They always take the money. Period. That's why the Andy Pettitte story was front-page news...that never, ever happens. They always take the money.

CJ took less money here. Luiy and Mikey took less money to stay. Other players have taken pay cuts to play for certain teams. Why wouldn't it happen again? Yeah, i guess....but Luis and Lowell were re-signing with the team, not moving from another team here. Vlad has no real ties here, other than the fact that there is a strong Hispanic community. But it's not like his mom's here, or he has a house here.

 

i do agree that if the numbers were close - within 1-2 mill per year after taxes - the Miami factor would probably play a part in the discussion. But even then, the one constant in all of the Marlins' negotiations has been the unwillingness of the Fish to dedicate serious money beyond 2005, out of fear that we won't have a stadium. Only Luis is locked in that far down the road, and he's only making 5-6 million per year. In other words, any deal we make with Vlad will likely either be short-term, or it will have a Lowell-esque "out clause". So we'd realistically be asking Vlad to turn down both more money, and more security, just to play in a town he's never lived in before....i dunno.

 

hey....i've never spoken to the guy (just like most of his former teammates ), so I can't say how much\little Vlady really wants to play here. I hope he wants to play here more than anything....I hope he's telling his agent right now "let's see if we can work something out with the Marlins." I just don't know if it's really gonna make that much difference, though.

Well, I think the reluctancy to pay any money past 2005 was that they weren't sure what was going on before then financially. But now we have some freed income for this upcoming year, giving us some more space to not have to backload the deal. And I still hold by my belief that if we land Vlad, we will land the stadium. I'm sure that is one of the debates that is raging in the FO as they figure out what to do, but right now signs point to Yes on the stadium if the Miami crowd can see a continued winning club and some effort by the team. We are going to have #1, Vlad would be #2. And the city would just need someone else to associate after Pudge left. Yes, I know he left on his own. Yes, I know we have Mikey and Jeff, amongst others. But you guys were there during the playoffs. No one got ovations like Pudge. No one. During the regular season the same held true, even if he was in a slump. Everyone would get pumped when HHH's music blasted on the titatron. Vlad would give them the same kind of association, and maybe even more so after the victory at The Show last season.

Well, I think the reluctancy to pay any money past 2005 was that they weren't sure what was going on before then financially. But now we have some freed income for this upcoming year, giving us some more space to not have to backload the deal. And I still hold by my belief that if we land Vlad, we will land the stadium. I'm sure that is one of the debates that is raging in the FO as they figure out what to do, but right now signs point to Yes on the stadium if the Miami crowd can see a continued winning club and some effort by the team. We are going to have #1, Vlad would be #2. And the city would just need someone else to associate after Pudge left. Yes, I know he left on his own. Yes, I know we have Mikey and Jeff, amongst others. But you guys were there during the playoffs. No one got ovations like Pudge. No one. During the regular season the same held true, even if he was in a slump. Everyone would get pumped when HHH's music blasted on the titatron. Vlad would give them the same kind of association, and maybe even more so after the victory at The Show last season.

 

I agree with you 100%. I think that the Marlins recognize that when people see Pudge, and Lee, and Redman, and Encarnacion all leave, their first thought is "1998". Signing Vlad would be a gigantic step towards remedying this issue. It would show the people of Miami "if you'll give a little, we will give a lot back, and we're even willing to take the first step - here's the best player in baseball, and he's yours for a long time, if you'll help us get a stadium."

 

I do not think this is lost on the Front Office. In fact, i would wager that all efforts to get Vlad are entirely based on this notion....with one signing, we would prove to Marlins fans and the world that this team is not the 1997\98 team.

 

That being said, I think the Marlins will have to come very hard to get him. He's not just gonna come over here b/c he feels like doing us a favor and helping us to get a new stadium. And I wonder if the Marlins can give him what he wants. It would have to be a VERY creative contract...much more creative than Lowell, b/c unlike Mikey, i suspect Vlad fears the notion of needing to re-sign a new deal in two years.

I feel confidently enough in the fact that the voters would approve a stadium if Vlad comes that I would give him the years guaranteed, or if there is an option involved it is not based on the stadium. Because, quite frankly, if you give the city two World Series titles in a decade and follow it up with the most talented hitter in baseball and they don't give you a stadium, you should just move already.

Of what I've read recently more articles are saying the Marlins' offer to Benitez was two million, not the three that was reported early.

Here's what I think happened:

 

Marlins offer Benitez the one year, two milllion dollar deal.

Foulke signs a seven million per year contract with the Red Sox, thus setting the market for closers.

Marlins call Benitez's agent what they think about the offer. They say they are looking for a multiyear deal at 3.5 per year.

The Marlins back off.