General FA: Beinfest Says Rotation Set

[Big Z]

Beltran choice appears to be weighing city he prefers to play in vs. larger avg annual value contract

Twitter

I am pretty sure we are not the "mystery NL team" because we seem to prefer Cespedes over any other OF'er right now. If Cespedes signed elsewhere, it would be a whole different story.

[Metes]

Cardinals signed Beltran

2/$26

[lou]

Keeping Dobbs a top priority

MIAMI — Exploring the market for a frontline starting pitcher is high on the Marlins’ shopping list.

But it’s not the club’s most immediate priority.

Right now, bringing back free agent Greg Dobbs is a main objective, and the team is hoping to finalize a deal done soon.

In 2011, Dobbs provided veteran leadership as well as some timely hits. Of late, the Marlins have been working on getting a deal done.

http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/2011/1...-top-priority/

I don't use twitter, but can someone tweet him and find out if Murphy is on a split contract?

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Frisaro needs to make up his mind. For the past two weeks, everything he has posted has been about starting pitching is the top priority. Now he's saying Dobbs is.
--------------------

I don't use twitter, but can someone tweet him and find out if Murphy is on a split contract?

Tweeting JCR produces better results. He actually answers questions from fans.

[Beef]

I'm not one to defend that bobbob, but he probably just means top priority time-wise as it can be done more quickly than getting a pitcher and then the focus can be shifted more easily. Also, he's just a bad writer with a stupid face, it doesn't really matter what it actually means.

[Metes]

Such a stupid face

[Big Z]

Miami Marlins interested in Matt Garza
29 minutes ago by KenRosenthal
The Miami Marlins, it seems, will not be satisfied until they add another starting pitcher to complement right-hander Josh Johnson and lefty Mark Buerhle.
Cubs righty Matt Garza, 28, certainly would fit.
The Marlins, after failing to land Athletics left-hander Gio Gonzalez, have serious interest in Garza, according to major-league sources.
No deal is close, and the Cubs continue to speak to other clubs, including the Detroit Tigers, sources say.
The Tigers, in fact, might rate the upper hand for Garza if they are willing to include right-hander Jacob Turner in a deal. The Cubs are desperate for young starting pitching, according to rival executives, and the Marlins are deeper in position players.
Class A outfielder Christian Yelich, 20, likely is on the Cubs’ wish list from the Marlins; he was among the players whom the Athletics targeted in their talks with the Marlins about Gonzalez, sources say.
Third baseman Matt Dominguez, first baseman Gaby Sanchez, outfielder Chris Coghlan and reliever Jose Ceda are among the other players the Marlins are willing to include in trades, according to rival clubs.
One interesting aspect of the Garza discussions is his rising salary in arbitration. Garza could make between $9 million and $10 million this season, with one more year of arbitration left before he becomes a free agent.
An interested club could sign right-hander Edwin Jackson, a Type B free agent, to a longer deal for a salary in a similar range without trading prospects or forfeiting draft picks.
Jackson, 28, is less accomplished than Garza, but over the past three seasons their records are comparable. Jackson is 35-30 with a 3.96 ERA, Garza 33-32 with a 3.73 ERA.
- Ken Rosenthal

KRosenthal (Fox Sports)

Garza would be an awesome addition, but we don't have much Pitching depth in the minors. Yelich would be great for the Cubbies, that kid is going to be very good.

[Swifty]

Good. They like Gaby, get it done.

[kusch]

I'd rather part with Ozuna. But if we do trade Yelich hope we make A move for Cespedes

[Chewford]

Do it to it.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Happy New Year, folks. Let me preface this final post of 2011 by thanking everyone for committing the time to read this blog and offer opinions. No doubt the Miami Marlins are sure to continue providing plenty of compelling subject matter for us to digest here in 2012.

The Marlins were unable to pry away Gio Gonzalez from the Athletics in 2011, but their resolve to add another impact starter won’t lessen in 2012. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Marlins are pursuing Cubs right-hander Matt Garza. Garza for me is a lot like Ricky Nolasco. Both broke into the majors in 2006 and have similar numbers in several categories. You could probably argue Garza has done a better job fulfilling his potential, but neither pitcher has enjoyed a breakout, Cy Young-conversation season.

Garza, who turned 28 in November, is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons before qualifying for free agency. His 2012 salary could approach $10 million. Nolasco, who turned 29 earlier this month and signed a three-year extention last December, is due to make $9 million next season and $11.5 million in 2013.

Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if the Marlins might view Garza as a potential replacement for Nolasco. At season’s end, heard from several people in touch with the Marlins that the club had lost patience with Nolasco, and it would not be a shock if they tried to trade him.

The other part of the equation is whether the Marlins have enough prospects to acquire Garza and say a Wandy Rodriguez from the Astros if they moved Nolasco. What combination of Garza, Rodriguez, Nolasco, or perhaps other available starters, would you want to complement Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Mark Buehrle?

2012 to start the same way that 2011 ended for Miami Marlins; on the prowl for a starter

[Miamarlin21]

I'd be OK dealing anyone in the system right now but Morrison and Yelich. Anyone else I won't miss.

[lou]

Random thoughts

I'd only trade for Garza if he'd agree to a 4/$50 extension. That's in line with the Danks deal, he has less service time so not a 5th guaranteed year, and lets him be a free agent again at a respectable age to get another deal. Pretty fair each way.

Even saying I'd do that though, I would wonder why not sign Edwin just for 4 years. He's pretty good too, cost around the same, and they'd keep all their young assets.

I'd want Marlon Byrd and some cash too. Holds over CF for the year which is big. He'd immediately replace Gaby's production making this a huge production win from Garza over Volstad.

I'd structure the deal based on the article as Gaby, Yelich, Dominguez, Coghlan, Ceda, and a farm power arm for the two and cash. Dominguez makes sense to them, so does Coghlan who I'm sure they would play at 2B/3B along with Barney/Stewart and they have no immediate CF too. I'd be upset parting with Yelich, but to get any serious SP they'd have to part with him or Morrison, and I'd take Morrison of the two for immediacy and upside reasons. Clearing 1B for Morrison is also a big deal for me.

I don't like how they keep talking about Wandy, but if they could move Nolasco for two prospects, and send those guys acquired, and say a secondary non James/Rasmussen farm arms no one cares about, I could deal with it. Seems about right value wise.

They'd still need two bench bats and a reliever (unless they stick LeBlanc/Sanabia as the long man in the pen, which I kind of suspect they would do), but I guess that's secondary to massively upgrading rotation. They'd still have Volstad (and Oviedo) to move to help out there, etc.

Could work.

[emkayseven]

"could work" prospect wise but what's the payroll hit? obviously moving nolasco and taking on garza breaks about even but to bring in byrd (I'm sure the Cubs wouldn't cover everything) and a guy like Wandy?

[lou]

If they got Garza, Wandy, and Byrd and shed Nolasco and Volstad, payroll would end up around $106-108 range depending on filling out bench and pen. That is up around $16 from Nolasco and Volstad