Insert Pithy Matt Lindstrom Trade Talks Title Here

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Via Twitter:

JoeFrisaro: #Marlins Rays remain the team I keep hearing for Lindstrom.

[Swifty]

He's their kind of guy. High velocity, left for dead, pitchers. I suspect he's good enough for AA filler and he'll be a reliable 7th inning guy for them. They just have a way with it. Esteban Yan, Troy Percival, Edwin Jackson (who they rehabilitated then gave up on).

Maybe there's something in the batter's eye in Tampa, but if you're a hard throwing righty, you've got a good shot at getting on track with them.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

The Marlins front office doesn't arrive in Indianapolis until Monday, but one of their players was generating some Winter Meetings buzz Sunday.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported earlier tonight that right-hander Matt Lindstrom's tenure with the Marlins could end this week. A source confirmed the Marlins are considering offers not only for Lindstrom, but for fellow first-time arbitration-eligible left-hander Renyel Pinto.

While Lindstrom and Pinto can be had, the Marlins are telling teams starter Ricky Nolasco, who also has drawn interest, is not available. Can't fault teams for calling, considering Nolasco is arbitration eligible for a second time and due a healthy raise from the $2.4 million he earned in 2009.

Meanwhile, don't be surprised if Dan Uggla is still a Marlin come Thursday, when the Winter Meetings adjourn. According to a National League source who's monitoring the Uggla situation, the Marlins are in the "early stages" of discussions involving the two-time All-Star second baseman.

Lindstrom probably wouldn't mind a change of address, considering Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest last week was clear in that come spring training the closer's job was Leo Nunez's to lose and Lindstrom's to win back.

Said Beinfest: "We threw them both in the fire...We think both can do it. We were happy with some of the adjustments Leo started to make late in the season. There were some early count home runs he gave up with his fastball and he started to make some adjustments to mix in a cutter and use the changeup a little bit earlier in the count.



"As far as Matt goes, he just needs to be healthy and confident because his arm speaks for itself. There’s no doubt we believe both of them could do it."


Moving Lindstrom would leave the Marlins without a seasoned power between the starters and Nunez. Their hardest throwing right-handed reliever would be Tim Wood. Pinto's departure would leave Dan Meyer, newly acquired Hunter Jones, and Taylor Tankersley, who missed all of 2009, as the lone left-handed relievers on the 40-man roster.

Lindstrom, Pinto available, but not Nolasco

[LocoMarlinFan]

* The Rays have some interest in reliever Matt Lindstrom, who is likely to be traded by the Marlins, and is coming off an elbow injury, but as of late Sunday night were not close to doing anything.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/...=Google+Reader

[LocoMarlinFan]

INDIANAPOLIS -- As a free agent for the first time in five years, slugger Carlos Delgado can be certain of one thing: The Marlins won't come knocking with another deal for big bucks.

Those days are over for the frugal Marlins, who haven't signed a high-end free agent since Delgado in January 2005 and likely will stick to their tightfisted fiscal strategy when the annual baseball winter meetings open here Monday.

``Conversations with free agents have been very limited at this point,'' said Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations. ``I'm not sure that [diving into the free-agent market] would be a huge priority for us.''

That doesn't mean the Marlins will sit idle in Indy, where they are expected to step up their efforts to trade second baseman Dan Uggla, as well as one or two others up for substantial raises through salary arbitration.

It's just that the top free agents, from Matt Holliday to Jason Bay, won't have their names mentioned in rumors involving the Marlins, who plan to hold payroll in the $35 million to $40 million range in 2010.

LOW-PROFILE TYPES

If the Marlins go after any free agents, they'll likely be for the less-expensive, low-profile types similar to those they have signed the past several years, supporting-cast players such as reserve outfielder Luis Gonzalez in 2008, reserve infielder Aaron Boone in 2007 and veteran starters Brian Moehler ('07) and Mark Hendrickson ('08).

The most the Marlins have spent on any free agent since the Delgado signing was the $2 million they gave to Gonzalez for one season.

Otherwise, the Marlins will stick with their recent strategy of dealing arbitration-eligible players due big raises for more affordable prospects.

Uggla is the big-ticket item the Marlins have been dangling, and a number of teams are said to be interested in the power-hitting infielder. The Marlins reportedly have asked the Giants for their top pitching prospect, left-hander Madison Bumgarner, in any deal for Uggla.

But the Giants, searching for offensive firepower, might consider Bumgarner -- a former first-round draft pick -- too high of a price for Uggla despite their wealth of pitching at the major-league level.

A pair of relievers, southpaw Renyel Pinto and right-hander Matt Lindstrom, are among the 11 arbitration-eligible players on the Marlins who could get traded as the club tinkers with its roster.

One area that will likely be left untouched is the Marlins' starting staff.

ROTATION PLAN

Beinfest envisions a rotation headed by Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, and the other three spots will be filled in from a group of six candidates: Chris Volstad, Rick VandenHurk, Anibal Sanchez, Andrew Miller, Sean West and Hayden Penn.

