Marlins Notes: Manager, 2012 Payroll, Offseason

 

By Steve Adams [september 4, 2011 at 2:04pm CST]

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro has a host of Marlins-related news as the team draws ever closer to its brand new stadium in 2012:

• It appears unlikely that Jack McKeon will again manage the Marlins in 2012. McKeon, 80, would be 81 next season and is likely to return to the advisor position he held from 2005 until taking the reins this year. Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Valentine are again listed as possible managerial replacements.
  
• With a new stadium on the horizon, owner Jeffrey Loria is ready to "do what it takes" to upgrade the organization. The club's payroll in 2012 is expected to top $70MM and could go as high as $80MM.
  
• The Fish would like to re-sign both Greg Dobbs and Omar Infante for the 2012 season. The veteran infielders are both free agents, but neither should be overly costly given their modest production in 2011.
  
• Starting pitching is a priority for the Marlins this offseason, and they'd like to add at least one left-hander. A look at the free agent market shows that the two biggest names that fit the bill will be C.C. Sabathia (assuming he opts out of his current deal) and C.J. Wilson, though it's hard to see the Marlins spending that kind of money. Beyond that, names include Erik Bedard, Mark Buehrle, and Chris Capuano.
  
• The Marlins are expected to be busy on the trade front, with Chris Volstad being a possible piece to be dealt. The Marlins would be selling very low on the 2005 first rounder, but with a 5.05 ERA over his last 468 2/3 Major League innings, it's not hard to see why they'd prefer to deal him before he hits arbitration.
  
• Selling low won't be an approach the team takes toward Hanley Ramirez. One of the Marlins' top priorities is getting their superstar healthy for Opening Day, and they aren't looking to trade him.
  

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/09/marlins-notes-manager-2012-payroll-offseason.html

http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/2011/09/04/changes-on-horizon-for-marlins/

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great.

 

Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting.

 

Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great. Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting. Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

 

why wouldnt u want infante starting?

 

if he hits .290 to .300 like hes capable of and gets on base above .350 then he certainly should start.

 

he may only have around 50 rbi but its more like 75 or 80 with the runs he keeps off the board,

all the rest of the news sounds good to me. would love to see the payroll at 80 million and have dobbs be our lefty off the bench.

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great.

 

Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting.

 

Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

 

WTF? How can you not want Infante, back and better yet not starting? Your not going to fine a better defense 2B out there. And like someone said if he hits .270-.300 its perfect. 2B is a defense position, you just been spoiled by the Utley, Uggla and Cano.

I can't imagine Volstad bringing much of a return.

Mark Buehrle would be great

I really hope they're not serious about Valentine,its good to see that payroll will increase too. As for Dobbs and Infante I would like to see both back, when the Marlins were hot at the end of July, Infante was a big part of that (Seems like last season at this point). I can't see Buhrle leaving Chisox, I know Sabathia ain't coming here and there isn't a whole bunch left, but Wilson is at least interesting. As for Volstad I still think its too early to give up on him, since his return he's pitched better, maybe the new pitching coach that the new manager brings in will help.

I really hope they're not serious about Valentine,its good to see that payroll will increase too. As for Dobbs and Infante I would like to see both back, when the Marlins were hot at the end of July, Infante was a big part of that (Seems like last season at this point). I can't see Buhrle leaving Chisox, I know Sabathia ain't coming here and there isn't a whole bunch left, but Wilson is at least interesting. As for Volstad I still think its too early to give up on him, since his return he's pitched better, maybe the new pitching coach that the new manager brings in will help.

 

 

Your comment about new pitching coach and new manager......how many has he seen already? Both positions have been playing musican chairs here over the last how many years???

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great.

 

Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting.

 

Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

 

WTF? How can you not want Infante, back and better yet not starting? Your not going to fine a better defense 2B out there. And like someone said if he hits .270-.300 its perfect. 2B is a defense position, you just been spoiled by the Utley, Uggla and Cano.

 

Because he's not a good hitter. He's had one great month, but other than that he hasn't been very good.

I would love to see Dobbs & Infante back. Dobbs on the bench and Infante at 2nd. That still leaves 3rd open. Are they still serious about Dominguez there next year ? And Coghlin at CF, should we trust he'll be healthy and be able to play that position adaquately ?

