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Urbina would like to return, awaits call from Marlins

 

By Mike Berardino

Staff Writer

Posted November 12 2003

 

PHOENIX -- If the Marlins really want Ugueth Urbina back as their closer, they sure have a strange way of showing it.

 

Peter Greenberg, the free-agent reliever's New York-based agent, said Tuesday the Marlins had yet to call to express interest in Urbina. They have called to let fellow reliever Chad Fox know they want him back, but so far no valentines have been extended to Urbina.

 

"The bottom line is if they are interested in him, they'll call us," Greenberg said. "If they're not interested, they won't. There's no reason for me to call. We're in no rush, but we're still hoping they will call."

 

Greenberg said two of the Marlins' National League East rivals, the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, have called so far. An industry source said the cost-cutting Texas Rangers could get into the mix as well for the closer they traded on July 11 after falling out of the race.

 

"The Mets are very interested," Greenberg said. "They have always liked Ugueth."

 

The Phillies' interest did not necessarily cool after they acquired Houston closer Billy Wagner last week. Philadelphia would still like to sign Urbina as a setup man, the role he filled with the Marlins for more than two months before supplanting Braden Looper in the regular season's final week.

 

Urbina, 29, went 3-4 with a 2.81 ERA overall last season. He had a combined 32 saves in 38 tries, including 6 of 8 with the Marlins.

 

In the postseason, Urbina appeared 10 times and went 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA and four saves in six chances.

 

"Why they're waiting [to call], I don't know," Greenberg said. "Ugie's very laid-back about these things. I'm sure if we can work it out, he would like to go back to the Marlins."

 

Urbina, who has a home in Aventura, made $4.5 million last season on a one-year deal. Setting up for Looper cost Urbina as much as $500,000 in incentives, Greenberg said.

 

He could have made another $250,000 for finishing 65 or more games and $250,000 more for winning the Rolaids Relief Man Award.

 

"He didn't complain to me or anybody," Greenberg said. "He's a professional."

 

A hometown discount is a possibility, the Marlins hope, although the loss of third-base coach Ozzie Guillen, an Urbina confidant and neighbor, could somewhat hurt their bargaining position. Asked what Urbina could expect this winter, one National League executive laughed and said, "A shock."

 

The executive said Urbina could be looking at a pay cut to the $3 million range, considering the free-agent closer market also includes Keith Foulke, Eddie Guardado, Armando Benitez, Rod Beck and Tim Worrell.

 

Meanwhile, the Marlins and Astros are among the half-dozen teams that have expressed interest in signing Fox as a free agent. The Rangers, Indians and Mets also called Fox's representatives, Alan and Randy Hendricks, to express interest.

 

"Florida is on the top of my list," Fox said from his Houston home. "They were so good to me, and we just had a blast playing there. Living here in Houston, though, that's on top of my list as well, to be dead honest with you."

 

Fox, 32, made $500,000 last year after starting the season as the Boston closer. According to sources familiar with the Marlins' thinking, the club could be willing to double that figure.

 

With Urbina's status uncertain and Looper likely to make close to $3 million through arbitration, signing Fox would give the Marlins some stability at the back of their bullpen. Fox, a two-time survivor of Tommy John surgery, went 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA in 21 outings after joining the Marlins on Aug. 12.

 

"Being healthy and having a little bit of value," Fox said, "it should be fun to see how things play out instead of being desperate for a job and saying, `Please just give me a job.' I don't want to just rush into something and get it done."

 

NOTHING YET ON PUDGE

 

Scott Boras, who represents free-agent catcher Pudge Rodriguez, said he planned to meet with the Marlins by the close of business today, but had few other details.

 

"We just said we're going to have meetings about it," Boras said. "We haven't really gone to any length about it, other than the fact they have an interest and we have an interest and we're going to sit down and talk."

 

There have been some indications the Marlins could make a two-year offer to Rodriguez before leaving these meetings, but Boras said he had received no such promise.

 

"This is really kind of a tire-kicking time," he said.

