If everything that is published is true it looks like we'll have Luis and Lowell back next year, but what about catching? Does anyone honestly think that Redmond and Castro can handle the job? That is if Castro is playing next year in Florida instead of the Pennsylvania Penial League. If the Marlins aren't going to make a strong run at Pudge and they're in the mood to bring back guys, how about Benny Santiago? The price will and may give Josh Willingham time to master the tools of ignorance. Tell me your thoughts.

Welcome have fun,i like benito,but castro can do it,as long as he aint guilty.

I believe that right now, the Marlins are waiting to see if Pudge gets any offers, which he hasn't yet. They want to force Boras to lower his price to something reasonable, once he realizes that the Marlins present the best offer.

 

Right now, I oppose having a Castro/Redmond platoon. Redmond is not capable of doing what Pudge did for us last year. He doesn't have the bat or the defense to keep us going. Castro is promising, but he's still not any kind of a lock. Add that to the fact that he has to stand trial, which could be a problem.

 

At this point, it appears as though the Marlins are playing the waiting game on Pudge, and that will continue for a little while.

Redmond wont be back next year

 

i think

I would love for Redmond to stay. He is a nice Backup...he plays Defense very good.

 

Ramon Castro will probally be givin a shot if Pudge doesnt return. He has been waiting for a long time. Last year he was suppose to be the starting catcher up to pudge came along. Castro has proven how well he can hit when he PH for someone. He will do fine, specially when he gets used to starting everyday.

Benito and Ramon will make a nice platoon.

me thinks Benny wouldnt platoon

Torrealba played a lot for SF last year and Ramon is kind of like Torrealba. Benito will platoon for a chance to come back to Florida. I bet if we offer him a contract, he signs. It all depends if Pudge continues to be greedy.

I'm kinda torn on this Ramon thing. I think he's a good catcher with good power and can come through in the clutch from the ABs I've seen BUT I dunno if I could put all my trust in somebody who's inexperienced at starting and since he hasn't had as many ABs, you can't really judge his hitting to a full extend. This is an important position especially for the pitchers, they want somebody they can trust.

There is no question Ramon can swing the bat but how good can he call a game?

I think it's a mistake to assume Luis will be back. He isn't going to sign for a discount. I don't think the Marlins are going to break the bank with an offer to him. I suspect the Dec 7th will arrive without Luis or Pudge being signed. If the Yankees and Red Sox go after Luis, he isn't coming back. He's a very likable guy, and I'd love to have him back myself, but his value is limited. The market may be beyond his value to this team.

 

I will guarantee you that Pudge will not be signed before the deadline. He will test the market. The Marlins front office has been playing this exactly like they have to. Many baseball people think and have said that they think the market may be limited on Pudge. I agree. But it only takes one owner to make an impulse move , and he's signed.

 

I don't think people in general realize how good a player Castro is. He will be fine. He will not be "platooning" with another right handed hitting catcher. It doesn't work that way. If he clears his legal problems he will be the starting catcher, unless there is no market for Pudge, and he is still available after he tests the market.

 

I'm still not going to be surprised if Eric Young's name pops up after the Dec 7 deadline. Don't forget, that not signing free agents at top market dollars opens up some payroll for established players we haven't even thought about yet.

I suspect the Dec 7th will arrive without Luis or Pudge being signed.

I suspect you're right that we won't sign Pudge or Luis by December 7th.

 

I will guarantee you that Pudge will not be signed before the deadline.? He will test the market.? The Marlins front office has been playing this exactly like they have to.

The problem is that if we don't sign Pudge by that date, we'll lose him. We won't be able to sign him until May 1st and he will find another team. He's not going to sit out spring training and a month of the season waiting for us. So I don't think the front office is playing this right at all, unless they've already decided they don't want him back. Teams can wait until after Dec 7th when the Marlins are out of the picture to go after Pudge.

 

I don't think people in general realize how good a player Castro is.? He will be fine.

I don't think people realize how much a risk Castro really is. Look at Castro's numbers against right-handed pitching. He's far from a sure thing.

