Some good ideas here:

 

To some extent the fate of the 2004 payroll is linked to the current push for a new baseball-only stadium. The more good news on that front, the more money that is likely to be reinvested in a popular, resilient player pool.

 

According to baseball people familiar with the Marlins' plans, the club has held internal discussions regarding several different scenarios. There are loose plans on how to construct next year's roster on a payroll that stays stagnant all the way up to $70 million.

 

Most likely, the Marlins will spend between $55 million and $60 million on their Opening Day payroll next year.

 

Herewith, several possible approaches the team could take:

 

Plan A: $65 million

 

This is the most optimistic scenario, with the Marlins increasing their payroll by about 30 percent from this year's $50 million.

 

Plan A would require trimming about $21 million from the rolls.

 

Start with a couple of easy ones. Reserves Todd Hollandsworth ($1 million projected salary), Andy Fox ($800,000), Lenny Harris ($600,000) and Gerald Williams ($310,000) and pitcher Rick Helling ($500,000) are allowed to leave as free agents.

 

Fox and Williams weren't on the World Series roster, but the other three could be replaced by players making the $300,000 minimum salary.

 

In addition, non-tendering arbitration-eligible pitchers Vladimir Nunez ($1.4 million), Almanza ($900,000) and Michael Tejera ($400,000) as well as backup catcher Mike Redmond ($1.2 million) could save another $3.2 million.

 

Ramon Castro ($375,000) would take Redmond's place, while Tejera would give way to a minimum salary.

 

That's $5.54 million in savings. Now it gets tougher.

 

Letting second baseman Luis Castillo ($7 million) leave as a free agent and replacing him with someone such as Giants free agent Eric Young ($1.5 million) would save another $5.5 million and get the Marlins more than halfway to their target number.

 

From here we could get down to the number in a couple of ways. One would be to let Pudge Rodriguez ($10 million) leave via free agency, but that's probably not very likely (or smart) at this stage.

 

If Rodriguez re-signs for a hometown discount of, say, $24 million over three years, the Marlins could deal right fielder Juan Encarnacion ($5.5 million) and deposed closer Braden Looper ($2.8 million) for prospects and/or low-salaried alternatives and climb within $2.25 million of the number.

 

Cabrera would take over in right field and free agent Chad Fox could be re-signed for $1 million.

 

From there, what? You could non-tender Burnett, as many in the industry expect the Marlins to do, and save another $2.5 million.

 

"They're going to have to let Burnett go," one rival general manager said.

 

Or, with Burnett eyeing a May 1 return from Tommy John surgery, the Marlins could hold onto their former ace and deal Mark Redman ($3.2 million) or Brad Penny ($2.8 million) for low-cost bullpen help.

 

For the sake of argument, let's say the Marlins non-tender Burnett and hold onto the two known quantities.

 

Plan B: $60 million

 

Sources close to Looper believe the Marlins will trade him this winter and use the savings in an attempt to re-sign Ugueth Urbina. But what if the market for Urbina exceeds what the Marlins are willing to spend?

 

They could restore Looper to the closer's role and wave goodbye to Urbina, understanding his departure would leave a significant void in the Latin Quarter of the clubhouse.

 

How to make up the remaining $7.2 million while adhering to the bench overhaul detailed above? Dealing Penny or Redman remains an option here as well, but the Marlins might prefer to make one of their corner infielders available through trade.

 

Under this scenario, they would hold onto Encarnacion and deal third baseman Mike Lowell ($8 million) to the New York Yankees for outfielder Juan Rivera ($350,000), a couple of kid pitchers and the Yankees' top prospect, 19-year-old catcher Dioner "Pudgito" Navarro.

 

Cabrera then moves to third, where he says he is most comfortable, and Derrek Lee stays put for another year. Rivera could be groomed as a successor for Conine or flipped to Anaheim for former Gator David Eckstein, who would start at second after a disappointing season with the Angels.

 

Plan C: $55 million

 

Thanks for playing, Pudge. It's been real. Best of luck.

 

That's what a $55 million payroll could mean. After three years in mothballs, the Redmond-Castro platoon would be back in business at a fraction of the cost of what it would take to keep Rodriguez.

 

Urbina probably goes, too, under this scenario.

