Redman dealt to A's for Neu

 

By Juan C. Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Posted December 17 2003

 

Consider it bullpen addition by payroll subtraction.

 

The Marlins installed another piece to their relief staff, acquiring right-hander and former University of Miami standout Mike Neu from the Oakland Athletics late Tuesday for lefty starter Mark Redman and a player to be named or cash considerations in a financially-driven deal.

 

Neu, 25, just completed his rookie season, making 32 appearances and logging a 3.64 ERA with 26 walks and 20 strikeouts in 42 innings. He won't earn much more than the $300,000 major league minimum in 2004, meaning his acquisition saves the Marlins about $2.75 million next season and helps keep the payroll from topping the $60 million mark.

 

Redman joins first baseman Derrek Lee, closer Ugueth Urbina, and right fielder Juan Encarnacion on the list of players the Marlins could not retain due to financial boundaries.

 

"Tough decision and part of the business," General Manager Admin Beinfest said. "It was not certainly because Mark did not do his job. ... When you move a Mark Redman, obviously there are financial implications there. We have to make sure we're within our operating range."

 

Eligible for arbitration, Redman earned $2.15 million last season and is expected to command at least a $1 million raise. He went 14-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 1902/3 innings last season for the Marlins, who acquired him from the Tigers last winter. Beinfest said the Athletics had been inquiring about him since last month's general managers' meetings in Phoenix.

 

"It's tough to deal away 14-game winners, period," said Beinfest, adding the move does not free up money for another acquisition. "We worked hard to get Mark a year ago. There are certainly some things there tugging at you. It happens, but for everybody that's leaving there's an opportunity for someone else."

 

That opportunity will revert to A.J. Burnett, who missed all but a fraction of last season after undergoing ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow. Burnett likely won't be ready until June, leaving the Marlins with a vacancy in a rotation that currently features Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Carl Pavano and Dontrelle Willis.

 

In-house candidates for the fifth starter spot include left-handers Michael Tejera and Tommy Phelps, and right-handers Nate Bump and Justin Wayne.

 

In Neu, the Marlins get a middle reliever with a low-90s fastball and quality changeup and curve. As a member of the Hurricanes, he saved three games in the 1999 College World Series.

 

As for their closer, if the Marlins don't have a deal in place with free agent Armando Benitez by this weekend, they are prepared to start the season with Braden Looper in that role, an industry source said. Benitez is weighing a one-year offer, and has until Saturday to accept it. That's the deadline for teams to offer their arbitration-eligible players contracts.

 

Looper is one of 10 eligible Marlins. A source said the Marlins do not have any deals working with the Red Sox (Scott Williamson) that hinge on the completion of the Alex Rodriguez-Manny Ramirez trade.

 

As of Tuesday, the Marlins had not yet made an offer to free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, but an industry source said the two sides have discussed parameters for a deal.

 

Though the Baltimore Orioles reportedly have a five-year, $65 million offer on the table, Guerrero's camp has not eliminated the Marlins. If the Orioles do not meet his financial expectations, don't rule out Guerrero accepting a one-year, "special money" offer from the Marlins and re-testing the free-agent market in 2005.

 

Sound familiar? That was the same approach Pudge Rodriguez took last offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal after receiving a lukewarm reception in the open market.

 

A similar arrangement would be a calculated risk for Guerrero, who has had back problems and missed 50 games in 2003.

 

Sources said the Marlins have a better shot of landing Guerrero than free-agent catcher Javy Lopez, who no longer is on the team's shopping list.?

sources said the Marlins have a better shot of landing Guerrero than free-agent catcher Javy Lopez, who no longer is on the team's shopping list.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

well this says 2 things to me...one ,the redman deal was not to free up money for another player so 4 get about that money goin to signing a player...two,the one year deal to vlad intrigues me cuz this could possibly happen and then a one year rental of vlad and if he likes it here maybe take a discount for a longer term signing and by then we know if we are gettin a stadium deal..

well this says 2 things to me...one ,the redman deal was not to free up money for another player so 4 get about that money goin to signing a player...two,the one year deal to vlad intrigues me cuz this could possibly happen and then a one year rental of vlad and if he likes it here maybe take a discount for a longer term signing and by then we know if we are gettin a stadium deal..

Your wrong!

 

This from another article from the Sun-Sentinel

 

If the Marlins do make a bid for Guerrero, it would likely include either deferred payments stretched out for many years or a Mike Lowell-style escape clause in case the push for a new stadium falls short. A source close to Guerrero, however, doubted the slugger would accept a short-term guarantee.

 

"He's not going to go for something like that," the friend said. "Why should he? It doesn't make sense."

I didn't see this deal anywhere.