Sun-Sentinel

 

Joining Looper in free agency are right-hander Toby Borland and left-hander Armando Almanza, both of whom were arbitration-eligible and not tendered deals.

 

The Marlins did tender arbitration-eligible right-handers Brad Penny and Carl Pavano, and re-signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a two-year deal worth $6.2 million.

 

According to industry sources, Looper left a one-year, $3 million offer on the table. He was looking for $4 million, about what he could expect to command through arbitration as a player with more than five years of big-league service time. Looper began the season as the Marlins' closer and logged 28 saves before losing his job to Ugueth Urbina in September.

 

"From what I understand [General Manager Admin] Beinfest still says he wants to [talk]," said Looper, who earned $2.4 million in 2003 and is free to negotiate with all teams, including the Marlins. "It's hard for me to give a true reaction. Obviously, I'm disappointed. I'm a free agent now. I'll look at everything and see what happens.

 

"They didn't want to pay me what I should be paid. It never got too serious because we were pretty far apart. ... It's definitely not fun because you felt like you were a big part of what happened last year and you want to be part of the team. That's the way the game is."

 

The Marlins also came to terms with right-hander A.J. Burnett, who agreed to a one-year deal for $2.5 million, his salary of a year ago, sources said. Burnett underwent ligament replacement surgery in April and missed the remainder of the season.

 

Per club policy, the contract did not include any incentives. The Marlins make it a point not to work in bonus clauses when re-signing arbitration-eligible players.

 

Earlier this week, Beinfest said Burnett returning to the rotation was among the reasons he dealt left-hander Mark Redman to the Athletics. June 1 is Burnett's target date, but don't be surprised to see him on the mound sooner. A recent follow-up visit with Dr. James Andrews left the orthopedic surgeon astonished at the strength of the ligament.

 

Redman also became a free agent when the Athletics non-tendered him a contract. The Marlins will receive a modest cash consideration to complete the trade that brought reliever Mike Neu. The Marlins would have received a player if Redman agreed to terms.

 

Industry sources said the Marlins might attempt to bring Redman back.

This is a sad/bad thing how?

 

Alex Gonzalez is possibly the best defensive shortstop in the game mind you.

 

Mark Redman coming back would be great, and Toby Borland is probably going to be resigned by us.

This is a sad/bad thing how?

 

Alex Gonzalez is possibly the best defensive shortstop in the game mind you.

 

Mark Redman coming back would be great, and Toby Borland is probably going to be resigned by us.

:mischief2 Maybe I didnt get your point point but how is it bad that Gonzalez is one of the best defensive players at ss?

Don't get your hopes up on Redman....alot of teams are interested in him and will pay. Texas, San Diego, and Atlanta will make a serious run at him. Unless he want to stay a Marlin for 2.5 a year for one or two year, I don't see him coming back in teal. If I were to make prediction on where he lands, I'd say he is a Padre by the end of the week.

Mark Redman coming back would be great, and Toby Borland is probably going to be resigned by us.

we non-tendered the tobmeister... i dont think he's comin back

1 year deal to AJ?WTF!!@!!

 

They should at least sign him to a 2 year deal since he will be at a bargain price.

Yes! AJ Got Re-signed! We are going to have a very good rotation come April/May.

 

That was a good move to sign Alex Gonzalez again. I still think he ca improve in hitting. If he works on hitting, he can be one of the best SS in the NL.

 

Im very happy Borland and Almanza got released. I had been hoping for that. Im tired of Almanza already, blowing games. Borland hasnt gotten a chance to prove anything but he is old already.

re: Redman - here's what i predict. i think that he will not be on the top of the priority list for the Marlins, so therefore, it's likely that another team that wants him more could likely swoop in. However, Beinfest is in a different situation now than he was when we traded him a week ago. he knows more precisely how much he has to spend on everyone else next year, and how much he really has leftover. If Penny and Pavano can works out deals, or if Redman is still available after their arbitration is settled, I think that's when we could move in on Red. He would be a consideration only after we know where we stand with everyone else.

 

i hope, though, if Admin takes into consideration just how friggin' cool he'd look if he got Red back. They'd have to write "Moneyball 2: The Beinfest Diaries" if he could work this one out.

1 year deal to AJ?WTF!!@!!

 

They should at least sign him to a 2 year deal since he will be at a bargain price.

Very risky. The guy is coming off Tommy John surgery.

well it wouldnt be smart for AJ to take a 2 year deal knowing his value may be its lowest. the one season deal is good for both sides considering that this is his tune up year aiming for 05 to be his step up season.

1 year deal to AJ?WTF!!@!!

 

They should at least sign him to a 2 year deal since he will be at a bargain price.

Very risky. The guy is coming off Tommy John surgery. also, the odds of him putting up the kind of numbers in 2004 that would make him unsignable are very slim. He's going to miss 2 months of the year in the best case, but most likely more. So he'll have about 15-20 starts in the regular season. Even if he does really well in all of those starts, he won't be in a position to demand a max deal in 2005.

What the couldve done is put a club option in the contract, if hes the same old aj, pick up the option if not no problem.