 

Industry sources said the Padres and Cubs would not be among the Marlins' competition for Rodriguez. The White Sox probably won't take part either, and the Orioles are said to looking at lower-cost options for now.

So, Florida's is Fox's first choice...unless Houston is his first choice.

 

That last paragraph is promising. The less teams after Pudge, the better.

that's surprising. i was under the impression that the cubs were at the top of the competition list for pudge

wow, teams for pudge are dropping like flies...we're probably threatening them haha

Before anybody gets too carried away, look at the name on that article. Berardino has NO credibility in my book. He was wrong all season, and what's worse, he rarely admits when he's wrong. He is one of the most negative reporters I have ever heard of. Anything he writes should be taken with a grain of salt, especially if that's the only source for the info.

OK Keyswayne....now that really got my hopes down. :confused

Well, all I gotta say is that we'll see what happens. Hopefully, what Berardino wrote is true.

Well, Keys, what exactly do you feel is wrong about Berardino here? I dont see anything in the article that should have a red flag over it. Urbina does want to stay here - for the right price. Pudge wont have as many suitors as his agent, the egomaniacal Boras, would like.

 

I think, and have always stressed, the importance or re-signing Urbina. I would take him over Looper anyday. But I think that Urbina and Pudge are connected, if Pudge stays, so will Urbina. I think the FO feels the same - that is why they have not contacted him yet.

Well, Keys, what exactly do you feel is wrong about Berardino here? I dont see anything in the article that should have a red flag over it. Urbina does want to stay here - for the right price. Pudge wont have as many suitors as his agent, the egomaniacal Boras, would like.

 

I think, and have always stressed, the importance or re-signing Urbina. I would take him over Looper anyday. But I think that Urbina and Pudge are connected, if Pudge stays, so will Urbina. I think the FO feels the same - that is why they have not contacted him yet.

I think what Keys is saying is that Berardino has been wrong so many times before, how can we take him seriously now? When somebody has no credibility, you shouldn't start believing him just because he says something you want to hear.

 

I'm with Keys on this - if it came from anybody but Berardino, I'd be happier but I think Berardino lost most of his decent contacts in the business months ago.

 

I also don't agree with the logic that they don't have to approach Urbina because he's just going to follow Pudge. You need to give Urbina and his agent a little more credit that that. The fact that we haven't contacted him (if it's true), sounds like we're not interested. Or we've decided to concentrate on Pudge, Castillo, and Lowell.

I agree with Gator, seems like we are focusing on the big 3. That doesn't mean we won't approach Uggy, but we have priorities.

What does Berardino have to do with this? These are quotes from agents for the most part. Is it your contention that he's making them up?

 

Agents will talk to anyone in the media to get a message out. They don't give a hoot whether the reporter is on the team's christmas card list or not.

 

Interesting that one team exec felt Urbina's price might drop as low as 3 million with all the closers out there. I originally thought he'd be out of the Marlins price range, but that could change things.

 

Still, my feeling is he won't be back.

What does Berardino have to do with this? These are quotes from agents for the most part. Is it your contention that he's making them up?

Sorry, I'm not questioning Berardino on the Urbina stuff. He's actually using the name of the agent. And you're right - it makes sense that the Marlins haven't contacted Urbina if the agent is saying that. The Mets part may be agent rhetoric.

 

The part I'm questioning is the "industry sources" who say that the Cubs and Orioles aren't interested in Pudge. "Industry sources" had Lowell traded several times last season. That's the part I think he either made up, or more likely, got from someplace unreliable. If I felt that the Cubs and Orioles really weren't going to pursue Pudge, I'd be ecstatic that we may be able to sign him at a reasonable price. I just don't believe that the Cubs and Orioles are disinterested in him simply because Berardino attributes that to "industry sources."

 

The other part I don't put much stock in is that line from an unnamed executive that Urbina's price will drop below $3 million. Berardino's "executives" are wrong as often as his "industry sources."

 

My rule of thumb is that if Berardino quotes a name, I'll believe it, otherwise it has no more credibility than if I made it up myself.

