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Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson finally got his big contract Thursday, but it came with a lofty order from the front office for him and the rest of the team:
Now, go out and make the playoffs.
"I don't want to mislead any of our players," team president David Samson said at a news conference to announce Johnson's four-year, $39 million contract, which was agreed upon last week. "We have very high expectations going into this season — it is not unreasonable for our fans to believe that we will make the playoffs."
Samson also said the team has no plans to trade second baseman Dan Uggla, who hit 31 home runs in 2009 when the Marlins finished with 87 wins, missing the playoffs by five games.
Uggla, who had been the subject of trade talks at the winter meetings, reached agreement on a $7.8 million contract Monday.
"I did not go to bed one night this past off-season thinking Dan Uggla was not going to be a Marlin," Samson said. "We're bringing back an 87-win team. We want this team back because we were so close."
Several of the key Marlins, including shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Uggla, Johnson and starter Ricky Nolasco will be starting their fifth season together.
"Sprinkle in a few people coming in to compete for first base, piece together the bullpen and all of a sudden you're one of eight (playoff teams), and that's exactly where we plan to be," Samson said.
"We thought we were going to be there last year. We fell short but this year we would not expect to fall short."
Samson would not discuss whether the club's recent spate of signings was related to the Marlins' recent agreement with Major League Baseball and the players' union to use revenue-sharing money to boost the payroll, which last season with the lowest of the 30 teams. The payroll is projected to rise from $36.8 last season to about $45 million.
The Marlins held the news conference at the site of the team's new ballpark, which is set to open in 2012.
"We wanted to do everything we could to build on last year as were heading in to the new ballpark, to get momentum," Samson said. "We want to win in 2012, but we'd like to have that coming off of two championship seasons in '10 and '11."
Johnson said the Marlins can meet the challenge.
"I think we're closer than people think," he said. "If we can get that starting pitching to come through and get deep into games, that's the main thing."
Johnson, 25, was 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA last year, his first full season after reconstructive elbow surgery. His contract was held up at one point because Samson wanted to sign Johnson for three years instead of four.
Then Samson got a phone call from owner Jeffrey Loria.
"He said, 'David, I appreciate your advice and I don't accept it,' " Samson recalled. "Josh is going to be on this team for well over a decade. We'd like him to go into the Hall of Fame as a Marlin."
Samson then turned to Johnson on Thursday and asked, "Is that too much pressure?"
Johnson then put on a hardhat and walked to the spot where the pitcher's mound will be situated in the new ballpark. While construction crews worked, Johnson threw a strike to his agent, Matt Sosnick, who stood at the site of home plate.
Part of the Marlins' optimism is based on the belief that starters Chris Volstad and Anibal Sanchez will bounce back from disappointing seasons. And the Marlins are trying to find a veteran reliever or two to replace right-handers Kiko Calero and Brendan Donnelly, who pitched well last season but left as free agents.
Youngsters Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez will compete at first base, but most of the starting lineup will return, including third baseman Jorge Cantu.
The Marlins also need to replace left-handed pinch-hitter Ross Gload, who signed a free-agent deal with Philadelphia.
Samson said the team has seen a "significant increase" and interest in season tickets and group-ticket sales this week with news that Johnson, Uggla and Cantu had reached contract agreements.
"It was never a doubt in our office that they were going to be signed and on the team, but people were concerned and thought they wouldn't be," Samson said.
Now, go out and make the playoffs.
"I don't want to mislead any of our players," team president David Samson said at a news conference to announce Johnson's four-year, $39 million contract, which was agreed upon last week. "We have very high expectations going into this season — it is not unreasonable for our fans to believe that we will make the playoffs."
Samson also said the team has no plans to trade second baseman Dan Uggla, who hit 31 home runs in 2009 when the Marlins finished with 87 wins, missing the playoffs by five games.
Uggla, who had been the subject of trade talks at the winter meetings, reached agreement on a $7.8 million contract Monday.
"I did not go to bed one night this past off-season thinking Dan Uggla was not going to be a Marlin," Samson said. "We're bringing back an 87-win team. We want this team back because we were so close."
Several of the key Marlins, including shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Uggla, Johnson and starter Ricky Nolasco will be starting their fifth season together.
"Sprinkle in a few people coming in to compete for first base, piece together the bullpen and all of a sudden you're one of eight (playoff teams), and that's exactly where we plan to be," Samson said.
"We thought we were going to be there last year. We fell short but this year we would not expect to fall short."
Samson would not discuss whether the club's recent spate of signings was related to the Marlins' recent agreement with Major League Baseball and the players' union to use revenue-sharing money to boost the payroll, which last season with the lowest of the 30 teams. The payroll is projected to rise from $36.8 last season to about $45 million.
The Marlins held the news conference at the site of the team's new ballpark, which is set to open in 2012.
"We wanted to do everything we could to build on last year as were heading in to the new ballpark, to get momentum," Samson said. "We want to win in 2012, but we'd like to have that coming off of two championship seasons in '10 and '11."
Johnson said the Marlins can meet the challenge.
"I think we're closer than people think," he said. "If we can get that starting pitching to come through and get deep into games, that's the main thing."
Johnson, 25, was 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA last year, his first full season after reconstructive elbow surgery. His contract was held up at one point because Samson wanted to sign Johnson for three years instead of four.
Then Samson got a phone call from owner Jeffrey Loria.
"He said, 'David, I appreciate your advice and I don't accept it,' " Samson recalled. "Josh is going to be on this team for well over a decade. We'd like him to go into the Hall of Fame as a Marlin."
Samson then turned to Johnson on Thursday and asked, "Is that too much pressure?"
Johnson then put on a hardhat and walked to the spot where the pitcher's mound will be situated in the new ballpark. While construction crews worked, Johnson threw a strike to his agent, Matt Sosnick, who stood at the site of home plate.
Part of the Marlins' optimism is based on the belief that starters Chris Volstad and Anibal Sanchez will bounce back from disappointing seasons. And the Marlins are trying to find a veteran reliever or two to replace right-handers Kiko Calero and Brendan Donnelly, who pitched well last season but left as free agents.
Youngsters Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez will compete at first base, but most of the starting lineup will return, including third baseman Jorge Cantu.
The Marlins also need to replace left-handed pinch-hitter Ross Gload, who signed a free-agent deal with Philadelphia.
Samson said the team has seen a "significant increase" and interest in season tickets and group-ticket sales this week with news that Johnson, Uggla and Cantu had reached contract agreements.
"It was never a doubt in our office that they were going to be signed and on the team, but people were concerned and thought they wouldn't be," Samson said.
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