Not that any of this is a surprise, but just wanted to post this:

 

 

Also, Florida declined its $2.6 million option on first baseman-outfielder Ross Gload(notes), who then filed for free agency along with right-hander Brendan Donnelly. Gload hit .261 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 230 at-bats this year after he was acquired from Kansas City.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-redsox-marlinstrade&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

 

Understandable, but a shame he couldn't fit in with our budget. I think Gload did a hell of a job this year and hope he gets a good deal elsewhere. Donnelly also was very serviceable.

 

I wonder who will be next year's 'Brendan Donnelly' for the Fish.

God man, being a Marlins fan is rough. Neither of these two were game changers, but are SOLID pieces and would not just be set free by many MLB teams.

No surprises there.

Was it necessary to get rid of Donnelly? I mean, he wasn't going to be expensive or anything, and his year last year wasn't a fluke, really. He's had a solid career, in his time in the big leagues.

Was it necessary to get rid of Donnelly? I mean, he wasn't going to be expensive or anything, and his year last year wasn't a fluke, really. He's had a solid career, in his time in the big leagues.

 

 

I don't think we "got rid" of him ... we only signed him to a one-year deal. It was just reporting he filed for free agency.

 

But yeah, I doubt the FO will re-sign him. I really don't know how much he would command on the open market... I would imagine it would be over the minimum though which is why he probably won't be with us.

Donnely still wants to be a Marlin so lets wait and see...Gload is gonna be swept up in a heartbeat by someone else however, he will not be back

My understanding, although things change, is that Gload knew this was coming, understood why and both sides will now try to find a number they are both comfortable with because it was the Marlins intention to try and re-sign him all along. Simply it's a way to circumvent a priced out of the current market option both sides recognize doesn't make sense. The "things change" option may be that a third or fourth team has enough interest to push the Marlins offer to the curb and he winds up somewhere else. What works for the Marlins is the large number of equivalent players who will supposedly flood the market in the near future making Gload potentially less attractive to others but also may mean the Marlins have a number of players to choose from rather than concentrating exclusively on Gload.

 

While a bit different in BD's case last I read both sides wanted to see what they could hammer out for at least another season. But I also heard from someone he may move in the Arthur Rhodes' direction - seeking two years - which would not be where the Marlins want it to go.

God man, being a Marlins fan is rough. Neither of these two were game changers, but are SOLID pieces and would not just be set free by many MLB teams.

 

I don't know. Even for a mid-payroll team, paying $2.6 million for Ross f-ing Gload is pretty hard to stomach. I like how he performed his "role" this offseason, but he was terrible as a spot starter. He just isn't worth that amount of money and I imagine his productivity could easily be matched by someone close to a minimum.

 

I would have liked to see the Marlins do more with Donnelly, though.

God man, being a Marlins fan is rough. Neither of these two were game changers, but are SOLID pieces and would not just be set free by many MLB teams.

 

I don't know. Even for a mid-payroll team, paying $2.6 million for Ross f-ing Gload is pretty hard to stomach. I like how he performed his "role" this offseason, but he was terrible as a spot starter. He just isn't worth that amount of money and I imagine his productivity could easily be matched by someone close to a minimum.

 

I would have liked to see the Marlins do more with Donnelly, though.

 

I severely doubt any time picks up a 2.6 mil option for a guy who put up a .729 OPS while having a career .736 OPS.

 

I mean, yeah he was a Monster as a PH. .318/.418/.455/.872. Amazing. But he had a .235/.283/.379/.662 line as a starter, and combined basically finished with his "career" line. In other words, rather than being an amazing PH, it's more likely that everything evened itself out, and going forward he'll be the low 700 OPS guy PHing.

 

Maybe not, maybe he changes his approach or something while PHing and this allows him to be a beast up there, but he falls back to bad habits while starting. This seems unlikely to me but it's certainly possible. Also PH is far from easy, so the fact he showed he could do it speaks enough, I'm not trying to say he has no value. No problem at all giving him a Wes Helms contract before he actually becomes a FA later this month. But 2.6 mil....

 

And yeah, i can't really see how there would be any complaint of Donnelly leaving. He's a FA. He filed. It'd be on him.

Whatever happpened to the Fish signing Scott Williamson to a minor league deal? I know there were a lot of rumors of it happening following his release from the Tigers organization, and it was supposedly a done deal. I never saw him on any of our affiliate rosters.

 

Perhaps there's a possibility he's the next reclimation project? I also feel there's a strong possibility we go after Jason Grilli to make a repeat performance is So.FL after his release in TX.

I don't know where he is now, but I think Williamson is more or less done. It seems he pitched no more than 0.1 innings in the GCL with the Marlins after poor performance. He hasn't done anything in his career since 2004 that indicates he can pitch again in the major leagues.

God man, being a Marlins fan is rough. Neither of these two were game changers, but are SOLID pieces and would not just be set free by many MLB teams.

 

 

Wow, I hate that sig.

I wonder if Chad Tracy would fit in the Marlins' price range. If he can stay healthy he can put up some numbers.

I wonder if Chad Tracy would fit in the Marlins' price range. If he can stay healthy he can put up some numbers.

 

 

It was spectacular having Nick the Stick here - when he was healthy - and there's a lesson to be learned there that no matter how good you are when you're healthy, staying that way and being counted on when games are on the line is going to be an important consideration on both sides of trades.

 

Yes I know Nick played in a ton of games for Washington before getting hurt here but selfishly all I care about are his games, or lack of games, here. With the anticipated numbers of players available this fall and winter I would think a history of well being is going to be a major component for this franchise when decisions are being made.

God man, being a Marlins fan is rough. Neither of these two were game changers, but are SOLID pieces and would not just be set free by many MLB teams.

 

 

Wow, I hate that sig.

 

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!? lololol why you no likey my sig?

I wonder if Chad Tracy would fit in the Marlins' price range. If he can stay healthy he can put up some numbers.

 

 

It was spectacular having Nick the Stick here - when he was healthy - and there's a lesson to be learned there that no matter how good you are when you're healthy, staying that way and being counted on when games are on the line is going to be an important consideration on both sides of trades.

 

Yes I know Nick played in a ton of games for Washington before getting hurt here but selfishly all I care about are his games, or lack of games, here. With the anticipated numbers of players available this fall and winter I would think a history of well being is going to be a major component for this franchise when decisions are being made.

 

I didn't mean to bring in Tracy to replace Johnson. I meant for Tracy to replace Gload coming off the bench.

Gload did a nice job coming off the bench but we should be able to find a similar cheap bat to fill in his role. I suppose we already have Helms for another year anyway to provide some veteran experience and be able to successfully pinch hit.

I think the Marlins may try and sign Gload to a new contract, if he can be had cheaply, and there aren't any better/cheaper options.