 

But here's an idea, from one of the sport's top agents:

 

"What the Marlins ought to do is trade Mike Lowell to the Yankees and make sure Nick Johnson is in the deal," the agent said. "Then they can trade Derrek Lee for prospects and use the savings to keep Castillo. They have to keep that middle infield together."

 

Johnson, 25, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. That should push his take into the $2 million range, but he's still a bargain with a bright future.

 

With Cabrera at third and Johnson at first, the Marlins would have one of the best young corner combos in the game.

 

If the Yankees part with Rivera as well, the Marlins have a future replacement for Conine. They also would have enough cash to keep Castillo and shortstop Alex Gonzalez turning slick double plays for another year.

 

Another $2 million would have to be cut somewhere. How about Redman to his hometown San Diego Padres for young right-handers Brian Lawrence and Ben Howard?

 

Best of all, this is the only scenario in which the Marlins might save enough to keep Burnett on the roster.

 

Hey, the Marlins just won a World Series title with the game's 10th-lowest payroll. Who's to say they can't do it again?

 

some good ideas here, but I think I can top them all. stay tuned...

The good thing is that the marlins do have lots of options here

IMO the marlins need to keep this players:

on offense:Pudge, Lowell, Cabrera, Conine, and Pierre

Pitching: all six starters, Looper, and Fox

some good ideas here, but I think I can top them all. stay tuned...

as do i :thumbup

I think it will be foolish from the FO to let Burnett walk away.

I think it will be foolish from the FO to let Burnett walk away.

Better not happen.

ALL of Berardino suggestion has D.Lee staying.

keep in mind there is already 14 million going to Hampton and Pudge just on deferred payments from last year.

 

and Marlino, Pierre will make 2.3 million next year under his contract. And how is Lowell going to sign for 5.5 million?

lf Cabrera- 1.0

cf Pierre - 1.0

Willis 1.0

-Juan Pierre will be making $2.3mil next year

-Cabs will be nowhere near $1mil, same goes for Dontrelle

-

He pretty much suggests we dismantle the team...

 

::: Smacks forehead :::

I think it will be foolish from the FO to let Burnett walk away.

Better not happen. I'd rather trade Redman or yes, even Penny. Burnett has more upside than Redman.

Marlino's hypothetical bullpen is too weak - you need a strong pen to get to the post-season and beyond. Those guys won't cut it.

 

Neal, Tejera, Almanza = awful

 

No stopper. We need a good closer - I still don't think Looper is IT.

If we could get Nick Johnson...

I was thinking of a deal myself including nick johnson.

Probably not that great though.

 

I was thinking Resign Castillo and Encarnacion (to what the yanks want like The Conine Deal), Also send Looper and Olsen for Soriano and Nick Johnson.

 

Then Deal D Lee for a Closer... Maybe a Rob Nen or Such. I also think they (marlins) save some $$ Here.

i could be mistaken, but doesn't robb make an ungodly amt of money? wasnt it like 8 or 9 mil this year? altho i'd still love to have him back

guys, let's stop speculating and shooting amongst ourselves. Let the wizard handle it. Beinfest had to dump almost $36 million in payroll for this season and we won the World Series. Let's wait and see, after all only what he does counts.

I say Plan A , and along with that plan instead of bringing in Eric Young bring in David Eckstein. :shifty

I like the idea of Eric Young at second. He is a much better bat than Luis, can steal as many bases and is good defensively. The guy also has some pop. For the money, I say drop Luis and go for it.

He is a much better bat than Luis,

:o

 

:lol

he's a better base stealer now, but he's not a better bat yet

but he's not a better bat yet

YET?

 

He never will come close to Luis offensively. I mean, he's 5-7 years older than Castillo, and nowhere near him defensively.

Is Luis expected to be 100% speed wise for 2004? Is he having hip surgery?

lol, easy there WC, we are in 100% agreement that luis is better than young

Attention all KMART shoppers !!!!

 

We have a discontinued item in aisle 6

 

Repeat aisle 6

 

One Eric Young, only 12 years in the majors, like new, can't make the Brewers, cut by the Giants, hits like crap and fields that good too !!!

 

Only $2,000,000 of your hard earned money

 

Atttention all KMART shoppers....

WOW were did u get these figures from, marlino, there way off pierre makes more money than that and so will sea bass. Cabs and willis dont make that much money. lol if u dont know what ur posting u shouldnt post it. lol

 

And whos the fool that said Eric Young is a better hitter than Castillo, thats ludacris. :lol