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WEFFPIM wrote:I don't know where they're getting this money, but I would not mind in the least to see Albert head to Miami.
That would mean Gaby Sanchez is available.
DrugBust wrote:People are starting to believe K-Rod is gonna accept arby because the closer spots are being taken.
When asked if the Marlins could still afford Pujols after signing Reyes and Bell, the source said, "Yes." So that means, the source was asked, the Marlins are prepared to spend $100 million or more? "If that's what it takes to get Pujols, yes," was the reply.
Is there any doubt the Marlins are the weirdest and least predictable franchise in baseball? It seemed like five minutes ago the players association was putting them on double secret probation for pocketing too much of their revenue-sharing largesse rather than spending it to improve the team. Leaked documents showed when they put their hand out for public money to build a stadium, they actually were turning a profit. Now the SEC has questions about how the very item that is allowing the Marlins to become a big spender -- this new ballpark -- was funded.
So on the day when the Marlins officially introduced Bell, owner Jeffrey Loria had to answer questions about an SEC investigation, saying, "We will work with the SEC in every way possible. We're there to be helpful."
For the moment, the Marlins deserve credit for leveraging a singular window in franchise history: the excitement of their first baseball-only ballpark. If they can't sell tickets now they never will. And the excitement is real. When I asked Loria what the club projected for its 2012 attendance, he replied, "I think we'll be between two and a half and three million -- 2.8 million."
A gate of 2.8 million people would be double what the Marlins drew last year and represent about $56 million in added gate revenue -- roughly what would pay for Reyes, Bell and Pujols and turn the Marlins into the baseball version of the South Beach Heat. The Marlins did draw 3 million people once -- in their inaugural season of 1993. They promptly lost 1.1 million paying customers the next season and have drawn two million fans only once since -- the 2.3 million that showed for the world championship 1997 season.
The short honeymoon of 1993, the notoriously fickle nature of Florida fans of pro sports and the ominous SEC investigation make for a cautionary element to all this newfound excitement about the Miami Marlins. The Marlins, for instance, don't give out no-trade clauses because, well, the castles have always been made of sand in Miami. The next tear-down always seems just around the corner. The club never has spent more than $60 million. Will the Marlins be drawing 2.8 million people in 2013, let alone six years from now? Is this excitement and revenue sustainable?
Maybe Miami can be another Milwaukee. (Boy, that's the first time that sentence ever has been written.) The Brewers drew more than two million fans only once -- and never more than 2.3 million -- before opening Miller Park. But with their shiny retractable roof ballpark, they have exceeded three million fans in three of the past four years. (This disclaimer must be added: the Brewers put a bad team into the new ballpark and took a big attendance hit after the first-year honeymoon.)
So who knows? Maybe all this spending and excitement is the down payment toward turning Miami into a real baseball town. At least the Marlins are trying and leveraging the moment.
It does, however, make for very strange days in this game. It is possible that the Marlins could spend more on 2012 payroll than the Los Angeles Dodgers (about $89 million) or New York Mets ($100 million) and own the free agent winter while the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and White Sox become wallflowers.
Whether the Brewers would meet Ramirez's contract demands remain to be seen. It probably would take $40-45 million over three years to sign him.
Ramirez, 33, batted .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI in 149 games for the Cubs last year. He refused to accept a trade to a West Coast team, saying he had his family set up in Chicago and he didn't want to leave there. But he won't be back with the Cubs next season, so the Brewers might look pretty good to him being just up the road from Chicago.
"That's in their favor," said Kinzer.
Here's what I think is going on with the Brewers. I think they are trying to sign free-agent shortstop Jimmy Rollins, and if they do so, they wouldn't also be able to afford Ramirez. They would give Casey McGehee a chance to re-establish himself at third base, with prospect Taylor Green as a backup.
But, if Rollins chooses to return to Philadelphia, the Brewers could go with a lesser shortstop -- and less expensive -- such as Yuniesky Betancourt, and spend their money at third base on Ramirez. In essence, they would be hedging their bets at both positions.
Kinzer said he hadn't received an offer yet from the Brewers on Ramirez, and he also has been trying to pitch free agent Rafael Furcal, another client, at shortstop. But he said, "The phone call could come at any time."
GrendonJennings wrote:Well, you may be right about smoke and mirrors, but there will be a GM dumb enough to sign him based on number of saves if there is a closer spot open. Problem is, there might not be.
stellation wrote:What's the difference between Gery Woelful and this glass of mineral water? The mineral water actually has a source."
I Hate Manure wrote:We look to be awful next season without Beasley.
Heyman wrote:Guess what? I'm told marlins still trying for wilson even after landing buehrle (and reyes and bell). Talking to prince too
DrugBust wrote:Buerhle to the Marlins, 4 years, $58M.
What in the hell is going on down there?