``I would say the guys that are locks right now are Johnson and Nolasco, and after that guys are going to have to come in and compete,'' Beinfest said. ``You're looking at a group where everybody is [under] 27 years old, and that's a pretty good situation to be in.''

Even if they don't trade Pinto or Lindstrom, the Marlins will be on the lookout for relief help during the winter meetings.

That's because two members of the bullpen, Kiko Calero and Brendan Donnelly, both became free agents and are headed for richer waters.

The Marlins likely will look internally for departing free agent Nick Johnson's replacement at first base. Beinfest said the early front-runners for the job are Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison.

``We'll definitely be active,'' Beinfest said of the meetings.

``There's no reason to go there and not do anything. Whether that leads to anything is anyone's guess.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/ba...y/1369155.html

Bumgarner for Uggla has no chance of happening but the Giants have a pretty good farm system and both parties should find a middle ground. Something like....


Thomas Neal (B)
Dan Runzler (B-) - ML ready set-up man
Aaron King (C+/C) - Giants lefty version of Brad Hand

for

Dan Uggla
Renyel Pinto

[tjfla]

Few things from my buddy NO LINKS as this is from him


Texas is the frontrunner for Lindstrom-Talking about Beau Jones and another arm for him

Tampa likes Lindstrom but may go instead for George Sherill or Matt Capps(worried about Lindstrom health)

Supposedly the Texas deal is close but the Marlins are trying to deal Pinto and Uggla as well,so they are trying to work on packages

San Francisco is HOT after Uggla still but will not discuss Bumgarner


White Sox are after Pinto

Also Amezaga has been getting interest however teams are wary still about his knee

Forgot the team that asked about Ricky was the LA Dodgers

[emkayseven]

I hear Texas over and over again for Lindstrom. Beau Jones does seem to be our kind of guy, that former high draft pick who's had some inconsistencies but we think can be a decent 7th or 8th inning guy.

I hate those guys.

[Swifty]

"He's our guy"

[tjfla]

Lindstrom news

Texas was thought to be the leaders and supposedly had a deal done last night however ALOT of teams are now looking at Lindstrom. Teams see him as a cheap option at closer compared to others who are available,Tampa still has concerns about his elbow

Pinto news

Same as Lindstrom,alot of teams want him. Chicago White Sox were early faves however like Matt they see him as a cheap LOOGY who still young.


In other words gonna be a long night for Mike Hill-he will be answering phones and calling Beinfest(who will be making deals) and Loria(Make sure we arent spend above $400,000 on guys we get back) to get approvals.

[Ramp]

there's something like 10 teams interested in Lindstrom

[tjfla]

Ya every guy available besides Uggla has alot of teams interested

Lindstrom-10 or so
Pinto-5 to 8
Amezaga-3-5
Uggla-Giants(Hear they have a meeting tonight or early morning with us)

Even guys not available are wanted

Ricky Nolasco-LA Dodgers

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Here's something new to discuss...

Another arbitration-eligible Marlin who could possibly be dealt is Anibal Sanchez. The right-hander, who threw a no-hitter as a rookie in 2006, has dealt with shoulder issues since. He is lined up to make about $3 million in his first year of arbitration.

Now, the Marlins aren't actively looking to part with Sanchez. But if a team makes an attractive offer, Florida would listen.

In return, the Marlins are seeking bullpen help.

Marlins Ready to Shop

[Ramp]

love it... some reports say we have too much depth in the bullpen, others say we're actively looking for bullpen help

morans

(this spelling is on purpose)

[nny]

3 mil?

lol

I swear Lou needs to have some job where all he does is tell the media how much players are actually going to make in arbitration.

Let's see

JJ: 53 G/43 GS, 272.3 IP, 19 Wins, 3.54 ERA.
Season before arb: 14 GS, 87.1 IP, 7 wins, 3.61 ERA

Anibal: 50 G/49 GS, 282 IP, 18 wins, 3.86 ERA
Season before arb: 16 GS, 86 IP, 4 wins, 3.87 ERA

But he's going to more than double what JJ made?

Yeah, that makes sense.

[lou]

3 mil?

lol

I swear Lou needs to have some job where all he does is tell the media how much players are actually going to make in arbitration.

Let's see

JJ: 53 G/43 GS, 272.3 IP, 19 Wins, 3.54 ERA.
Season before arb: 14 GS, 87.1 IP, 7 wins, 3.61 ERA

Anibal: 50 G/49 GS, 282 IP, 18 wins, 3.86 ERA
Season before arb: 16 GS, 86 IP, 4 wins, 3.87 ERA

But he's going to more than double what JJ made?

Yeah, that makes sense.

Yea, $3 million is very, very wrong for Anibal. I may overshoot shit like Cantu gets $5.5 instead of $6 or JJ's service time drags him to mid $4s and not mid $5s because who the hell knows what is the top valued thing service time or performance, but Anibal getting that much is a joke. That's going to be almost 65% of the contract value off.