 

If he clears his legal problems he will be the starting catcher, unless there is no market for Pudge, and he is still available after he tests the market.

Pudge won't be available if we let him test the market past Dec 7th.

If Pudge walks, Redmond stays. His defense is very good and he is familiar with the pitchers. If Castro is unable to play, Benito would come back.

 

You guys underestimate Redmond, he is an excellent catcher and calls games very well. His bat, when given more playing time, is much better and consistent.

If Pudge walks, Redmond stays. His defense is very good and he is familiar with the pitchers. If Castro is unable to play, Benito would come back.

 

You guys underestimate Redmond, he is an excellent catcher and calls games very well. His bat, when given more playing time, is much better and consistent.

yeah I think Redmonds a pretty good option. I mean remember last year he's hit as far as 2 in the lineup and is pretty consistent with the bat and his "redzone" but like I said with Castro, I don't know if I could put all my trust in him for a full season.

Redmond isnt capable of starting 100+ games if Castro doesnt make it out of prison

Ramp, that is why you'd get a Santiago type how can platoon with him.

REDMOND= :thumbdown CASTRO= :w00t .. BENITO= :mischief2 ........ :thumbup

How bout release red,and sign santiago,and have ramon start on sundays,benito from mon-sat?

Willis I agree

How bout release red,and sign santiago,and have ramon start on sundays,benito from mon-sat?

meh

 

if Ramon is not in jail, he is our starting catcher with a Treanor or someone else catching every so often

 

this assuming Pudge is a goner

The marlins really need pudge. It is a whole differnt team with him there. The pitchers still need his calls and the lineup needs his bat. Just remember what it was like before he became the catalyst.

I think if Pudge leaves, the Marlins will start Castro and sign a backup or keep Redmond. I don't see the Marlins signing a starting catcher. They've got more pressing needs.

WELCOME!

we dont REALLY need to keep Pudge-but if we can-we should try our hardest to keep him.

I have lots of thoughts on Pudge, some are potentially contradictory. This isn't a complete list by any means but...

 

Pudge isn't making this any easier by allowing himself to be out of the country until a few days after the Dec 7th deadline. I'm still trying to sort out that actually hurts us less than the competition, but at the same time I wonder if this is Pudge's way of getting out of town with his diginity intact by saying the Fish made him a terrible offer and for his family he had to go to (fillintheblank).

 

No one else HAS to make him an offer right now except the Fish. What Boras wants is the Marlins' best offer so he can shop it. Obviously the Marlins don't want to play that game. This is going to go to the last minute like Conine. Up or down.

 

Or perhaps the Marlins think they would be better off letting him test the waters then re-signing him knowing he can't start until May 15. I suppose we could get through the first six weks with Castro and Treanor if it saved us a few million over the length of contract. If you're talking about a three year deal, what's six weeks? And let's say it saved you a couple mil over those three years because you weren't at a competitive disadvantage in negotiations. It's like getting a couple of utility players free for three years.

 

I'm still in the camp that says, given good health, Pudge is indespensible to this team from a PR standpoint. I'd sign him, trot his butt everywhere and market the heck out of him and Beckett and Lowell and get the stadium deal done. For the life of me, and I love Luis, I just don't see the big "Castillo is our #1 priority" thing. Wonderful player, love to keep him but the difference between .280 2b and a .310 2b is 18 hits a season. For $15.5 over more mil over three years, I'm willing to look at a lot of other guys at 2b. Given the right player, Luis' production numbers are replacable and in fact beatable for 1/3 the cost.

 

Pudge on the otherhand, if he keeps his health is a warrior capable of leading this team to greatness again. On alot of other teams, and alot of teams that may bid on him, he's just another superstar cog in a wheel. Here he is a god. Pudge needs the Marlins and the Marlins need Pudge.

Agreed '03. Slap hitting second basemen, even ones that can hit .300+ are not worth 7 million per. You want the big money, you've gotta be a run producer.

 

Luis is a terrific 2B and solid hitter, but that money is waaay more than he's worth.