Article by Tim Kirk-jerk

Apparently even with the phonebook, the camera couldn't see him behind the baseball tonight desk. So, I guess he decided to write about the subject, instead.

Stupid article, doesn;t have his information correct.

By Tim Kurkjian

ESPN The Magazine

So what now for the world champion Florida Marlins? Will their miraculous postseason bring a newer, larger fan base, help secure a new ballpark and invigorate a struggling franchise? It will help, but more likely, they're going to have major changes again this winter.

It won't approach the infamous dismantling of 1997 when then-Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga turned the world champions into a 100-loss team. Still, these Marlins have severe financial problems (they lost $25 million this year), they have a horrible lease (Huizenga gets over half the parking, concessions, etc. at for Marlins games Pro Player Stadium) and a bad ballpark. They probably won't be able to exceed this year's payroll of roughly $50 million. Obviously, some players will have to go.

The first order of business will be to try to re-sign catcher Pudge Rodriguez, a Hall of Famer if he never plays another game. Rodriguez is a free agent because no team was willing to give him a legitimate multi-year deal last winter. Now, at 32, he has proven he's healthy, he's still a terrific player and he can call a game and work with pitchers. His value has greatly increased; teams that need a catcher (the Padres, Orioles, etc.) surely will inquire. If some team offers him a $50 million deal, that might be too rich for the Marlins.

If the Marlins sign him to a long-term contract, however, it seems improbable that they'll be able to sign third baseman Mike Lowell long term. Lowell is a very good player, the best guy on the team and the most popular player among the fans. The Marlins took off when management announced this past summer that it would not trade him. They will talk with him about a multi-year deal, but if it can't get done, there's a chance they'll have to trade him. Rookie Miguel Cabrera played fabulous defense at third base when Lowell was out during the stretch run.

No one played better defense than Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo, who finished the season with 65 consecutive errorless games, the longest streak by anyone at that position in four years. But, like Rodriguez, he is a free agent after this season. Teams that need a second baseman (the Mets, etc.) likely will look his way. Castillo didn't hit in the World Series, but his value has increased, which might mean he could go elsewhere. So might closer Ugie Urbina, another free agent who helped his cause with his work down the stretch.

The Marlins have only two players under contract for next year, center fielder Juan Pierre and outfielder/first baseman Jeff Conine. Still, a number of players -- including Lowell and pitcher Josh Beckett -- will be arbitration eligible, which should mean a sizable raise in payroll. If so, it's possible that first baseman Derrek Lee might have to be traded. He hit 31 homers, stole 21 bases and played great defense, but with Conine signed, Lee might be expendable.

So might right fielder Juan Encarnacion and pitcher Mark Redman. The Marlins want to keep as many players as possible, but that can only happen if they get a new ballpark, which they're working on daily, but so far, they have nothing firm in place.

They've vowed not to leverage themselves too much, not go too far into debt, ala the Diamondbacks. All they can do is give general manager Admin Beinfest a payroll number, and have him cut and paste to meet it.

The good news is the Marlins have excellent young pitching, and those pitchers aren't going anywhere. Next season, their top four starters -- Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, Brad Penny and Carl Pavano -- all will be 28 or younger. A.J. Burnett, who missed the 2003 season with an elbow injury, says he will be ready by Opening Day 2004, but more likely will be ready by June.

One of the few certainties is that manager Jack McKeon, 72, will be back next year. "I get to manage in the All-Star Game,'' he said, smiling after the Marlins' Game 6 victory over the Yankees. The Marlins were 16-22 when McKeon took over, they went 75-49 under him to finish the regular season.

Florida joins the 1914 Boston Braves as only teams in history to win the World Series in a season in which they were once 10 games under .500. They are a deserving world champion, a great story in a season of great stories. Let them enjoy it because next spring, they might be a different team.