Posted on Tue, Mar. 02, 2004

 

 

MARLINS NOTEBOOK

 

 

Raises for Beckett, Willis, Cabrera

 

By KEVIN BAXTER

 

kbaxter@herald.com

 

 

The Marlins are expected to renew the contracts of pitchers Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis and outfielder Miguel Cabrera this morning after failing to reach agreements with the players' agents for 2004.

 

Because none of the players has three years of major-league experience, the club has the option of renewing their contracts for the coming season at no less than 80 percent of what the players made in 2003. Willis and Cabrera will receive slight raises, according to a source familiar with the negotiations -- Willis to $353,000 and Cabrera to $320,000.

 

It is not known what Beckett was offered. The right-hander made $2.156 million in 2002 and $1.75 million last season, when he was named World Series MVP.

 

HOOKED ON PHONICS

 

In an effort to make Korean-born first baseman Hee Seop Choi comfortable in South Florida, third-base coach Jeff Cox has compiled a list of six Korean phrases and their phonetic pronunciations.

 

Cox practiced with a pair of Korean journalists Monday while, inside the clubhouse, Choi found another way to acclimate himself: He and Cabrera, a Venezuelan, taught each other choice profanities in their native languages.

 

PERISHO, BUMP IMPRESS

 

Bullpen hopeful Matt Perisho struck out the side in one of the two innings he pitched, and right-handed reliever Nate Bump retired six of the seven batters he faced in Florida's first intrasquad game of the spring.

 

Bump's and Perisho's team, managed by Cox, beat a group managed by minor-league manager Tracy Woodson 2-0.

 

Both runs came in the second inning against left-hander Michael Tejera and were unearned.

 

No regulars played.

i want a raise

They were bound to get a raise sooner or later.

Choi found another way to acclimate himself: He and Cabrera, a Venezuelan, taught each other choice profanities in their native languages.

:lol

Beckett, Cabrera, Willis sign on

Marlins renew contracts of final three players on roster

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Marlins renewed the contracts of Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis on Tuesday, completing the signings of all 39 players on their 40-man roster.

Beckett, the World Series MVP, is entering his third season with a 17-17 (3.32) record. The hard-throwing right-hander, who will start the Marlins first Grapefruit League game on Thursday against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale, becomes eligible for arbitration next year.

 

Beckett is emerging as one of the top pitchers in the league and he likely will start the April 6 season opener.

 

Beckett renewed for one-year at $1.509 million. A year ago, he made $1.725 million in the final year of an existing contract.

 

"I get paid to play baseball," Beckett said. "I'm way overpaid for my service time."

 

Willis, the high-kicking left-hander, won Rookie of the Year in 2003 with a 14-6 (3.30 ERA) record.

 

Cabrera, the highly-touted 20-year-old, is one of the rising young players in the league. He takes over in right field after playing mostly left field and third base as a rookie.

In 87 games, Cabrera hit .268 with 12 homers and 62 RBIs.

 

Cabrera and Willis were both called up from Double-A last season, and immediately lifted the team in their World Series run.

Beckett renewed for one-year at $1.509 million. A year ago, he made $1.725 million in the final year of an existing contract.

uh? .... paycut? ... can someone explain

"I get paid to play baseball," Beckett said. "I'm way overpaid for my service time."

thats the spirit boy :notworthy ... although i still dont understand his salary

Beckett renewed for one-year at $1.509 million. A year ago, he made $1.725 million in the final year of an existing contract.

uh? .... paycut? ... can someone explain Well the Marlins can give him whatever they want as long as it is 80% of what he made last year. He said himself that he's overpaid. It is wierd that they would cut his pay though.

I don't see why they would give him a pay cut either. I suppose they are keeping his base salary lower so he will get less in arbitration next year. But still, with the way he finished the season, he is due a raise.

i like his attitude....hes bound to make the big bucks in a year or two

 

maybe we will get a deal on him like lowell and castillo and he can become a long time marlin

 

but the marlins did the wrong thing by lowering his salary...he definitely deserves a raise

Yes, this is a cut from last year, but keep this in perspective-last year, he had the highest salary of any player with less than 2 years experience.

Beckett renewed for one-year at $1.509 million. A year ago, he made $1.725 million in the final year of an existing contract.

uh? .... paycut? ... can someone explain the answer is they're cheap.

 

uh.... world series MVP..... here's a pay cut for you.

 

:blink:

yeah it's still good money, but hard to believe...

his paycut of 200k is really no big deal. if beckett had no problem with it, then there really is none

Beckett was just gonna spend the extra money on Thunderbird and mudflaps, so I don't see a problem.

Beckett was just gonna spend the extra money on Thunderbird and mudflaps, so I don't see a problem.

Actually, I heard he was going to use it to send Mark Prior a replica of what a World Series ring looks like.

 

Just what I heard.

Beckett was just gonna spend the extra money on Thunderbird and mudflaps, so I don't see a problem.

Actually, I heard he was going to use it to send Mark Prior a replica of what a World Series ring looks like.

 

Just what I heard. Oh, you really got me. I surrender, Master Zinger.

Beckett was just gonna spend the extra money on Thunderbird and mudflaps, so I don't see a problem.

Actually, I heard he was going to use it to send Mark Prior a replica of what a World Series ring looks like.

 

Just what I heard. Oh, you really got me. I surrender, Master Zinger. :mischief

200K is not that large of a cut, but then again, nor would it be that large of an increase. I just hope that the FO is not making any bad blood here when it comes time to sign Becks long term. The guy is a legend in the making. And yes, he was getting paid $3M when he was in the minors, so I am sure he really doesnt think ill of this situation. Just ask Berardino....

The fact of the matter is, no matter what stupid-ass Berardino says (can you tell I was fuming this morning when I read the article?), Willis and Cabrera have a half a year of experience, and Beckett has been injury-plagued and has yet to play a FULL season. The Marlins obviously don't want to pay these guys much more than they are until they see if the sophomore slump or injury bug hits them.

The fact of the matter is, no matter what stupid-ass Berardino says (can you tell I was fuming this morning when I read the article?), Willis and Cabrera have a half a year of experience, and Beckett has been injury-plagued and has yet to play a FULL season. The Marlins obviously don't want to pay these guys much more than they are until they see if the sophomore slump or injury bug hits them.

I agree. You certainly can make an argument in favor of the handling of their contracts. Certainly, Berardino is out to start a fire, so you have to highly discount his opinion. It is clear he has a bone to pick with this franchise, but I just wonder how far some good will would have taken the FO in negotiating any future deals with these players.

They made a error on this article.

They made a error on this article.

ok, Ill bite

 

what is it?

The reason he took a pay cut is that he signed a contract out of highschool as the #2 overall draft pick, so he was getting payed royally while he was bouncing around in the minors. However, since he doesn't have 3 full years of ML experience he isn't arbitration eligible so in actuality, the Marlins are overpaying him (for a guy with 2 years experience I believe he is either #1 or #2 as far as salary), but his massive draftee contract is what makes it look as if he took a paycut.

 

And Beradino's article has some valid points, but you don't become a successful businessperson by being a nice guy, you do what the system allows, and when you have to be economically conscious, what we did was expected. It's not as if we made them take a pay-cut (which we could have done considering they have no negotiating leverage)...

This'll be the second year in a row that he'll make less than he did the year before. The thing is, he clearly doesn't think it's a big deal, so I don't see why anyone else should.

thank you Big Hugg