Cant help but wonder if we could still net Vlad. I know, we dont have the money to fit him in - not at the price he seems to be asking. But Kaz Matsui signed with the Muts at 3 @ $24M, Tejada has been offer a similar deal. Vlad cant be much higher, but what do I know.

 

The real question here is, if the Marlins go out and sign Vlad, hypothetically, for more than they were going to give Fudge - does the media attack them? Do the fans have a problem with it? I doubt they would, but you never know...

I'd rather have Vlad then Fudge. I'd think most would.

We're not going to sign him, we don't have the cash. We'll get someone cheaper instead.

screw the fans...

*waves*

 

I'm still here

I don't think many would have a problem with it. Vlad is a superior player to you know who in every statistical category this year, period. If he were to bat third in our lineup as is, well then NL East crown here we come... :thumbup

I don't think many would have a problem with it.? Vlad is a superior player to you know who in every statistical category this year, period.? If he were to bat third in our lineup as is, well then NL East crown here we come... :thumbup

i agree. if loria had an ADDITIONAL $10-15 million to spend on payroll so we could get vlad + a bullpen, we would win the division easily in 2004.

If we got Vlad, the consensus would be the NL East is ours...

 

I am curious to see what happens with Millwood. He has been offered arbitration by Phils who desperately are trying to keep him. They also got Eric Milton - who is solid. They are certainly trying to match our rotation - but I think ours is better.

 

If we got Vlad, our OF could potentially be sick. Cabrere LF, Pierre CF, Vlad RF. Wow. Conine would be our 4th, spell Vlad and Cabs and play 1B where he and Choi would split time. It would be good to let Choi ease into 1B position anyway.

 

I think we could have the money to make this happen. I think there are a lot of people in our organization who want to make this happen - including Loria. But they had to make a play for Fudge - and I wonder if the reason they held fast to their position was because of other options out there - including Vlad...

 

We still need bullpen help and hope that Castro is found innocent (as long as he really is innocent...). We will see - exciting things.

 

Last year, I thought we had the best offseason of any team. Right now, we could possibly repeat with the best offseason again.

I don't think many would have a problem with it. Vlad is a superior player to you know who in every statistical category this year, period. If he were to bat third in our lineup as is, well then NL East crown here we come... :thumbup

i agree. if loria had an extra $10-15 million to spend on vlad + a bullpen, we would win the division easily in 2004. I think we're going 'pen shopping now because Vlad makes us move Cabrera/Conine/Choi around, but damn, if we had know Fudge would leave like this, would you still trade Lee? I know there's no point looking back, but it sure does make you think... :confused

I'll believe it when I see it. And If happens, I'll gladly eat crow

I think the fact that all three big FO guys worked on the Fudge deal could mean that all three would work on a potential Vlad deal.....

I'd love to see it. I just don't see it happening.

If we got Vlad, the consensus would be the NL East is ours...

 

I am curious to see what happens with Millwood. He has been offered arbitration by Phils who desperately are trying to keep him. They also got Eric Milton - who is solid. They are certainly trying to match our rotation - but I think ours is better.

 

If we got Vlad, our OF could potentially be sick. Cabrere LF, Pierre CF, Vlad RF. Wow. Conine would be our 4th, spell Vlad and Cabs and play 1B where he and Choi would split time. It would be good to let Choi ease into 1B position anyway.

 

I think we could have the money to make this happen. I think there are a lot of people in our organization who want to make this happen - including Loria. But they had to make a play for Fudge - and I wonder if the reason they held fast to their position was because of other options out there - including Vlad...

 

We still need bullpen help and hope that Castro is found innocent (as long as he really is innocent...). We will see - exciting things.

 

Last year, I thought we had the best offseason of any team. Right now, we could possibly repeat with the best offseason again.

has Milwood been offered arbitration? Last I heard the Phils took their offer off the table for him. But I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that Loria has options lined up, but I do think they knew that the $8 mil they'd be spending annually could be invested into 2 pen guys a bench player and the raise to some of our arbitration eligible players. Teams on a budget don't look at a big money player leaving as an open invite to go spend more on another big money guy. I think this just gives us more wiggle room to fill holes we have in the pen. But if Vlad does sign, I'll be the first person touting #27 as our sure fire ticket back to the playoffs. :thumbup

I'll believe it when I see it. And If happens, I'll gladly eat crow

That crow would taste really really really good.

I'll believe it when I see it. And If happens, I'll gladly eat crow

That crow would taste really really really good. Hell, I'll have seconds

I'll believe it when I see it. And If happens, I'll gladly eat crow

That crow would taste really really really good. Hell, I'll have seconds For dessert I will eat some Fudge.

I'll believe it when I see it. And If happens, I'll gladly eat crow

That crow would taste really really really good. Hell, I'll have seconds For dessert I will eat some Fudge. no, that wouldn't taste good, way too bitter...

"The Expos had offered Guerrero a heavily backloaded five-year contract for more than $70 million Friday. But when he and agent Fernando Cuza declined, they essentially cut their ties, Stark reported."

 

Well, that looks like about all we could offer too. Not optomistic about getting him now...

"The Expos had offered Guerrero a heavily backloaded five-year contract for more than $70 million Friday. But when he and agent Fernando Cuza declined, they essentially cut their ties, Stark reported."

 

Well, that looks like about all we could offer too. Not optomistic about getting him now...

I would think it was more because the Expos offered it than the money in this case. I don't think he wanted to stay in that situation there.

"The Expos had offered Guerrero a heavily backloaded five-year contract for more than $70 million Friday. But when he and agent Fernando Cuza declined, they essentially cut their ties, Stark reported."

 

Well, that looks like about all we could offer too. Not optomistic about getting him now...

I would think it was more because the Expos offered it than the money in this case. I don't think he wanted to stay in that situation there. exactly.

Vlad is a terrific ballplayer, worth every penny he ultimately gets. Considering the signings of Castillo and Lowell, and the club's pronouncement they intend to re-sign Burnett, I do not see how they could afford Vlad.

It is pretty clear Vlad wants out of Montreal. He was offered a 1 year $17M contract. Whenhe signs elsewhere, he may get less than that. I know I wouldnt want to play in such an unstable environment as Montreal.

 

I think we do have more money to spend on bullpen help, yes, but I think the Marlins FO may have something up there sleeve. They didnt seem so intent on landing Fudge and Fudge didnt seem so keen on returning. It seemed almost like the whole thing was staged...I think we may have already been in contact with Vlad.

Any chance that Vlad might say "screw the money and let me play for a winner?" :mischief2

I've gotta think several things factor into this.

 

First of all, we've all read how Vlad is a keep-to-himself type guy. You play in a large media outlet like NY, and the press is gonna be all over you. Even a place like Baltimore would be more press than Montreal.

 

Even though we're the champs, we still get virtually no attention. I'm thinking that that's probably what he's looking for. To keep a relatively low profile.

 

(For the record, I think this is a factor of why Luis signed here and not in NY or St. Louis - low profile. Remember the article where it said he didn't know half of his teammates' names? Oh yeah, that'd fly over swell in NY.)

 

Secondly, I think we have to trade Encarnacion for some bullpen help before we make a run at Vlad.

 

Why?

 

Because if I'm a team who wants Encarnacion, and the Marlins have jusut signed Vlad, I say to myself, "Hey, this team has Vlad, Pierre, Cabrera, Conine, AND Encarnacion to play the outfield. Why should I give them something decent for Encarnacion?"

 

A month ago I was laughing at all of you who believed we had a shot at signing Vlad. Now, I've subscribed to the notion myself.

12-14 Mill for 5 years...?