Jim Bowden epsn.com just wrote up a column that listed 5 predictions for baseball winter meetings. Marlins came in at #3. I have zero faith in this but who else is left to sign that would need a no trade clause. Bourn makes zero sense and I doubt any of the big guys would come here even if a no trade clause was in place.

 

 

3. The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/mia/miami-marlins[/url][/url]"]Miami Marlins[/url] will sign a free agent and give him a full-no trade clause

 

The Marlins’ trades of Buehrle, Reyes and Bell this offseason have left agents with such a bad taste in their mouths that many of them are saying they won’t even talk to the Marlins on behalf of their clients. Interestingly, a year ago, the Marlins all but had http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols[/url][/url]"]Albert Pujols[/url] signed, but their refusal to include a no-trade clause allowed him to make the right choice and sign with the Angels. If he had signed with the Marlins, he probably would be with the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays%22]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays"]http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays[/url][/url]"]Toronto Blue Jays[/url] today. The Marlins are under scrutiny from the commissioner’s office and the players' association to spend rather than pocketing what look to be significant revenue-sharing gains the next few years. The Marlins need to step up and surprise baseball by adding a significant free agent and will have no choice this time but to change their policy and give a full no-trade clause so players they sign won’t have to worry about being dealt in a year.

A league minimum with an NTC, yes.

1-year deal. NTC.

Wes Helms with a full NTC

We have done NTC's before [only one I can think of, Javier Vazquez] on a one-year deal, so I'd say that could happen.

That's really dumb. There's no reason to give a full no-trade clause to set an example.

 

Three years from now if they want to sign someone without a clause, the player will damn well know that there's a likely chance that he's traded before the contract is up.

 

In the future, the only players who "won't have to worry" are those who have no-trade clause protection.

Yeah, I hope this doesn't happen.

I don't mind it as a publicity stunt.

extend Keppinger for 5 years. NTC.

I'm okay and hope there's a splash. Who remains to be seen,

 

Josh Hamiltons insistence on a 5 year or more deal may get a deal done with Miami without a NTC.

All other factors aside, why would Hamilton want to come here based on the fact that we are now clearly rebuilding? Three weeks ago I'd have at least mildly entertained the Hamilton idea so he could join Reyes and Stanton. Not now.

All other factors aside, why would Hamilton want to come here based on the fact that we are now clearly rebuilding? Three weeks ago I'd have at least mildly entertained the Hamilton idea so he could join Reyes and Stanton. Not now.

 

 

Same reason why every player signed here last year without a NTC...

 

We offer the most money and most years. Exactly why Reyes choose Miami, why Buerhle did and why Bell did.

 

Even Pujols almost signed here until the Angels gave him more money and a NTC

That would be a terrible waste of money. For that, you keep Reyes..

 

Even if the goal was to sign a guy so that he can be part of a core that's still forming, you absolutely cannot pick someone as old as Hamilton. Again, you would've kept Reyes.

And, if Reyes was the price paid to unload the sh*t contracts, then you get somebody reasonably young and likely to last for 5+ seasons at a top level. And this FA class is really short on that kind of player.

I'd like to see Jurgens given a deal if he'd actually sign here....depends on the terms but he wouldn't be a bad guy to have in the starting rotation....i could see the fish taking a flyer on Wilson too if they could get him cheaply

That would be a terrible waste of money. For that, you keep Reyes..

 

Even if the goal was to sign a guy so that he can be part of a core that's still forming, you absolutely cannot pick someone as old as Hamilton. Again, you would've kept Reyes.

 

Exactly. Signing Hamilton makes absolutely zero sense. If the Marlins want to have that much money on the books right now when they are rebuilding, they would have kept Reyes.

My prediction: Jim Bowden is still dumb.

I think the Marlins were showcasing Escobar as their 3B to let everyone know that he is willing to play 3B at the Winter Meetings. There's a thin 3B market and contenders will probably pay for someone on the higher end, like Escobar. Then I bet the Marlins sign someone like Reynolds for a year or two to hold it down until we're in a position to contend.

All other factors aside, why would Hamilton want to come here based on the fact that we are now clearly rebuilding? Three weeks ago I'd have at least mildly entertained the Hamilton idea so he could join Reyes and Stanton. Not now.

 

 

Same reason why every player signed here last year without a NTC...

 

We offer the most money and most years. Exactly why Reyes choose Miami, why Buerhle did and why Bell did.

 

Even Pujols almost signed here until the Angels gave him more money and a NTC

 

agreed, and since we're rebuilding I don't think we offer the most money or years to any free agent. Thus it goes back to square one, we aren't getting Hamilton unless he actually wanted to come here and money wasn't an option. Though that's not the case so again, no Hamilton in Miami.

 

Actually its almost silly to entertain this thought at this point.

I think the Marlins were showcasing Escobar as their 3B to let everyone know that he is willing to play 3B at the Winter Meetings. There's a thin 3B market and contenders will probably pay for someone on the higher end, like Escobar. Then I bet the Marlins sign someone like Reynolds for a year or two to hold it down until we're in a position to contend.

 

I don't know if that's true, but it's definitely an interesting thought.

I think the Marlins were showcasing Escobar as their 3B to let everyone know that he is willing to play 3B at the Winter Meetings. There's a thin 3B market and contenders will probably pay for someone on the higher end, like Escobar. Then I bet the Marlins sign someone like Reynolds for a year or two to hold it down until we're in a position to contend.

 

I don't know if that's true, but it's definitely an interesting thought.

 

I think it's the best case scenario for the future of the team... well, besides us keeping him, him having a monster first half, then trading him away at the trade deadline to a desperate contender and raking in a sh*tload.

I don't think they make a big signing.

 

 

Exactly and I don't think they should anyway.

 

Loria isn't even making the trip to Nashville unlike last year's meetings when he was on the grand stage.

and repeat cycle.

I don't think that these Toronto prospects are really going to develop into anything. Hechavarria is not a Hanley Ramirez. Beinfest at least had that going for him the last time he blew up a team.

Sooo should we start a new thread for the Winter Meetings news, updates, tweets, rumors and other rumblings or should we just make this thread the one?