He needs to come back. We have no dependable relievers no more with Helling, Fox and Urbina gone. We need to atleast sign Uggy or Fox.

I agree with his point about a glut of very good relievers on the market, but I'm not sure about the 3 million figure. If we do end up resigning both Fox and UU our pen is going to be above average just right there if Fox continues his success.

The way things are going, I wouldn't expect Pudge to get a large contract this season. Not helping him is the presence of Javy Lopez on the market, who had an amazing year. I would have to believe the article, as it makes sense.

The way things are going, I wouldn't expect Pudge to get a large contract this season. Not helping him is the presence of Javy Lopez on the market, who had an amazing year. I would have to believe the article, as it makes sense.

I don't think it does make sense. I don't think it makes any sense that the Cubs and Orioles aren't going to pursue Pudge.

 

If Berardino wrote an article saying an industry source said that the Cubs and Pudge had a deal in place but were waiting until after the winter meetings to announce it, we'd be all over his case for his typical "unnamed source" garbage that has never come true in the past. Why are we so eager to believe that the Cubs and Orioles are going to ignore Pudge? Because Mike Berardino said so? Sorry, I'm not that gullible. Give me somebody with a better track record than Berardino before I start believe that.

Not for nothing....but the Cubs have spent a lot so far. Getting into another larger contract this early in the offseason doesnt give them much space later on. It makes sense to me

Not seeing Pudge on a Marlin's uniform would be bad, but seeing him in a CUBS uniform would be a disaster and devastating!

What does Berardino have to do with this?? These are quotes from agents for the most part.? Is it your contention that he's making them up?

Sorry, I'm not questioning Berardino on the Urbina stuff. He's actually using the name of the agent. And you're right - it makes sense that the Marlins haven't contacted Urbina if the agent is saying that. The Mets part may be agent rhetoric.

 

The part I'm questioning is the "industry sources" who say that the Cubs and Orioles aren't interested in Pudge. "Industry sources" had Lowell traded several times last season. That's the part I think he either made up, or more likely, got from someplace unreliable. If I felt that the Cubs and Orioles really weren't going to pursue Pudge, I'd be ecstatic that we may be able to sign him at a reasonable price. I just don't believe that the Cubs and Orioles are disinterested in him simply because Berardino attributes that to "industry sources."

 

The other part I don't put much stock in is that line from an unnamed executive that Urbina's price will drop below $3 million. Berardino's "executives" are wrong as often as his "industry sources."

 

My rule of thumb is that if Berardino quotes a name, I'll believe it, otherwise it has no more credibility than if I made it up myself. There Gator, now you have answered my question. Keys has not yet, but this is what I would expect. Berardino was going with what UU's agent said, and not what he thought.

 

As for the part about the interest in Pudge - I will agree that Berardino does not have the credibility he once had, at least for us, but I have read other reports that seem to echo the same sentiment. So even that, I feel, is not too far off. But thanks for qualifying your suspicions...

I guess I am one of the few who hopes

Pudge gets many offers.I know people want him back.I can only image how he felt last Jan. The team he had been with since he was 16 no longer wanted him. He played almost every game for them in the mid to late 90s. A future Hall of Famer and people are saying he is done at 31.

I hope he cleans up on the F.A . market.He gave the Marlins everything he had . That is all he owed them.

The Mets want Uggy? Wow, how many bug-name free agents have they said they are interested in (Millwood, Urbina, Guardado, and MLB.com said Hasegawa)?

The Mets want Uggy? Wow, how many bug-name free agents have they said they are interested in (Millwood, Urbina, Guardado, and MLB.com said Hasegawa)?

why are you shocked?

Yeah, the Mets are like the Yankees jealous neighbors. Always keeping up with the Jones', or in this case Steinbrenners. But they have not learned that you CANT buy a World Series. You have to have talent to win. They got a lot of problems there, and if they are smart, will start rebuilding. But they arent too bright up there...

 

Mets make me sick...