General FA: Beinfest Says Rotation Set

[Miamarlin21]

Pujols and Reyes will just have to do.

Damnit. I guess so. Such bullshit.

[jOOj]

Why do we have to believe what Twitter thinks? Live the dream. We're signing them all, and buying Cuba from the communists, then when they try to cash the check, we killem.

[Big Z]

/Twitter

So 4 hours ago we could afford them, but as of now we can't? I love how reporters work.

[jOOj]

That's what I'm tweetin bout Ace of Base. We'll see what happens, there are no limits to flying space Marlins.

[Swifty]

Conflicting reports this time of year are to be expected.

[Ramp]

Jim Bowden knows nothing.

[Madman81]

He knows how to steal from Latin American players

[lilchris11]

An agent told Cafardo that the Marlins' offers to Albert Pujols, Mark Buehrle, and Jose Reyes should be taken seriously and are not for show.

If the Marlins land Pujols or Prince Fielder, first baseman Gaby Sanchez will be major trade bait for the club.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/1...-red-sox-.html

[Metes]

That pussydick Passan column is the top story on the Yahoo homepage

[MiamiHomer]

BizballMaury Maury Brown
If I were a betting man, I'd say new MLB CBA announcement comes tomorrow.

Would probably start more action in free agency.

[jOOj]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, he was my favorite member of New Edition.

[MiamiHomer]

In addition to Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, and Mark Buehrle, the Marlins made an offer to free agent closer Ryan Madson, reports SI's Jon Heyman. Unlike the other three, the Madson offer has yet to inspire a visit to Miami. Heyman notes that the proposals are preliminary, and the team is not concerned about all four accepting. Marlins president David Samson explained Saturday on 790 The Ticket with Glenn Geffner that the team has a free agent flow chart in which they expect a playoff team with every outcome (transcript courtesy of Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post). More from Heyman...

Marlins Made Offer To Ryan Madson
--------------------
Here is the Heyman article.

The newly-named Miami Marlins entered this world with a bang -- actually three of them. You've got to give them credit for one thing at least. They do know how to make an entrance.

Coincidence or not, last Friday, the day their name was changed and their controversial new uniforms were rolled out, word leaked out that the Marlins had made offers to Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle. They've also made a proposal to Ryan Madson, although that one apparently wasn't quite good enough to inspire a visit yet.

Reyes, Pujols and Buehrle, though, did all meet with Miami officials, and while the offers to the two positional superstars were described as substantial in some places, no one was saying exactly what they were, and one person familiar with the Marlins' strategy said the proposals were "preliminary'' in nature, which actually makes sense.

The Marlins surely seem to have a new outlook, but they haven't completely gone wild. Team president David Samson publicly said they have a pecking order of targeted players and that they haven't even considered that all three players might sign at once -- nor certainly four. He's right about that since the offers were apparently not designed to blow anyone out of the Atlantic.

Though the Marlins aren't saying, someone with ties to them said he does believe Reyes is at or near the top of their list of targets, which seems to fit into their call schedule (Clark Spencer -- @clarkspencer -- of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins called Reyes at exactly 12:01 a.m. Thursday, or one minute after they were able to). The Brewers and possibly Tigers seem likely to be among other potential suitors for Reyes, who's been asked by the Mets to come back to them for a possible offer after he's done shopping. There's been a lot of discussion about what's an appropriate deal for a player who is ultra-talented yet seemingly injury prone, and one GM estimated he believes Reyes will wind up with $100 million over five years, either from the Marlins or someone else.

Buehrle makes sense, too, as he starred for years pitching for the White Sox under new Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen. Buehrle is also an MLB-best 24-6 lifetime vs. National League teams -- though one interested GM wonders whether Buehrle is inclined to play for anyone but either of the Chicago teams or his hometown Cardinals. (For the record, Buehrle's agent has said he's open to listening to anyone). The Marlins also could use a closer with the former Leo Nunez (real name Juan Carlos Oviedo) currently detained. But they may wait to get serious there while they hope for his return.

Should the Marlins reel in Reyes, they'd need to have a conversation with holdover shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who originally said he'd be thrilled to have Reyes join the team, then several weeks later didn't seem quite as thrilled. Should they pull an upset and sign Pujols, which is a long shot (though he does reportedly have a grandmother in Miami), the Marlins would have to trade young All-Star Gaby Sanchez.

