Jayson Stark: Marlins Expected to Keep Josh Johnson

[Big Z]

Gaby back to 1B then?

[Miamarlin21]

Someone said that Lee still has veto power over the 14 teams. Don't know if that's true or not.

[tjfla]

If Boston wins tonight and Texas doesn't wanna give up Olt,I would love to see what a Boston offer would look like

If u look at there system they have alot of quality guys however no ML ready3B to trade(Vitek and Cecchini both ways off) but arms(Barnes,Ranaudo.Pimental,Owens),OF(Brentz,Brad ley,Bogaerts,Jacobs) and YOUNG MIF(Iglesias,Coyle,Vinicio)

[MiamiHomer]

Peter Gammons @pgammo
With the Rangers not interested and the Red Sox "not engaged," the Josh Johnson market isn't likely to bring a big package to pry him away

.

[Erick]

Would take a bit more than that. He is signed for 3 years very cheaply ($20 million total) and is 28.

I would gladly send them Eovaldi/Conley, Hand, and Caminero/any other system power arm for him.

I like Span more than BJ/Upton/Bourn/Victorino over next 3-5 years. Let alone, he will be cheaper. It's worth dishing out some pitching.
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I would love to get Perkins too. They have mentioned him in trades before as a possible guy to move. He makes 3/$10 which is a little pricy for a complete non-contender.

I think I'd be ok moving Eovaldi, Conley, Hand, Caminero, and say throw them Coghlan and they can test drive him these last two months and see if they get lucky, for Span and Perkins. I know that looks crazy, but they are going to want a lot for Span. He's that good. Might as well go for broke and get one of the better lefty relievers in baseball thrown in.

Minn clears $30 million in payroll and gets a boatload of controlled pitching that means little to Marlins, as the Marlins have internal options (theoretically, Marlins 2015 staff could be Buerhle, Turner, Fernandez, Heaney, C. James/whoever) and money to burn on rotation if there are arm blow outs.

I would love that move.
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This would be really cool

2013
C John Buck $6,500,000
1B Logan Morrison $515,000
2B Emilio Bonifacio $2,750,000
3B
SS Jose Reyes $10,000,000
LF
CF Denard Span $4,750,000
RF Mike Stanton $550,000
B Gaby Sanchez $550,000
B Greg Dobbs $1,600,000
B Brett Hayes $750,000
B Justin Ruggiano $550,000
B Solano/25th Man $515,000

SP Josh Johnson $13,750,000
SP Mark Buerhle $12,000,000
SP Ricky Nolasco $11,500,000
SP
SP Jacob Turner $1,175,000
RP Heath Bell $10,000,000
RP Steve Cishek $515,000
RP Glen Perkins $2,500,000
RP Edward Mujica $2,250,000
RP Ryan Webb $650,000
RP Mike Dunn $515,000
RP LeBlanc/Jennings $515,000

$84,400,000

Plenty of cash to sign a # 3ish SP for 2-3 seasons (would be needed, fits into payroll easily), and have enough left to address stopgap/platoon help for 2B/3B.

And if they do win the Mike Olt battle with Texas this deadline, I think they would keep him in NOLA until the summer (delay arbitration, probably need another 300-500 minor league AB from today forward regardless) which doesn't change anything above, except 3B looks great moving forward and they could sign another free agent starter with "Johnsons" money

I'd rather not do that Span/Perkins deal. For the first time in a long time, I like the young pitching in the system. A lot of it would be going in this deal.

[Bucklin12]

Eovaldi/Conley/Hand is too much for Span, in my opinion. That's 3-5 of a solid rotation, possibly 2-4. For me, that's too much.

[lou]

They could all end up relievers too, who knows. And I was musing about Perkins too which is why it was all of them. Locking down center field for 3 years for what Span makes would be huge. Cheaper than BJ/Melky/Victorino/Bourn, probably better than all of them, and more proven then Bourjos. Perfect fit. Is a nice move for right now too because they can't give up and need to keep pushing forward in 2013 for 'fan base' reasons.