 

Glad to hear also they are going to spend money. I had read they were thinking of waiting until 2013 to spend, when there would be a better FA market, and just let the stadium sell tickets itself for 2012.

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great. Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting. Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

WTF? How can you not want Infante, back and better yet not starting? Your not going to fine a better defense 2B out there. And like someone said if he hits .270-.300 its perfect. 2B is a defense position, you just been spoiled by the Utley, Uggla and Cano.

Because Bonifacio is better than him and can play 2B. The Marlins need to commit to Bonifacio and develop him at his best possible position. Bonifacio is miscast at 3B, LF, and CF and the Marlins can find better players at those positions than an, at best, 2.5 WAR Infante. I like Infante, but the Marlins simply need to develop Bonifacio and there are more pressing needs, like 600 PA each at 3B and CF that are currently penciled in for Dominguez and Coghlan.

One thing some people don't think about: Who the hell would want to come here and face the Phillies and Braves pitching several times a year? There's not a whole lot that is attractive about coming to the NL East unless you play for one of the top two teams.

One thing some people don't think about: Who the hell would want to come here and face the Phillies and Braves pitching several times a year? There's not a whole lot that is attractive about coming to the NL East unless you play for one of the top two teams.

 

 

South Beach??????? Works for some

One thing some people don't think about: Who the hell would want to come here and face the Phillies and Braves pitching several times a year? There's not a whole lot that is attractive about coming to the NL East unless you play for one of the top two teams.

 

Any athlete that is a true competitor and is sure of himself. To be considered to be one of the best, you have to play against some of the best. If someone is afraid of playing those type teams then I wouldn't want them here anyway.

 

Not to mention playing in a new ball park, with a healthy contract, without the "heat" of playing in places like NY or Boston. So the question should really be, who wouldn't want to come here?

BroncoBob, competitors want to win and give themselves the best chance to do so. No one really wants to play for a team that has no shot.

BroncoBob, competitors want to win and give themselves the best chance to do so. No one really wants to play for a team that has no shot.

 

 

Tell that to Jayson Werth. Money talks.

South Beach, new ballpark, no sales tax, talented young team... yeah, no reason to come here at all.

 

Back to the matter at hand, if this team intends to compete it will not go into 2012 expecting to play both Infante and Dominguez every day. Bonifacio needs to be playing and that leaves no room for those 2.

South Beach, new ballpark, no sales tax, talented young team... yeah, no reason to come here at all.

 

Back to the matter at hand, if this team intends to compete it will not go into 2012 expecting to play both Infante and Dominguez every day. Bonifacio needs to be playing and that leaves no room for those 2.

 

 

Well we still don't know what we might get with Coghlan next season. If he isn't panning out, we can expect to see Bonifacio getting some playing time out in center.

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great. Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting. Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

WTF? How can you not want Infante, back and better yet not starting? Your not going to fine a better defense 2B out there. And like someone said if he hits .270-.300 its perfect. 2B is a defense position, you just been spoiled by the Utley, Uggla and Cano.

Because Bonifacio is better than him and can play 2B. The Marlins need to commit to Bonifacio and develop him at his best possible position. Bonifacio is miscast at 3B, LF, and CF and the Marlins can find better players at those positions than an, at best, 2.5 WAR Infante. I like Infante, but the Marlins simply need to develop Bonifacio and there are more pressing needs, like 600 PA each at 3B and CF that are currently penciled in for Dominguez and Coghlan.

 

I disagree with this.

 

Bonifacio has looked just fine in his time in the big leagues in CF. We don't have a CF'er. Let him play CF.

 

I'm not even a big Infante fan, but he is what he is; we won't find anything better in free agency.

 

Coghlan is garbage. Okay hitters with no position are not that valuable, and I don't really care to have him back next year.

South Beach, new ballpark, no sales tax, talented young team... yeah, no reason to come here at all.

 

Back to the matter at hand, if this team intends to compete it will not go into 2012 expecting to play both Infante and Dominguez every day. Bonifacio needs to be playing and that leaves no room for those 2.

 

 

 

I agree with this. The way some posters talk about this team, you could have swore the Marlins were the Cincinnati Bengals of baseball.

I was hoping it passes 80. 85 million would be really great. Signing Infante and Dobbs would be great if they're for the bench. I don't want either starting. Hopefully, we sign Wilson or Buehrle. Maybe both?

