Facing a potentially lengthy absence for injured starting catcher Matt Treanor, the Marlins have increased their efforts to acquire an established replacement before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline.

 

According to an industry source familiar with the Marlins' thinking, they have whittled their list of catching trade targets to four names: Bengie Molina (Giants), Ramon Hernandez (Orioles), Gerald Laird (Rangers) and Ryan Doumit (Pirates).

 

Molina and Hernandez are signed for 2009 at fairly sizable sums, which would complicate any trade involving them. Molina is making $6 million this year and next, while Hernandez, who is making $7.5 million this year, is owed $8 million in 2009 and has an $8.5 million team option in 2010 with a $1 million buyout.

 

Molina, 34, is a two-time Gold Glove winner who is hitting .285 with eight homers and 61 RBI. He has the second-best strikeout rate in the National League and ranks in the top 10 in road batting average.

 

Hernandez, 32, is a former All-Star who is hitting .248 with 11 homers. Both Molina and Hernandez have postseason experience.

 

Far easier to swallow for a team like the Marlins, who pulled within a game of the first-place Mets on Monday despite a majors-low $22 million payroll, would be Laird and Doumit.

 

Laird, who just came off the disabled list after missing five weeks with a hamstring injury, is making just $1.6 million this season, is eligible for arbitration this winter and couldn't become a free agent until after 2010.

 

Laird, 28, is hitting .311 with four homers in 190 at-bats.

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Royal Palm Beach product acquired last July from the Braves, is considered the Rangers' longterm choice behind the plate. They also have Max Ramirez and U.S. Olympic team starter Taylor Teagarden at their upper levels.

 

Doumit, hitting .333 with 12 home runs in 252 at-bats, is making just $412,000 this year and could be eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this winter. The rebuilding Pirates have former starter Ronny Paulino at Triple-A and might be willing to part with Doumit, 27.

 

Each catcher on the list would assume the bulk of the catching duties, with lefty-swinging John Baker likely to remain as the backup. Doumit is a switch-hitter, while the other three hit from the right side.

 

Marlins catchers ranked third-worst in the majors in combined on-base/slugging percentage at .585. Only the Astros and Padres catchers have been worse.

 

The Giants and Mariners each had scouts at the Marlins-Mets game on Monday night at Dolphin Stadium. The Marlins reportedly have interest in veteran Mariners reliever Arthur Rhodes, one of many situational lefties on their radar at this point.

 

Both clubs could have interest in Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs, whose power numbers are enticing but who will be eligible for arbitration for the first time after this season.

 

Ideally, the Marlins would be able to fill their needs for a catching upgrade and a lefty reliever in the same trade.

 

The Giants are willing to talk about Jack Taschner out of their bullpen, while the Marlins have discussed veteran Eddie Guardado with the Rangers, although they have shown only "light interest" in him, another source said.

 

Orioles closer George Sherrill has been on the Marlins' radar for weeks, but so far the asking price has been deemed too high.

 

If it's Doumit the Marlins end up getting, they would love to put Pirates lefty John Grabow in the deal as well.

 

Grabow is making $1.135 million this year and would be eligible for arbitration one more time before hitting the free-agent market after the 2009 season. Grabow is holding both lefties and righties to averages of .239 or below.

 

Other lefties the Marlins are closely monitoring include Will Ohman (Braves) and Brian Fuentes (Rockies), although the Rockies have reportedly taken Fuentes off the market. Alan Embree (A's) is another veteran possibility for the role.

 

In all of their trade talks so far, teams have focused on the Marlins' stash of young pitching in the minor leagues.

 

"We would love to get into their young arms," said an American League source. "The problem is they don't seem willing to part with much of value."

 

Another source said the Marlins have told teams the only pitching prospect still in the minors who is definitely off limits is Class A lefty Sean West. That would mean Ryan Tucker, recently sent back to Double-A Carolina after spending several weeks in the majors, could be available.

