With our bullpen being such a huge question mark this offseason, I'm interested in seeing the approach the majority would take in order to get things fixed. Bullpens are quite tricky, and we've seen all these methods work, to a certain extent.

 

Thoughts?

 

Perhaps you feel like there should be a combination of all of them to piece things together? Regardless, it'd be cool to see what you feel would be the best way to go about it, especially considering the Marlins current team and expected payroll.

Where's the "I expect all starters to get complete game shutouts every night" option? D:

Where's the "I expect all starters to get complete game shutouts every night" option? D:

Sign a few Hensley types, keep a few current guys, and chuck in a few prospects like Ceda.

I'd also go with the Hensley route and sign cheap backend starters.

I would love to see the Marlins spend some money on the pen. Of course its the Marlins so not too much, then hope that some of the youngsters develop into something.

I wouldn't expect a Soriano type, but Benoit of the Rays has been pretty effective throughout the year and I believe is a free agent this off-season.

I would actually do a combination of some of these instead of just one option.

I voted backend starters -> reliever conversion, a la Clay Hensley. I like it.

 

Although I think if the Marlins want to be successful, it would have to be a combination of these things

Good topic.. but I find it hard to pick one. I hope we can sign someone like Putz to be our closer.. but who am i kidding

The thing about relief pitchers is they're so unpredictable/unreliable, which is why I hate the idea of going out and spending a bunch of money on "big name" bullpen guys. The Padres are a perfect example of a team with a low budget who have built a very nice bullpen, in fact it is the best bullpen in baseball this year, a big reason why they are in a pennant race. Let's look at how they did it:

 

CL- Heath Bell; Acquired via trade with Mets (2006). They got him and Royce Ring for Jon Adkins (an average RP in 06) and Ben Johnson (a nothing OFer). Turned out to be a steal for the Padres.

RP- Luke Greggerson; Acquired from the Cardinals (Spring Training 2009) as a Player To Be Named Later from a deal made in December 2008 in which the Cardinals sent Mark Worrell and a PTBNL to the Padres for Kahlil Greene

RP- Edward Mujica; Acquired from the Indians in April 2009 as part of a conditional deal (?)

RP- Mike Adams; Acquired via trade with the Indians (2006) for Brian Sikorski

RP- Tim Stauffer; Drafted by the Padres in 2003 (1st round; 4th overall pick)

RP- Joe Thatcher (LOOGY); Acquired via trade with Brewers (2007) for Scott Linebrink

RP- Ryan Webb; Acquired via trade with Athletics (2009) for Scott Hairston

 

So out of all these guys, only one was homegrown (Stauffer). The rest were acquired in small/medium trades. None of these guys were household names. The best thing for us to do is try and mimic what the Padres have done; make some small/medium trades and hope we find some diamonds in the rough. There are future Heath Bells, Luke Greggersons, and Edward Mujicas out there, you just have to find them. Beinfest is a very good talent evaluator and I have faith in his ability to do just that.

The thing about relief pitchers is they're so unpredictable/unreliable, which is why I hate the idea of going out and spending a bunch of money on "big name" bullpen guys. The Padres are a perfect example of a team with a low budget who have built a very nice bullpen, in fact it is the best bullpen in baseball this year, a big reason why they are in a pennant race. Let's look at how they did it:

 

CL- Heath Bell; Acquired via trade with Mets (2006). They got him and Royce Ring for Jon Adkins (an average RP in 06) and Ben Johnson (a nothing OFer). Turned out to be a steal for the Padres.

RP- Luke Greggerson; Acquired from the Cardinals (Spring Training 2009) as a Player To Be Named Later from a deal made in December 2008 in which the Cardinals sent Mark Worrell and a PTBNL to the Padres for Kahlil Greene

RP- Edward Mujica; Acquired from the Indians in April 2009 as part of a conditional deal (?)

RP- Mike Adams; Acquired via trade with the Indians (2006) for Brian Sikorski

RP- Tim Stauffer; Drafted by the Padres in 2003 (1st round; 4th overall pick)

RP- Joe Thatcher (LOOGY); Acquired via trade with Brewers (2007) for Scott Linebrink

RP- Ryan Webb; Acquired via trade with Athletics (2009) for Scott Hairston

 

So out of all these guys, only one was homegrown (Stauffer). The rest were acquired in small/medium trades. None of these guys were household names. The best thing for us to do is try and mimic what the Padres have done; make some small/medium trades and hope we find some diamonds in the rough. There are future Heath Bells, Luke Greggersons, and Edward Mujicas out there, you just have to find them. Beinfest is a very good talent evaluator and I have faith in his ability to do just that.

 

 

 

I agree. Although I'm not sure you got those trades correctly (wasn't Adams with the Brewers? And Thatcher with the White Sox?). Anyway, they were all, for the most part, minor trades/deals.

Wasn't towers the one responsible for building that pen? If so, Arizona made a much-needed hire

I agree. Although I'm not sure you got those trades correctly (wasn't Adams with the Brewers? And Thatcher with the White Sox?). Anyway, they were all, for the most part, minor trades/deals.

 

 

I got my info from baseball-reference.com. Adams was with the Brewers but they traded him to the Mets, then the Mets put him on waivers and was claimed by the Indians, then the Indians traded him to the Padres. Thatcher was never with the White Sox. Milwaukee signed him out of the Frontier League (Independent) in 2005 and then traded him to San Diego in 2007.

Personally I believe turning failed starters to relievers is a great option especially if these starters had decent success at the MLB level. Guys like Hensley, Darren Oliver, Sean Marshall and Jose Contreras who where starters throughout there careers and made into relievers have had success out of the bullpen because as long as you are able to warm up properly one or two innings is usually cake compared to the 5 or 6 they are used to going.

Then I'd go with prospects hoping they turn out well.

 

Also I like the trading hitters for arms because they can sometimes turn into steals.

I would like to do a mix of adding one or two proven relievers in the 2nd tier of FAs and then sign some vets who had poor 2010 seasons (or didn't pitch) to give them a shot in ST. But we can't do what we did this season and just rely on ST invitees to fill out the bullpen and all perform well. I would hope that the 2010 Marlins' bullpen issues have dissuaded the FO from trying this sort of thing again...