WTF? How can you not want Infante, back and better yet not starting? Your not going to fine a better defense 2B out there. And like someone said if he hits .270-.300 its perfect. 2B is a defense position, you just been spoiled by the Utley, Uggla and Cano.

Because Bonifacio is better than him and can play 2B. The Marlins need to commit to Bonifacio and develop him at his best possible position. Bonifacio is miscast at 3B, LF, and CF and the Marlins can find better players at those positions than an, at best, 2.5 WAR Infante. I like Infante, but the Marlins simply need to develop Bonifacio and there are more pressing needs, like 600 PA each at 3B and CF that are currently penciled in for Dominguez and Coghlan.

 

I disagree with this.

 

Bonifacio has looked just fine in his time in the big leagues in CF. We don't have a CF'er. Let him play CF.

 

I'm not even a big Infante fan, but he is what he is; we won't find anything better in free agency.

 

Coghlan is garbage. Okay hitters with no position are not that valuable, and I don't really care to have him back next year.

If Dominguez and Coghlan are going to be penciled in for anything, it should be time in AAA. I think both need to start 2012 there and earn a spot on the major league roster after months of good hitting.

 

Having said that, I would like to bring Infante back, start Bonifacio at third base, and then go out and find a real CFer.

 

I'm really down on Coghlan in comparison to most people, though.

It's really difficult to "find a real CF'er."

 

Bonifacio has been better in CF than he has been at 3B, and 3B is a position that will be occupied by Dominguez long-term anyway, even if he's not ready next year.

 

I really don't understand why Bonifacio HAS TO STAY in the infield. Then again, this is the same organization that thinks that Chris Coghlan absolutely HAS TO STAY in the outfield. Everything is backwards.

 

Bonifacio has the speed to do just fine in CF even if he occasionally f***s up some routes.

 

He has a +1.3 UZR in ~260 career big league innings in CF. That's not a telling sample, but it certainly proves that he's capable and there's no reason to think he won't get better the more time he spends there. He can run, he loves to run, and he has a + arm. The tools are there.

 

At times, his miscues in the infield come when he starts overrunning the ball.

 

Just let him play CF where he'll have all the room in the world to run. There is no better option in the organization, and you're really not getting anything in free agency unless you get someone like Coco Crisp.

 

If you don't like Infante as an every day 2B, I don't see why you'd care for a Coco Crisp playing every day in CF, at this point in his career. It's not much of an upgrade.

 

Just go Infante 2B/Boni CF, and either Dominguez at 3B or a real stopgap at 3B until Dominguez is ready.

He has a +1.3 UZR in ~260 career big league innings in CF. That's not a telling sample, but it certainly proves that he's capable and there's no reason to think he won't get better the more time he spends there. He can run, he loves to run, and he has a + arm. The tools are there.

 

 

260 innings is the equivalent of about 27 full games.

 

I'm not sure where to find UZR splits, but I did find an article that stated that on May 17, Chris Coghlan was third among all CFers with a 3.7 UZR. May 17 was 38 games. So, yeah. Small sample sizes are fun.

 

 

Maybe Bonifacio can be an everyday CFer; I don't think referencing his fielding stats after roughly a month's play over 3 seasons is a good argument, though, and I don't think the organization is stupid, as you've implied, for not agreeing with you on it.

He has a +1.3 UZR in ~260 career big league innings in CF. That's not a telling sample, but it certainly proves that he's capable and there's no reason to think he won't get better the more time he spends there. He can run, he loves to run, and he has a + arm. The tools are there.

 

 

260 innings is the equivalent of about 27 full games.

 

I'm not sure where to find UZR splits, but I did find an article that stated that on May 17, Chris Coghlan was third among all CFers with a 3.7 UZR. May 17 was 38 games. So, yeah. Small sample sizes are fun.

 

 

Maybe Bonifacio can be an everyday CFer; I don't think referencing his fielding stats after roughly a month's play over 3 seasons is a good argument, though, and I don't think the organization is stupid, as you've implied, for not agreeing with you on it.

 

Fair enough.

 

Bonifacio still has all the tools that Coghlan doesn't have to play the position, however. That much is certain.

 

UZR splits can be found toward the bottom of the page on fangraphs.