Marlins re-sign pinch-hit specialist Lenny Harris

December 5, 2003

MIAMI (Ticker) - While still unable to reach an agreement with Ivan Rodriguez, the Florida Marlins re-signed all-time pinch-hit leader Lenny Harris on Friday.

 

Harris, 38, was signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He has 181 career pinch hits, most in baseball history.

 

The Marlins are trying to re-sign Rodriguez, their star catcher who made $10 million last season, had an outstanding postseason and is looking for a raise. The sides are said to be far apart on a multi-year deal.

 

In the meantime, the Marlins brought back Harris, who they signed August 8, six days after he was released by the Chicago Cubs. He batted .193 with one homer and eight RBI in 88 games last season.

 

Although Harris played four positions last season, his best is pinch hitter. He has a .264 career average and 68 RBI in the pinch.

 

Harris is a .269 hitter with 35 homers and 339 RBI in 1,741 games with Cincinnati, Los Angeles, the New York Mets, Colorado, Arizona, Milwaukee, Chicago and Florida.

 

I don't know exactly what he's good for, but there's gotta be some reason people keep signing Lenny F. Harris.

Nice...

Surprised but good move I suppose.

i love it

Always good to have a veteran in the clubhouse and who can be depended on for pinch hits

Lenny is the man off the bench and came through when we needed him to for the most part. Good to hear.

This is good news. He also looked killer on the 2003 World Series DVD interviews

Wow - this is great news. I didnt think we would re-sign him, thought he was going to cost us too much. But he is a local boy, and wants to be here. This is very good for us. Now if we can just forget Fudge and sign us some bullpen studs, we will be allright.

We have some amazing vet leadership on our bench...

Ho hum. I'm not unhappy about this, but neutral. Harris really didn't add much last year, so hopefully we gave him a modest contract to help him finish out his career.

i knew we would sign him. i know his brother that coaches football in nmb high. he was sayin he was gonna come back and that its up to th fish to give him an invitation or contract. he wasnt in great demand.. he also wants to coach later on and probably w. us since born and raised in county of dade. mordi n harris = 2006 1b n 3b coach

hopefully we gave him a modest contract to help him finish out his career.

I read somewhere it's 1-year $6.5 Million

cheap a** team. they shouldve given him $10 mill a season for 5 years

cheap a** team. they shouldve given him $10 mill a season for 5 years

Yea, but whatcha gonna do?

 

But I heard we may convert him into a closer, while Gerald Williams develops...

nice

I like this move. It makes our bench stronger (seems to have been a perennial sore spot for us). Unexpected...but I'll take it.

how is it unexpected? he was gonna make just league minimum peanuts at best anyhow. might as well give em a shot at st. it wont hurt. i dont get how u guys think this is unexpected.

how is it unexpected? he was gonna make just league minimum peanuts at best anyhow. might as well give em a shot at st. it wont hurt. i dont get how u guys think this is unexpected.

I think a lot of us (including myself) expected him to retire.

how is it unexpected? he was gonna make just league minimum peanuts at best anyhow. might as well give em a shot at st. it wont hurt. i dont get how u guys think this is unexpected.

Plus, the Herald and Sun-Sentinel said he probably wouldn't be back.

how is it unexpected? he was gonna make just league minimum peanuts at best anyhow. might as well give em a shot at st. it wont hurt. i dont get how u guys think this is unexpected.

Plus, the Herald and Sun-Sentinel said he probably wouldn't be back. If the Herald and Sentinal said the Dolphins were a better baseball team than Florida, would you believe them?

how is it unexpected?? he was gonna make just league minimum? peanuts at best anyhow.? might as well give em a shot at st. it wont hurt.? i dont get how u guys think this is unexpected.

Plus, the Herald and Sun-Sentinel said he probably wouldn't be back. If the Herald and Sentinal said the Dolphins were a better baseball team than Florida, would you believe them? No- I'm just saying, as much as everyone hates to admit it, there are few sources we can go to to get Marlins news, and the Sun-Sentinel and Herald are two of them. I know they have more sources connected to the team than I do, so yes, I would believe them over my own (or anyone else's) blind speculation.