Their relative strength at first base won't preclude a reasonable offer for Pujols. But it's still hard to imagine a team that's had payrolls in the $30-something-million range (it was $40 million this past year), signing a player who seeks $30 million per year. Reyes seems like a more realistic possibility for the Marlins. Things have changed there. But let's not forget owner Jeffrey Loria didn't even pay $200 million for the team, so $200 plus million for one player seems like a stretch.

New-look Marlins make a splash but big questions still remain

[MiamiHomer]

I'll just stick this here since it covers multiple things.

After making offers to Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes, the Marlins headed to Milwaukee for the annual general managers' meetings as the talk of the off-season.

But much of the talk has been skepticism over whether the Marlins are serious bidders for Pujols, who could command at least $25 million a year.

"It's an awful lot of money. There are other players who will fit into that equation, who are good players and fit just as well but are going to be maybe half the price,' former general manager Jim Duquette said on MLB Network.

The Marlins won't get into details, but industry sources believe the team made an "introductory offer" that is not considered a serious one - and not remotely close to the reported nine-year offer in the $200 million range that he rejected from St. Louis in January.

"Serious for the Marlins, but not for Pujols,' one major league source said of Miami's offer.

Marlins sources continued to say that the team considers Reyes, a four-time All-Star shortstop, the more realistic target. The Marlins hope to sign him before the end of the month.

Whether a deal can be announced this week - the GM meetings begin Tuesday - remains to be seen. But last year the Marlins made a splash at the same meetings by trading Dan Uggla to Atlanta.

While a Reyes signing would likely move Hanley Ramirez to third base, the Marlins have not ruled out moving him to center field. The Marlins also want to sign center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban defector, but he might not be ready for the majors by April.

ESPN's Buster Olney on Monday reported "an expectation" that the Marlins would land Reyes for a deal "in the range of five years, $18-20 million a year.'

The Marlins' previous record payroll was $60.4 million in 2005. It was $57 million in 2011. Signing Pujols, Reyes and pitcher Mark Buehrle would likely push the payroll in 2012 to $130 million.

The difference now is their new, $515 million ballpark, which will open next spring in Little Havana.

"There are absolutely no limits to try and see what can be done,' Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said Friday night.

"We've never been penny-pinchers. We just haven't had the ability to do it in the old stadium. And now we're looking forward to a new era. It's a new page.'

Marlins President David Samson said the front office has several strategies for the off-season, and not all of them include Pujols.

"When we are out there looking at free agents, we are looking at people who can complement our current players, how to build around what we have and how to add players that make sense. ... Then you say to yourself, when we meet with Albert Pujols, is that Plan A? And if he doesn't sign, who is Plan B? How does that change the lineup?' Samson said on 790 The Ticket.

The Marlins "know from a flow-chart standpoint, if (a free agent says) yes, we go this direction. If no, we go in that direction. And at the end of each branch of our plan is a playoff team,' he said.

Miami Marlins creating a lot of buzz, but baseball insiders expect Albert Pujols to go elsewhere

[HUGG]

"It's an awful lot of money. There are other players who will fit into that equation, who are good players and fit just as well but are going to be maybe half the price,' former general manager Jim Duquette said on MLB Network.

this. a million times this.

/has always felt this way

Even though Jim Duquette is a tool.

[Big Z]

RUMOR OF THE DAY and there will be rumors involving Joey Votto littering the internet from now until something is actually done.

One website is reporting that the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays are talking (or have talked) about a trade that would send Votto to Tampa Bay for pitcher James Shields.

Makes sense. The pitch-rich Rays believe they can seriously make a run in 2012 and adding Votto would enhance those chances immensely.

THE REDS ARE resigned to the fact that Votto will test free agency after his contract expires in 2013, when he’ll be making $17 million.

And the Reds could use a starter of Shields’ ability. He was 16-12 last year with a 2.88 ERA. He is affordable — signed through 2014. He’ll make $7 million in 2012, then $9 million, then $12 million.

With Franciosco Cordero probably gone, the Reds have $12 million off the books and by trading Votto they’d move $9.5 million more.

And it would make room for Yonder Alonso to play first base.

Dayton Daily News; retweeted by Joe Capozzi.

Not sure if this is true, but if the Rays get Votto for Shields that would be complete rape.