When it comes to the haul of young players the Marlins are stockpiling, there’s no shortage of promise. All of a sudden, after dumping in the neighbourhood of $200 million and alienating much of their fan base by trading one veteran after another, they have prospects out the door.
Whether any pan out is the great unknown.
“You may not know them,” Marlins president David Samson said in defending the team’s megatrade with Toronto in a radio interview. “But baseball people do.”
Marlins management blew up its $95 million roster after a 93-loss season and the team’s second last-place finish in a row.
Fans are irate.
Remaining players, such as slugger Giancarlo Stanton, are openly angry.
Even Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado jumped into the fray, writing a letter to Bud Selig in which he implored the Major League Baseball commissioner to reject the trade on behalf of “the residents, taxpayers and fans who are frustrated by the actions of the owner (Jeffrey Loria).”
On Monday, however, the trade was approved. The Marlins are sending Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck — and, more significantly, $160 million in future contract obligations — to the Blue Jays.
In return, the Marlins received a whole lot of question marks.
Although shortstop Yunel Escobar and backup catcher Jeff Mathis have established track records in the majors, the other five players the Marlins are receiving from Toronto are either light on big-league experience or have none at all. The Marlins plan to shift to Escobar to third base — that is if they don’t trade him and start Adeiny Hechavarria, who also was obtained in the trade, at shortstop.
Independent talent evaluators seem to think the Marlins did OK.
“My position is I like this deal for both sides,” said ESPN baseball analyst Jim Bowden, a former general manager for the Reds and Nationals.
A scout who has studied the Toronto farm system for several years said he thinks the Marlins made out well on the trade, but how well depends on the development of the prospects.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... -with-jays
