Marlins 2013 Off-season Thread

[Big Z]

@mlbbowman: Heard the Marlins could soon trade Greg Dobbs. Like Eric Chavez, Dobbs could be a fit for the #Braves

Twitter
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Ruggiano being shopped at Meetings
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Marlins are expected to explore a number of possible moves on Wednesday, the last full day of the Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

According to a league source, Miami is listening to offers for outfielder Justin Ruggiano, who is in arbitration for the first time.

Ruggiano belted 18 home runs last season, and if he remains with Miami, he would be a backup at all three outfield positions.

The Marlins are in the market for a third baseman and a reliever.

The team is believed to have interest in free agent third baseman Eric Chavez.

Miami also continues to weigh offers for first baseman Logan Morrison, who has drawn interest from more than 10 clubs.

– Joe Frisaro

Joe Frisaro

Should be a fun day, if true.

[HUGG]

Ahehahehhahe, someone is gonna take Dobbs!?



I'll believe that when I see it.

[MiamiHomer]

Joel Sherman @Joelsherman1
#Pirates #Rays talking to #Marlins about Logan Morrison, #Cubs too who would play him in OF rather than 1b. Hear Fla prioritizing 3b

...

[Big Z]

I hope they don't get that Harrison guy from Pittsburgh, I rather have Sean Rodriguez if that was the case.

[marlinsfan24]

Cubs should send us Castro for LoMo.

[Big Z]

Maybe if we include Ruggiano and Turner/Alvarez.

Cubs have that Baez kid who seems to be close to ready, which potentially makes Castro expendable. Although we have the same situation here, he'd have to move to 3B, and we'd likely have to move Moran to 1B in the future or get rid of Hech and let Castro take over SS in the near future. However, I don't think all this would happen.

Only thing that seems to be holding up LoMo trade is Corey Hart. Looks like we are waiting to see what happens with him, to see if Milwaukee ups their Offer for LoMo.

[lou]

According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins have expressed interest in Delmon Young.
Miami would presumably ask the 28-year-old free agent to play first base. Young batted .260 with a weak .715 OPS in 103 games this year between the Phillies and Rays. He can probably be had on a one-year contract.
Source: Clark Spencer on Twitter Dec 11 - 10:51 AM

Career .812 OPS vs LHP. Could work with Jones, assuming they do indeed trade Ruggiano

[BigGameFish]

The Marlins in 2014 will look to right-hander Arquimedes Caminero, among others, to fill the roles Ryan Webb and Chad Qualls vacated. (Handout / Sun Sentinel / February 22, 2013)
By Juan C. Rodriguez
Sun Sentinel
11:41 a.m. EST, December 11, 2013

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. --—
The Marlins aren’t dedicating all their time at the Baseball Winter Meetings to trading Logan Morrison and continuing to improve the offense. They’re in the market for relief help as well.
In Ryan Webb and Chad Qualls, the Marlins lost 142 1/3 innings worth of bullpen innings from the 2013 squad. That’s more than a quarter (27.6 percent) of the club’s total relief innings last season.
The Marlins chose to non-tender Webb, who became a free agent and received a two-year, $4.5 million deal from the Orioles. Qualls was hopeful of reprising his role with the Marlins and the interest was mutual, but he couldn’t turn down a two-year, $6 million deal from the Houston Astros.
“That’s still a priority as we continue the offseason,” President of Baseball Operations Michael Hill said. “We lost a valuable piece in Qualls. He did a tremendous job for us. We do have some in-house candidates that need to step up and assume the role, but we’re still looking for ways to upgrade.”
Manager Mike Redmond toward the end of the season used Arquimedes Caminero in a variety of situations, a la Webb. He potentially could settle into that innings eater bullpen slot or even vie for a late-inning setup job. Lefty Edgar Olmos can go multiple innings as well.

If the season started today, A.J. Ramos likely would open as the Marlins’ primary eighth-inning guy. As a rookie in 2013 he totaled 80 innings. Since 2000, Ramos is one of 23 rookies to reach that threshold exclusively out of the pen.
Michael Dunn and Dan Jennings should handle things from the left side.
Beyond Caminero, the Marlins have some intriguing in-house candidates that could figure prominently in the 2014 relief corps. Two names to monitor this spring: Michael Brady and Nick Wittgren. They closed for Double-A Jacksonville and advanced Class-A Jupiter, respectively, and had outstanding seasons. Brady already is on the 40-man roster. Wittgren may not be far behind after an outstanding run in the Arizona Fall League.
The Marlins don’t overpay for relievers, so don’t look for them to play on any higher profile guys. They have a strong track record of signing pitchers looking to re-establish themselves to minor league deals and getting great seasons out of them.
Two names that jumped out at me – and don’t take this to mean the Marlins have expressed interested – are Mitchell Boggs and Jesse Crain.
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Looking forward to seeing some of these young bullpen arms finally reach the majors.

[Big Z]

This is not related to bullpen arms, but I think Heaney cracks the rotation out of Spring training; he has been very impressive.

Fernandez, Eovaldi, Heaney, Alvarez, Turner

You also have guys such as Conley, Flynn, Desclafani, etc., who can take over Turner/Alvarez if they are traded.

[lou]

I hope they have learned from their mistake and call up Heanrey 21 days into the season (that is the service time threshold right). Full extra year of club control! But I do think he makes 20+ starts for MLB team this year worst case.

[tjfla]

Heaney wont crack the rotation out of ST. #1 Not on 40 Man Roster #2 No real need for him and #3 No chance in hell they will give up more cash then needed. If Heaney was cuban or a 20 yr old star like Fernandez then Yes but he is not

First off the teams on LoMo are TB,Milwaukee,Pitt and Seattle. Milwaukee is waiting on Corey Hart tho before they make the last offer. Pitt had an offer that was Jordy Mercer and a prospect which we liked but we are giving teams a chance to make the best offer

Ruggiano is getting alot of action however most teams are waiting to see if they can get one of the bigger names first. Don't expect him dealt now but could happen.

As for RP,hearing that is what we are looking for in tommorrow's Rule 5. They haven't been tipping their hand on who tho

Also they have talked to Chavez but they get the impression it's just like Uribe. They think he is just talking to us to bump up his price

[Big Z]

Mehrcer

[Erick]

If Heaney was cuban or a 20 yr old star like Fernandez then Yes but he is not

Yeah, that's what it is.

[HUGG]

Mehrcer

Mercer hit .410/.460/.692 vs. lefties last season for Pittsburgh. .295/.374/.444 (.265/.326/.433 vs. R) in AAA from 11-13.

I feel like you have way too high of expectations of what we could get for LoMo.
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Mercer: 2 (B-R) or 1.4 (FG) WAR player in 365 PA last season, 2 more years until hits arbitration, club controlled through 2018, plays SS/3B/2B.

Morrison: -0.1 (B-R) or 1.0 (FG) WAR player in 1479 career PA, already arbitration eligible.


Mercer's probably not as good a hitter as he was in 2013, but his minor league numbers aren't bad at all for a versatile infielder.

Morrison hasn't done shit in 3 years.

I wouldn't do that trade straight-up if I was Pittsburgh.

[BigGameFish]

If we want our 2nd pick in the Rule 5, who gets dropped off the currently filled 40-man?