The reason the marlins did the tigers deal as opposed to the Dodgers was because as usual they were being CHEAP. Kemp, Billingsley, Loney and Eithier already were in the majors at that point (and had proven they could play at the major league level) and were therefore one year closer to not being arbitration eligible. The Marlins knew this and figured they could control Miller and Maybin a little longer because they had no intention of resigning anyone from the Dodgers deals longterm.

 

The Dodgers deal was better, and so was the Angels but the Marlins are cheap and took the cheaper riskier move instead. Now they look dumb because they traded a HOF player and essentially got a decent long middle reliever and a guy who at the very very best could be Mike Cameron but probably wont be.

 

 

They may have been saving money in the long run, but it's worth noting that Andrew Miller signed a major league contract out of the draft, guaranteeing him millions before he ever threw a pitch. Now his salaries were only a couple million in the years since the trade, which isn't that much, but that still was 2-3 times as much as a young player getting the minimum would be making.

 

Yeah but i think by that point Kemp and Billingsley and to a lesser extent Loney were getting larger and larger salaries because they had produced at the major league level. I know Miller got a nice contract but almost immediately I think the Marlins would have been paying more for all those guys. Add in LaRoche too (as Im pretty sure he was a major part of that deal) and u can see how the tigers were the cheaper option.

How do you know that the Marlins would not have signed them long term? If Maybin had been playing well in 2009 and 2010, I guarantee the Marlins would be considering buying out his arbitration right now.

 

 

 

Because they didnt do the trade. Those guys were closer to not being under arbitration and the Marlins would have needed to make a financial decision regarding how long they could have those players and whether or not they were willing to give them an extension in the near future. By getting maybin and miller they could stall that process out for a few years (perhaps until they got a stadium). All those players were proven major leaguers who even under arbitration at that point were gonna make a decent amount of money. Given the way the marlins operate its easy to see how they could take the riskier albeit cheaper Tiger option.

The reason the marlins did the tigers deal as opposed to the Dodgers was because as usual they were being CHEAP. Kemp, Billingsley, Loney and Eithier already were in the majors at that point (and had proven they could play at the major league level) and were therefore one year closer to not being arbitration eligible. The Marlins knew this and figured they could control Miller and Maybin a little longer because they had no intention of resigning anyone from the Dodgers deals longterm.

 

The Dodgers deal was better, and so was the Angels but the Marlins are cheap and took the cheaper riskier move instead. Now they look dumb because they traded a HOF player and essentially got a decent long middle reliever and a guy who at the very very best could be Mike Cameron but probably wont be.

 

 

They may have been saving money in the long run, but it's worth noting that Andrew Miller signed a major league contract out of the draft, guaranteeing him millions before he ever threw a pitch. Now his salaries were only a couple million in the years since the trade, which isn't that much, but that still was 2-3 times as much as a young player getting the minimum would be making.

 

Yeah but i think by that point Kemp and Billingsley and to a lesser extent Loney were getting larger and larger salaries because they had produced at the major league level. I know Miller got a nice contract but almost immediately I think the Marlins would have been paying more for all those guys. Add in LaRoche too (as Im pretty sure he was a major part of that deal) and u can see how the tigers were the cheaper option.

Actually, at the time, Miller was getting paid more than Kemp, Billingsely, and Loney put together and would be for a few years if he hadn't fallen off. Ethier and Billingsley were in their second seasons, Loney, LaRoche, and Kemp were rookies.

 

For at least a few seasons, if everything had gone according to plan, Maybin, Miller, DLC, Rabelo, Trahen, and Badenhop would have been making at least as much if not more money than Ethier, Billingsley, Loney, LarRoche, and Kemp. Not to mention that there was no way they were getting all those guys, that's just what they were rumored to be asking for.

 

This was not a cheapness thing, it just didn't work out.

How do you know that the Marlins would not have signed them long term? If Maybin had been playing well in 2009 and 2010, I guarantee the Marlins would be considering buying out his arbitration right now.

 

 

 

Because they didnt do the trade. Those guys were closer to not being under arbitration and the Marlins would have needed to make a financial decision regarding how long they could have those players and whether or not they were willing to give them an extension in the near future. By getting maybin and miller they could stall that process out for a few years (perhaps until they got a stadium). All those players were proven major leaguers who even under arbitration at that point were gonna make a decent amount of money. Given the way the marlins operate its easy to see how they could take the riskier albeit cheaper Tiger option.

Every source out there at the time indicated that it was the Dodgers failing to give the Marlins an offer because the Marlins wanted too many players. You are off-base if you think that a deal with LA didn't get done because Kemp, Ethier, and Billingsley had more ML service time. Show me one source that backs up what you are saying. Any type of media commentary would suffice.

 

When you trade Miguel Cabrera, the prospects you hope to get in return are the types you expect to be buying out there arbitration on, meaning that club controlled years aren't that important as long as the prospects aren't busts.

 

And Kemp and Billingsley were making around the minimum in 2008 and 2009 and their 2010 arbitration figures are pretty reasonable.

 

Just read what Rab says above. He explained it better than I could.

I think Miller has a real problem with his right knee.

Maybin, who knows? He's still a kid. He is going to get at least 1 more chance.

Badenhop is OK

 

Yes, a loser. You win some, you lose some. I thought both the Dodgers and Angels were better choices for us.