Marlins Announce Deals with Nunez, Mujica, Sanchez, and Hensley

[Swifty]

MIAMI -- For most of the offseason, the Marlins have worked on patching up their bullpen.

On Monday night, two important pieces of their 'pen were locked up for the 2011 season.

The team announced that it has reached agreement on one-year contracts with closer Leo Nunez and right-handed setup reliever Edward Mujica.

Both pitchers now avoid arbitration.

According to a source, Nunez will earn $3.65 million, plus performance incentives for the 2011 season. Last year, the right-hander earned $2 million.

Mujica, acquired from the Padres as part of the Cameron Maybin trade, will make $800,000, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Nunez converted 30 of 38 save chances last year, and while he struggled in the second half of 2010, he will enter Spring Training as the front-runner to close. In two seasons with Florida, he has 56 saves, which ranks fourth all-time in team history.

The 27-year-old broke in with the Royals in 2005, and he was acquired by the Marlins after the 2008 season for first baseman Mike Jacobs.

Nunez has been one of Florida's most durable and dependable relievers the past two seasons, logging 133 2/3 innings over that span. He appeared in 68 games last year and 75 in 2009.

Mujica was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The right-hander made his big league debut in 2006 with the Indians. He was with the Padres the past two years, and the right-hander struck out 72 while walking six in 69 2/3 innings last year.

The Marlins still have two arbitration-eligible pitchers who have yet to come to terms -- Anibal Sanchez and Clay Hensley.

If the two aren't signed by noon ET on Tuesday, per club policy, their salaries will be determined by a panel of arbitrators. Tuesday at noon is when arbitration salary figures are exchanged.

Even though both sides could continue negotiating up until the hearing day, the Marlins have a policy of breaking off talks once salary figures are exchanged.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_fla&c_id=fla

[Miamarlin21]

Didn't a lot of people think Leo would make 4 or 5?

[lou]

Unresearched roundballs pegged Nunez at around $4 and Mujica around $1, so yes? Also important to overestimate as it's better being wrong in the other direction.

Both are good 1 year signings for the money, although you have to question why we are spending $3.6 on 65 innings of Nunez instead of Badenhop/Marinez/etc, and not 500 PA at 3B or CF. But I guess that is what the trade deadline is for.

[emkayseven]

just signed Hensley and Anibal as well
--------------------
still no idea on Sanchez's terms. This has gotta be more than Hensley's projection, right Lou?

The remaing two unsigned Marlins eligible for arbitration are now under contract.

Clay Hensley and Anibal Sanchez each avoided arbitration on Tuesday by reaching agreements on one-year contracts.

Hensley's deal, according to a source, is worth $1.4 million. The right-hander can collect another $50,000 in incentives for 35 games finished.

A non-roster invite in 2010, Hensley became the team's most versatile pitcher in 2010. He opened the season pitching in long relief before he become the primary eighth inning setup reliever. In September, he became the closer, and logged seven saves.

Hensley was 3-4 with a 2.16 ERA. In 75 innings, he struck out 77 while walking 29.

Sanchez, who turns 27 on Feb. 27, was 13-12 with a 3.55 ERA last year. The right-hander paced the team in starts (32) and innings pitched (195).

Now, Sanchez will be looking to build on his solid 2010. He was especially strong after the All-Star Break, posting a 3.44 ERA in 91 2/3 innings.

Sanchez made $1.25 million in 2010, his first year eligible for arbitration.

The Marlins have club control over Sanchez through 2012, the franchise's first year in their new ballpark. The right-hander will be eligible for free agency in 2013, if he isn't signed to a multiyear contract.

Hensley, meanwhile, earned $425,000 in '10, and this is his first arbitration year.

When Spring Training opens on Feb. 18, Hensley projects to return to a setup role. However, he is a fallback option to close.

http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/archiv..._to_terms.html

[Swifty]

Hensley's agent is a smart one. The heck with performance bonuses on the chance he becomes the closer, give me the guaranteed money.

[Erick]

I could be wrong, but I'm sure Lou had Hensley at around that much. He had Hensley making at least a million, if I remember correctly.

[Big Z]

Unresearched roundballs pegged Nunez at around $4 and Mujica around $1, so yes? Also important to overestimate as it's better being wrong in the other direction.

Both are good 1 year signings for the money, although you have to question why we are spending $3.6 on 65 innings of Nunez instead of Badenhop/Marinez/etc, and not 500 PA at 3B or CF. But I guess that is what the trade deadline is for.

With Soriano leaving the Rays, and Jennings knocking on the Rays door, the fish should look at trading Nunez and some for BJ.

[Swifty]

Relievers will always have more trade value in season. If we can afford him - which it seems we can - there is no real reason to deal him now, even if he isn't "in the plans."

[Party]

I was coming in here to say I had three frogs on Nunez not being the closer by June. I took a look at his numbers and decided against it. He had 7 blown saves last year, but his K/9 went up and his homers went down from 13 to 5. ERA+ was the best of his career at 122. There is hope.