Conley was drafted by Minn in 2008 out of high school. Hand is a local kid. I think those two, at minimum, make a lot of sense and form the basis of a package for Span. I think each organization would be crazy not to do that if the offer is say Span for Hand, Conley, and Coghlan/throw in. Each fills huge needs back and forth. Minnesota has other CF options, Marlins have tons of pitching. JJ, Buerhle, Nolasco, Turner, and Eovaldi for 2013, and probably Fernandez and a free agent as 2014 replacements. Decent depth behind with LeBlanc, Sanabia, C. James, and Koehler for injury replacements.

Anyways, I like it. Even if they trade JJ, they could use that money on a free agent for 2013. Makes a lot of sense to me.

[Todd]

Still not sure why people are wanting to move JJ so badly.

[MiamiHomer]

Because I don't think he will be with the team past next season if by some chance he isn't moved in the winter.

[Fishfan79]

I rather keep him too. We need someone in the rotation to be modeled after for the future. Heck I rather extend him even, but I just dont see it happening.

I will withhold all opinion till after FA period comes up to see what takes place for the team. I am hoping we just dont go back to our old ways.

[Miamarlin21]

I would do Lou's proposal of Hand, Conley and Coghlan in a heartbeat.

[MiamiHomer]

Bob Nightengale @BNightengale
If the pricetag doesn't drop for starters, #Rangers say they'll grab reliever like last year

Looks like no Olt.
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MIAMI — If Sunday was an audition, Josh Johnson’s performance didn’t win over the critics.

After seeing six walks in five innings by Johnson, scouts and front office personnel are deciding whether to meet Miami’s high trade demands.

Representatives from roughly 15 teams were at Marlins Park on Sunday afternoon, watching the 28-year-old issue a season-high six walks while stiking out four in five innings.

Johnson minimized damage, allowing two runs on two hits. In terms of pure stuff, the 95-pitch outing was not overwhelming.

That could be good or bad news for Marlins fans hopeful Johnson remains with the club after Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline passes.

The good news for Miami fans hoping JJ will stay is, other teams may be backing away from trade talks.

Conversely, if JJ stays, more is expected from the two-time All-Star.

The Marlins are listening to teams interested in their ace. But Miami is seeking a large haul — at least four players, including a top prospect or two. If such a package isn’t presented, look for JJ to remain with the team that Drafted him in 2002.

The Rangers were lukewarm before Sunday, and they saw nothing to change their mind. The Blue Jays are in the mix, as are the Red Sox.

Now, the Braves are in the conversation, but would the Marlins deal with their division rival? It would depend on what’s offered in return.

Barring being blown out of the water, the Marlins probably won’t find a match with Atlanta.

Some will say, Miami traded Dan Uggla to the Braves two years ago. But circumstances were different, because Uggla turned down a four-year, $48 million offer from the Marlins then. He was entering his final season of arbitration, and the club wanted to get something, rather then watch Uggla test the market.

JJ is signed through 2013 as he will make $13.75 million next year.

Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez, obviously, knows Johnson well. He managed him with the Marlins.

While the right-hander had less-than-spectacular stuff on Sunday, on July 23, Johnson beat the Braves. On that night, his stuff was electric, nine strikeouts with one hit allowed in six scoreless innings.

Johnson left that game due to a small cut at the nail of his right middle finger.

Perhaps the finger was an issue on Sunday against the Padres.

Or it may be a case of Johnson still searching for consistency. In 2011, he missed a majority of the season because of right shoulder inflammation.

While he’s been healthy this year, he hasn’t dominated like in the past. Before being hurt in ’11, Johnson was 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA. And in 2010, he won the NL ERA crown with a 2.30, going 11-6 in 28 starts.

JJ is next scheduled to start on Friday at Washington.

Until the trade deadline passes on Tuesday, there will likely remain speculation that Johnson’s outing on Sunday was his last one with the Marlins.

Teams may be backing away from JJ

[Miamarlin21]

Let's keep him. A rotation of JJ, Buehrle, Nolasco and two of a free agent singing, Eovaldi, Hand, Turner, Sanabia and LeBlanc looks pretty nice.

[MiamiHomer]

Bleh, I hope we trade him in the winter if he isn't moved by Tuesday.

[Todd]

Bleh, I hope we trade him in the winter if he isn't moved by Tuesday.

Why?