 

The same would go for former first-rounders like Aaron Thompson, Brett Sinkbeil and Jeff Allison as well as Gaby Hernandez, Rick VandenHurk, Burke Badenhop, Dallas Trahern and Eulogio de la Cruz.

 

Treanor, out since July 8 with a strained left hip, was in Philadelphia on Monday to visit Dr. William Meyers, a groin-injury specialist who performed surgery on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb for a sports hernia in 2005.

 

If Treanor has a sports hernia, he could require season-ending surgery.

 

Mike Berardino can be reached at mberardino@sun-sentinel.com. Staff writer Juan C. Rodriguez contributed to this story.

 

Copyright ? 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...095,print.story

Doumit or Laird would both be good fits for us. The question is, "at what price?"

 

Would love to land either one of them. Don't care much for Hernandez, and Molina would be a nice addition. But finances don't appear to fall within our plan.

I don't know too much about laird. I know Molina is great defensivley and has a solid bat and does not trike out much. I know Doumit can hit but how's he defense.

 

Can someone rank these 3 Offense and Defense

 

Off.

#1

#2

#3

 

Def.

#1

#2

#3

Orioles fans would present Admin Beinfest and Mike Hill with keys to the City and streets named for them if we'd take Hernandez off their hands.

I saw Bengie Molina make a throwing error on SportsCenter last night and thought to myself, He'd definitely fit in with the Marlins.

Ryan from the P's would be great... hes got a solid bat and is young... I would like to acquire him if the price isnt to steep!

If we are going to get Molina, then we need to make a move ASAP. Jorge Posada is going to need season ending surgery so there is a good chance the Yankees might be interested in him as well.

Rosenthal said today we are the most aggressive suitors for Gerald Laird. I'm not 100% sold on Laird, though he would be an upgrade and it is nice to see we are in contact with the Rangers about one of their catchers.

Reports are that several teams have been interested in SEAN WEST, Marlins are saying he is off limits

Ramon hernandez will be a Marlin if everything goes as planned. meaning baltimore will have to eat alot of his contract.

I wouldn't mind getting Doumit. He looks like a solid catcher with a good bat.

I like NOT seeing Torrealba and Olivo on the list of catchers we're after. Sign me up for Doumit too.

If we get Doumit and Grabow I am going to need a napkin

I want to see Salty with the fish- honestly I'd trade a young pitcher for him. Jacobs and Tucker for Salty and a reliever--- i'd even tenderly pack his nick nacks and set up salty's apartment if he came here.

 

CHris

I don't want Ramon Hernandez. He's been nothing but a disappointment for Baltimore.

I want to see Salty with the fish- honestly I'd trade a young pitcher for him. Jacobs and Tucker for Salty and a reliever--- i'd even tenderly pack his nick nacks and set up salty's apartment if he came here.

 

CHris

 

 

i would love that, but the problem is that Texas got rid of Texiera to get him, it would take a lot more than Jacobs and Tucker to get him, they would ask for a Morrison/Volstad package which i would never do.

the only thing that scares me about these deals...I'd love more help but I'm worried of what we'll part with...its basically just Mike Jacobs, Hendrickson, Andino, and to a lesser extent Tank that I wouldn't mind to lose...I wish we could get everything we need just by trading any of those four but you just know teams will ask for more...and its that "more" that worries me...

I'd much rather have Laird or Doumit over Torrealba/Molina. However, the asking price may be a little higher.

Doumit/ Grabow would obviously be ideal, but would be the most difficult to pull off. Especially since PIT is the one team that does not need Jake.

Let's go for David Ross, am game for that!

Doumit would be interesting, didn't think he'd be available.

 

 

Oh and stop hogging all those catchers Texas. Share.

Laird? Eh, that's OK I guess. I much rather have one of their 3 other catchers.

Id take Salty...he can also play 1st

I still would rather not start parting with our big prospect if we're just getting Laird.

If I'm dealing with the Rangers, I don't even talk about Laird. We should aim for Salty, Ramirez, Teagarden in that order.