Stark: Marlins Could Be Big Players This Off-Season UPDATE: All Big Names In Play

[Jay]

I still don't buy into the closer needs to be the best reliever out of the pen. We could always keep Hensley to have him as the closer. You're completely insane if you're worried about the bullpen.

Depending on the rest of the lineup I wouldn't mind seeing Dominguez at third.

Also that guy who mashes lefties is named Boner and he already is on the team.

[Big Z]

I would be happy to trade LoMo for Gio Gonzalez.

JJ
CJ
Gio
Anibal
?

[Ramp]

alrighty

[Bobbob1313]

I would be interested in packaging Ricky and Gaby for a SP.

[Jay]

I agree with Ramp. We should sign Hammer.

Then we should trade Logan for the best starter we can get.

[Big Z]

Is the Hammer still having back issues?

[Erick]

We'd maybe lose 10 innings from Mujica if he became closer. Substantial, but not a killer. You're overstating the impact that would have.

Webb has been lucky to have a low ERA, sure. But he's also probably due for some positive regression with regards to his walk rates and strikeout rates, and he's an extreme groundball pitcher, so he should likely overperform his defense independent stats by a bit anyways.

Choate is a lefty specialist, so yeah, you're only getting 45 innings from him, but they are absolutely elite innings that completely wipes out every opposing team's best LHB, and he throws extremely high leverage innings.

Dunn has control issues and probably should be shielded from righties a bit more, sure. But even with that, he's not terrible, and he was probably not used extremely well this year.

Cishek has been extremely lucky with HRs this year, but even assuming that, I don't think we should expect him to just drop off a cliff.

Ceda is unproven. But he's got closer's stuff and a very nice minor league track record. He'll have his struggles with control, but there's a ton of potential.

Your analysis also ignores that the average age of those 5 arms is 25.4 years old, and they mostly throw hard and have good stuff. There's definite room for improvement as well.

Sure, I'd like one more elite arm in the bullpen. Hell, I'd like 7 more elite arms in the bullpen. But given the other holes on this team, there's absolutely no reason to spend a lot of money on bullpen arms. It's an inefficient usage of your resources, even with a $100 million payroll.

What other holes?

I'm saying we should sign a closer once we sign a guy like Aramis Ramirez and the starting pitcher we need.

Aside from that, I don't see any glaring holes. Bringing back Infante would be nice and shouldn't be too costly.

The offense isn't a hole. It just needs Hanley Ramirez to be Hanley Ramirez. Some other hitters underachieved, as well. The second year can be a tough year and a lot of our guys are second year players. I'm rather confident that our offense can be top-tier with the addition of another bat.

The bullpen guys can all improve, but it's not definite that they will. Their issues are legit issues that don't just go away.
I think we need a more legit guy in the backend (doesn't necessarily have to be Papelbon, either...there are some other guys available who will be cheaper).

I would agree with you most times, but I just don't think we have that many glaring holes.

We just need what every other team needs.

We need one of our best players, if not our best, to not produce like crap again.
We need our #1 to stay healthy, for a change.

Stuff like that.

An Aramis Ramirez would be nice. The lefty pitcher would be nice. After that, I can't really think of another hole and we're apparently willing to spend more.

[Beef]

I suggest Hammer at least one day ago. Ramp is just riding my bandwagon

[Jay]

I think both of you have been saying to bring Hammer back since he was traded.

[Swifty]

Assuming a top-4 of Dunn, Webb, Choate and Mujica, I thunk the bullpen will be fine.

[Ramp]

Hammer is having a pretty big year for playing in such a shitty ballpark.
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end of the day, dude can still rake

[Erick]

Ceda will be the closer.. He will be given every chance until he proves he cannot.

That's the one thing that's definitely not happening.

[McKeon]

Ceda can barely stay in the big leagues now, I don't expect him to be thrust into the closer's role next season. Mujica is probably the most likely in-house option, but I think he's much more valuable in a middle relief role.

And remember, Sean West is out of options. Unless he's dealt, which is a possibility, he's probably gonna end up in the bullpen too.

[lou]

It doesn't really matter who is penciled into closer. As long as they have 7 good arms, it will work itself out. Mujica, Webb, Cishek, Dunn, and Choate are a sure five, Ceda should be 6, and I see no reason why Sanabia can't be 7. Those seven guys make about $5 million next year and don't project to be a liability. I cannot imagine they pay a premium price for a reliever when they need to find 400 more innings from starting pitchers and probably at least 1500 PA for somewhere on the field.

[Jay]

When was the last time West did anything that shows he belongs in the majors?

Ceda has been named closer of the future since he was brought to the organization. Wouldn't surprise me in the bit to see him in that role next year.