off a down year, going 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA while logging 205 1/3 innings.

 

The team leader, Willis on Sunday showed why he remains one of Florida's most popular players of all time. He gave back to the community this weekend with a star-filled charity event in Miami.

 

The "Weekend With The D-Train" benefits the Children's Home Society.

 

After 30 children were treated to a shopping spree at NIKETOWN on Saturday, about 28 children bowled at Lucky Strikes Lanes in Miami Beach on Sunday night. All proceeds will benefit the Children's Home Society through the Florida Marlins Community Foundation.

 

A number of "celebrity" bowlers mingled with the children, including Major Leaguers Scott Olsen, Juan Pierre, Cliff Floyd, Dmitri Young, Nook Logan, Edwin Jackson and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Former Marlin Lenny Harris, now the Nationals hitting coach, also was on hand.

 

In addition, a silent auction was conducted to raise money for Willis' fund to benefit the Children's Home Society.

 

"My goal was to have people who are from the community or played in the community," Willis said. "I think people tend to gravitate to that a little more."

 

:thumbup

I want to see an article like this about Cabrera...

maybe Miggy's agent doesn't go to supermarkets

I hope we keep him, if Wiley comes back I think he can get him back to or near '05 form.

 

Btw, I was stalking him yesterday at gameworks...

:banghead Damn, I guess I'll just have to hope we ship him out near the break.

With the fact that his trade value is bad right now, might as well. The guy is cheap to resign anyway. :lol

This scares me a little. Hopefully Cabrera will stay.

Marlins can afford both of them. It's not an issue until next year when arbitration hell hits the lineup.

 

But regardless, Willis will be gone in July as long as most of the pitchers stay healthy and perform to levels they are capable of (looking at you Olsen).

Nobody is a super 2 are they?

 

I feign ignorance when it comes to Super 2, I believe in order to be one you need quite a bit more than 2 years (but less than three, ofcoarse)...please correct me if i'm wrong...and since most of the guys only have 2 years (plus maybe a september call up), none of them are elligible for super 2?

Good to see. Despite struggling this year Willis adds a great dynamic to the team and will hopefully get back on track next year. Now we just need to get Cabrera signed to a long-term deal.

It would have been senseless for the Marlin to trade DT when he he had his stock hit rock bottom. I believe regardless Willis will be traded by the All-Star break unless we are fighting for the division lead next season

Nobody is a super 2 are they?

 

I feign ignorance when it comes to Super 2, I believe in order to be one you need quite a bit more than 2 years (but less than three, ofcoarse)...please correct me if i'm wrong...and since most of the guys only have 2 years (plus maybe a september call up), none of them are elligible for super 2?

 

No super-2's.

 

To be a super-2 you need 2 years plus the top 5% service time for your arbitration class. Hence why Willis was a super-2 but not Cabrera, since Willis had an extra month and a half on Cabrera in terms of service time, despite both being in the majors in '03. Super-2 status also does not affect free agent service time as it still requires a full six years of major league service time.

Marlins can afford both of them. It's not an issue until next year when arbitration hell hits the lineup.

 

That's right. The media would have the casual fan believe the two are getting astronomical raises this off-season and it isn't going to be the case. Of course both will get increases but they should manageable. 2007 was the big percentage gain, but neither is going to see their salaries double from this season's level.

Marlins can afford both of them. It's not an issue until next year when arbitration hell hits the lineup.

 

But regardless, Willis will be gone in July as long as most of the pitchers stay healthy and perform to levels they are capable of (looking at you Olsen).

 

 

Good point.

 

 

But what I don't understand is what do people see in Olsen's mindset that make them believe he can perform to a level he is capable of?

 

He is a nut job until proven otherwise.

Marlins can afford both of them. It's not an issue until next year when arbitration hell hits the lineup.

 

But regardless, Willis will be gone in July as long as most of the pitchers stay healthy and perform to levels they are capable of (looking at you Olsen).

 

 

Good point.

 

 

But what I don't understand is what do people see in Olsen's mindset that make them believe he can perform to a level he is capable of?

 

He is a nut job until proven otherwise.

 

I'm completely alone in this probably, but Carlos Zambrano was an absolute headcase. Easily rattled, all over the place. Then one day it just clicked. And he's still nuts, but he gets results. I hope the same thing can happen with Olsen. You just can't be such a hot-shot prospect and then fizzle completely when the stuff is still there.

Marlins can afford both of them. It's not an issue until next year when arbitration hell hits the lineup.

 

That's right. The media would have the casual fan believe the two are getting astronomical raises this off-season and it isn't going to be the case. Of course both will get increases but they should manageable. 2007 was the big percentage gain, but neither is going to see their salaries double from this season's level.

For sure. Dontrelle will make $1-2 more, and Cabrera will get over $10, but it's not a huge huge hit like Cabrera this year. The largest percentage raise is going to Gregg. Maybe even 4-5 times amount this season ($550k) because he's clutch and got saves. I think he's most likely to go among all the Marlins cause we won't pay a RP over $2 million, when we have all these live arms. It would be pretty cool to dish Gregg and get a young CF or C.

Marlins can afford both of them. It's not an issue until next year when arbitration hell hits the lineup.

 

But regardless, Willis will be gone in July as long as most of the pitchers stay healthy and perform to levels they are capable of (looking at you Olsen).

 

 

Good point.

 

 

But what I don't understand is what do people see in Olsen's mindset that make them believe he can perform to a level he is capable of?

 

He is a nut job until proven otherwise.

 

I'm completely alone in this probably, but Carlos Zambrano was an absolute headcase. Easily rattled, all over the place. Then one day it just clicked. And he's still nuts, but he gets results. I hope the same thing can happen with Olsen. You just can't be such a hot-shot prospect and then fizzle completely when the stuff is still there.

blasphemy!

But what I don't understand is what do people see in Olsen's mindset that make them believe he can perform to a level he is capable of?

 

He is a nut job until proven otherwise.

I like the Zambrano analogy on a pure "crazy" level, but Olsen has got a rocket launcher.

 

Worst case scenario, we Brett Myers him and he becomes the next Ryan Madson/Aaron Heilman and he'll smoke lefties (I'm ignoring his 2007 splits, and relying solely on his 2006 ones because I just cannot believe that is accurate even if it's a strong sample size over a full season. This is one of my, he's just gotta be better, moments).

 

I would trade him, and any other SP in the organization for that matter, for the right young C or CF though.

I don't agree with the Zambrano / Olsen comparison. I think Zambrano continues to be a headcase but he's a top notch pitcher in spite of it because he has GREAT stuff. I look at Olsen as a headcase with mediocre stuff.

I've been very blessed to be around honest people, especially for me, because I like for people to shoot from the hip. If I'm terrible, tell me, and we'll work from there.

 

 

This is why we should keep this guy.

great to hear that Willis is going to be back in a marlins uni next year