November 22, 200322 yr Saturday, November 22, 2003 ESPN.com news services MIAMI -- The world champion Marlins are trying to keep their team intact. But it will take some work to keep Ivan Rodriguez in the fold. The Marlins say they are making progress in negotiations with free-agent third baseman Mike Lowell and second baseman Luis Castillo, but are not close to re-signing their All-Star catcher, general manager Admin Beinfest told reporters during a conference call on Friday. Rodriguez is reportedly looking for a five-year, $50 million deal -- which isn't close to the maximum two-year, $15 million offer that sources tell the Miami Herald the Marlins are prepared to give. ''What Pudge's expectations and goals are on a multiyear contract do not fit with our allocation or our payroll operating range right now,'' Beinfest said. "Things can change on both ends. But, as of right now, that's where it sits.'' ''We're waiting for them to make an offer,'' agent Scott Boras told the Herald. "They're the employer. The only thing I've said to Admin is that Pudge had a very good year and we expect a multiyear offer." Boras told the newspaper he didn't expect to talk with the Marlins again until after Thanksgiving. Beinfest said Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has given him a ''payroll range'' with which to build next season's roster. Keeping the entire roster intact would cost close to $90 million -- far more than the $50 million the Marlins started last season with. "That word [dismantling]will probably not be associated with what we're doing given the payroll operating range we're working with right now," Beinfest said. "I think you're going to see large parts of this team return that are going to be important to our competitiveness." One way to trim payroll may be to trade veteran outfielder Derrek Lee. The Orioles have expressed interest in trading for him. Rodriguez, Castillo and Lowell all played major roles in Florida's run to the title. However, while Rodriguez starred in the postseason, Castillo struggled and Lowell had a limited role due to the fact that he was coming back from an injury Lets add up the mistakes: FREE AGENT Mike Lowell OUTFIELDER D Lee $90million to keep the team intact ( it was $80million last week ) did i miss anything?
November 22, 200322 yr credit - ESPN.com news services - WTF? Well, since they put this, they don't want you to know who screwed up. :lol
November 23, 200322 yr Wow Derrek congrats on ur outfield gold glove before today i thought you had won your gold glove at 1B but i guess i was thinking wrong... Sorry Lee
November 23, 200322 yr All I can say is WOW at the idiocy of ESPN. :wow Congrats to Derrek for becoming our gold glove of. :lol
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