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• The Marlins know they could use another skilled hitter for 2012 and are open to adding one at second, third or center. But offseason free agent options are limited. An early peek:
• Third base: Aramis Ramirez (.300, 17 homers, 58 RBI) could be the only big-RBI free agent at the position, but only if the Cubs pass on his $16 million option. (They’re noncommittal.) If Ramirez waives his no-trade clause and is traded this season, his $16 million option would become guaranteed. But his agent said the team trading for him would need to agree to let him decline the option so he can become a free agent.
It’s a weak group of free agents otherwise, aside from Wilson Betemit (.281, 27 RBI). Others: Dodgers jack-of-all trades Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles (good average, no power), injury-riddled Eric Chavez and well-past-their-prime Adam Kennedy, Casey Blake, Mark DeRosa, Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada. “We need to get a third baseman that’s ready to play in the major leagues,” owner Jeffrey Loria said. The Marlins are uncertain if Matt Dominguez (.235, 7, 35 RBI at Triple A) will ever hit well enough.
• Second base: Omar Infante is no worse than others available: Orlando Cabrera, Clint Barmes, Kelly Johnson, Aaron Hill, Carroll, Miles and Kennedy. But the Marlins haven’t decided whether to re-sign Infante; if they add a third baseman, Emilio Bonifacio would move to second, his best position.
• Center field: A few decent options if they opt against starting Chris Coghlan in 2012: Coco Crisp (.263, 27 steals), ex-Marlins Juan Pierre (.276, 15 steals) and Cody Ross (.268, 7, 30) and Corey Patterson (.252, 33 RBI). Grady Sizemore and Nate McLouth, who have dropped off offensively, have big team options ($10.6 million and $8.5 million).
Impending Mets free agent Carlos Beltran moved from center to right this season, and with his reduced speed, playing center full-time isn’t realistic. “ Mike Stanton probably could play center, but I don’t see us putting him there,” a Marlins official said. For now, all the Marlins know about third/second/center for 2012 is Bonifacio likely will play one of them.
• The Marlins are pretty sure Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez will head up their 2012 rotation and will use the rest of 2011 as auditions for Chris Volstad (their patience is wearing thin) and Clay Hensley.
One Marlins official said the team would love to add a lefty starter; free agents Mark Buehrle, C.J. Wilson and Paul Maholm ($10 million Pirates option) would be costly. Among other free agents: lefty Bruce Chen and right-handers Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster, Edwin Jackson and Aaron Harang. The Marlins, with a $57 million payroll, have said they will be in the midrange of payrolls in the new stadium (that would be about $87 million).
• Third base: Aramis Ramirez (.300, 17 homers, 58 RBI) could be the only big-RBI free agent at the position, but only if the Cubs pass on his $16 million option. (They’re noncommittal.) If Ramirez waives his no-trade clause and is traded this season, his $16 million option would become guaranteed. But his agent said the team trading for him would need to agree to let him decline the option so he can become a free agent.
It’s a weak group of free agents otherwise, aside from Wilson Betemit (.281, 27 RBI). Others: Dodgers jack-of-all trades Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles (good average, no power), injury-riddled Eric Chavez and well-past-their-prime Adam Kennedy, Casey Blake, Mark DeRosa, Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada. “We need to get a third baseman that’s ready to play in the major leagues,” owner Jeffrey Loria said. The Marlins are uncertain if Matt Dominguez (.235, 7, 35 RBI at Triple A) will ever hit well enough.
• Second base: Omar Infante is no worse than others available: Orlando Cabrera, Clint Barmes, Kelly Johnson, Aaron Hill, Carroll, Miles and Kennedy. But the Marlins haven’t decided whether to re-sign Infante; if they add a third baseman, Emilio Bonifacio would move to second, his best position.
• Center field: A few decent options if they opt against starting Chris Coghlan in 2012: Coco Crisp (.263, 27 steals), ex-Marlins Juan Pierre (.276, 15 steals) and Cody Ross (.268, 7, 30) and Corey Patterson (.252, 33 RBI). Grady Sizemore and Nate McLouth, who have dropped off offensively, have big team options ($10.6 million and $8.5 million).
Impending Mets free agent Carlos Beltran moved from center to right this season, and with his reduced speed, playing center full-time isn’t realistic. “ Mike Stanton probably could play center, but I don’t see us putting him there,” a Marlins official said. For now, all the Marlins know about third/second/center for 2012 is Bonifacio likely will play one of them.
• The Marlins are pretty sure Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez will head up their 2012 rotation and will use the rest of 2011 as auditions for Chris Volstad (their patience is wearing thin) and Clay Hensley.
One Marlins official said the team would love to add a lefty starter; free agents Mark Buehrle, C.J. Wilson and Paul Maholm ($10 million Pirates option) would be costly. Among other free agents: lefty Bruce Chen and right-handers Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster, Edwin Jackson and Aaron Harang. The Marlins, with a $57 million payroll, have said they will be in the midrange of payrolls in the new stadium (that would be about $87 million).
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