Marlins Trade Yunel Escobar to Rays for Derek Dietrich

[MiamiHomer]

From a former BP writer:

Bradley Ankrom @BradleyAnkrom

Really like Derek Dietrich, think he becomes a solid 2b/3b who hits in the 6/7 spot of a good lineup. Not a shortstop long term.

[HUGG]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxDsWyxFrIg[/ame]
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BA writer

JJ Cooper @jjcoop36
If true Dietrich for Escobar a nice haul for Rays. Dietrich is intriguing prospect, solid hitter but questions about his eventual position

[Big Z]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Marlins reached agreement on a trade with the Rays on Tuesday, sending recently acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar to Tampa Bay for Minor League infielder Derek Dietrich, according to an MLB source.
The Marlins and Rays had been in discussions for two days, with the A's also in the mix. Escobar is under contract to make $5 million in 2013, and his deal includes club options for '14 and '15 at $5 million per season. The source indicated Miami will use that money toward needs before the 2013 roster is finalized.

Dietrich, ranked 14th on the Rays' Top 20 Prospects list, hit .279 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs in 132 games in 2012.

Speaking earlier Tuesday here at the Winter Meetings, president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest didn't mention any specific player by name. But he did acknowledge that the Marlins had been in discussions with five or six different teams on "different levels of things."

Speaking generally, Beinfest said: "More than a couple of them for the same player, and then some others for some different combinations."

The Marlins acquired Escobar from the Blue Jays on Nov. 19 as part of a 12-player trade, the largest single transaction in franchise history.

In the deal, Miami sent Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck to Toronto for Escobar, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Alvarez, Jeff Mathis and three prospects.

While Escobar is a career shortstop, he was projected to play third base if he stayed with the Marlins.

Miami is planning on going with the 23-year-old Hechavarria at shortstop.

The Marlins also are exploring the market for third-base candidates. A couple of players recently non-tendered are on Miami's radar. Ian Stewart, formerly with the Cubs, is a free-agent possibility. So is Mark Reynolds, who will not return to Baltimore.

Reynolds is a subpar defensive third baseman, and he played mostly first base in 2012. But the Marlins are in the market for a power bat, and Reynolds belted 23 home runs in 457 at-bats last season.

Stewart is a left-handed hitter who appeared in 55 games with the Cubs last season, while connecting on five home runs and 17 RBIs.

Prior to the Winter Meetings, the Marlins made their major moves. After finishing in last place with a 69-93 record last year, the team went through a massive restructuring. Already, 12 players from the 2012 Opening Day roster have been traded, and manager Ozzie Guillen has been dismissed and replaced by Mike Redmond.

Miami's payroll also has been reduced from roughly $100 million to about $40 million.

The Marlins have found themselves at the center of some distractions at the Winter Meetings.

On Monday, Ricky Nolasco's agent, Matt Sosnick, made it public that the right-hander wants to be traded. Nolasco, who turns 30 on Dec. 13, has been a staple in the rotation since 2006. He has a 76-64 career record, which makes him the franchise's all-time leader in victories.

The Marlins, however, are planning on Nolasco being part of their rotation when the season starts. But the veteran is making $11.5 million in 2013, the final year of his contract.

He will be a free agent after the season, and there remains the possibility he could be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Beinfest had no comment on Sosnick's request to trade Nolasco.

"I really have nothing to say," Beinfest said. "We definitely did see [the comments], read them."

Beinfest added that Nolasco is a professional, and that he expects the right-hander to be ready and focused when Spring Training begins.

"Ricky is our all-time winningest pitcher," Beinfest said. "He's been here a long time. Ricky was actually the recipient of an opportunity coming out of our reset after the '05 season."

The Marlins acquired Nolasco from the Cubs as part of the Juan Pierre deal during the 2005 Winter Meetings in Dallas. Nolasco made the most of his opportunity, beginning with his rookie season in '06.

"When we've kind of done these resets, it's kind of ironic in that Ricky took advantage of that situation when it happened after '05," Beinfest said. "Again, we see him in our rotation. He's been here a long time, won a bunch of ballgames and we expect he will win more.

"Ricky has always been a professional. He's always taken the ball and done his work."

Joe Frisaro

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

It's ironic that Ricky doesn't want to be part of another "reset" (LOL) when he's turning 30 and has never been a part of a playoff team? Really Beinfest?

[Beef]

Huh?

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

That's what Beinfest said.

[Namaste]

Daft is prob mad that we're all Loria Lovers now

trollin trollin trollin keep those doggies rollin

[Beef]

That's what Beinfest said.

It was the you part
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trollin trollin trollin keep those doggies rollin

If I say something, you're gonna say I didn't get it

[dim]

This team has gotten sad.

This has absolutely no bearing on the trade we just made. It could be a great trade.

I'm just very sad looking at that starting lineup lou posted on the previous page. Last season was so much hope. Now it's so much depression.

[Namaste]

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If I say something, you're gonna say I didn't get it

No, I'll just say you're trollin trollin trollin

[HUGG]

This team has gotten sad.

This has absolutely no bearing on the trade we just made. It could be a great trade.

I'm just very sad looking at that starting lineup lou posted on the previous page. Last season was so much hope. Now it's so much depression.

This is nowhere near as depressing as June was.

[AdamRavs]

This is nowhere near as depressing as June was.

The crazy thing. This team will prolly win more this June than the last 2 combined. (not that it's a tough thing to do)

[dim]

June '11 and June '10 were depressing as hell. I think there was still hope for future seasons though at that point.

I don't see hope until 2014 at the earliest here, and that makes me sad thinking of Tommy Hutton going all Bob Uecker in Major League during our broadcasts next season.

[Beef]

Speaking of which, Rich Waltz will still be there next season (because sad)

[HUGG]

Couldn't we get rid of them and hire McLevin and save some money?
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McLevin and bobbob