Cleared FA picture for Marlins
Monday's arbitration deadline helped clear up some things for the Marlins, mainly on who they will strongly pursue and at what price. As expected, Florida didn't offer arbitration to Luis Gonzalez, Arthur Rhodes and Paul Lo Duca. All three were Type B free agents.
The decisions of some other clubs will factor into Florida's thinking. For one, the Mariners offering Type A free agent Raul Ibanez arbitration pretty much makes it unlikely the Marlins will be seeking his services. The reason? Along with the cost to sign him would mean parting with their first-round pick in '09.
However, the Yankees didn't offer arbitration to Ivan Rodriguez, a Type B free agent. The Marlins are definitely seeking an experienced catcher, and Pudge just may be their top free agent priority, if they can work out a deal. With Florida's young pitching staff, they want a veteran behind the plate. That doesn't mean John Baker, the incumbent, won't still get plenty of work. Even if the Marlins sign Pudge, the days of the veteran catching 130-plus games are behind him.
Pitcher Carl Pavano is another free agent who could be in the mix to add experience to the rotation.
-- Joe Frisaro
maybe all Carl Pavano needs is a trip back "home"...or maybe his 20-win season was just a fluke. the guy did have good stuff at one point in his career.
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Florida is going to have a young rotation next year, I'll bet injuries will be a factor, that's why signing Pavano makes sense. Pavano doesn't need to win 20 games for us next year, If he gives us 10 starts it will be good. Also he is a veteran that can teach the young pitchers. If we also get Pudge, then we'll have a defensive catcher late in the games, and a veteran in the bench. This makes sense. About Hermida being traded, then who is going to play right field?
Winter meetings will be interesting and specially next spring training. Who is going to play third, first and right field, lineup?
The only trade that hasn't made sense so far was the Olsen, Willingham trade. Bonifacio will end up in the bench.
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First off Carl Pavano has never won 20 games in his life he's only once in his career won more games than he's lost in one season, and if you worry about injuries and Pavano is your back-up plan wake up out of your 4 year coma because he's spent more time on the DL in the past four years than Cortney Love in rehab. Pudge doesnt make sense to me just for how much he's going to cost to play on the bench I doubt he'll sign for less than 3-4 million a year. No matter what he does as a veteran behind the plate, thats what our coaching staff is for!!! If we werent so hard up for money it would make sense to go after pudge. But we dont have the luxury of mis-managing a few million dollars on a washed up catcher. He's not worth the sacrifice. Let Baker do most the catching and Treanor can do as well as Pudge, for 3 million dollars less. How about giving Dallas Mcphearson a shot and let Bonifacio earn a spot off the bench, I believe thats your best bet.
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ahh,who cares ?
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