F@B: Trades

Posted: July 31st, 2008

Seems like everyone now thinks the Manny Ramirez deal is dead. The hangups range from the Marlins not willing to give up better prospects to the Marlins demanding more cash to John Henry hating the deal. We’ll know for sure in about 2 hours.

Update: Jason Bay is about to go to Tampa so the 3-way Manny deal is dead as currently constituted.

Update 2: Now it looks like the Pirates and Red Sox cut the Marlins out of the deal and closed it with LA instead. Alas, it was fun while it lasted.

As Seen In: Rumors, Trades

Posted: July 31st, 2008

The good news it that the Marlins just strengthened their bullpen by acquiring Arthur Rhodes from the Seattle Mariners. The terrible news is that they gave up Gaby Hernandez. More details to follow.

Update: I’m slowly getting used to this deal. I still thing Gaby was a high price to pay, even for a good lefty reliever. But, the Marlins organization has other young pitchers (including 5 in the starting rotation) and we finally addressed our biggest need so please join me in welcoming Arthur Rhodes.

Update 2: Now I’m wondering who we send down to make room for Rhodes. Unless we release Mark Hendrickson, the rest of the bullpen is very solid. My best guess is that Robert Andino will get back on the Albuquerque express.

As Seen In: News, Trades

Posted: July 31st, 2008

If Manny wasn’t enough, looks like the Marlins are serious about Bengie Molina and offered a trade that I think many fans will sign up for in a heartbeat. This from the Palm Beach Post:

In other trade talk, the Marlins reportedly are talking to San Francisco about sending first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Giants for catcher Bengie Molina.

For all the negatives Fish fans see in Jacobs, he is a nice player who could hit quite a few bombs into the Cove. Let’s hope the Giants feel the same way because this would be a nice deal for both teams. This will allow Jorge Cantu to move to his newly discovered position at first base and also allow the Marlins to bring up Dallas McPherson who leads the whole baseball universe in home runs.

As Seen In: Rumors, Trades

Posted: July 30th, 2008

Yes, the media is exploding with rumors of Manny Ramirez being traded to the Marlins. Best source I can find is MLBTR which has been updating these rumors regularly.

Marlins GM Mike Hill had to cancel his appearance on tonight’s broadcast so let the speculation continue.

Update: Of course, Mike Berardino says NFW

Update 2: So the Red Sox want Jeremy Hermida, Ryan Tucker, and Mike Stanton (Jason Stark / ESPN). Two good prospects sounds expensive for a rental player.

Update 3: My take on Ken Rosenthal’s latest update that the Fish will not include Stanton: The Marlins are seriously talking about acquiring Manny Ramirez.

Update 4: Here is what was supposudly submmited to the Commisioner’s office for approval:

Marlins get Manny Ramirez, one prospect (BOS), and cash (likely Ramirez’s remaining salary)
Pirates get Jeremy Hermida and three prospects (two FLO, one BOS)
Red Sox get Jason Bay and John Grabow

Update 5: Nice dramatic feel in this writeup by the Palm Beach Post.

As Seen In: Rumors, Trades

Posted: April 8th, 2008

If you aren’t impressed by the work of Larry Beinfest and Michael Hill, you should reconsider. Apparently the “cash” exchanged with the Phillies is $2.15 Million which happens to be Wes Helms‘ 2008 salary. Now the fish will probably buy out his last year at $750,000 but that’s not a bad price for a quality veteran.

Update: Turns out the Marlins gave Philadelphia $1 as consideration for the deal.

As Seen In: Players, Trades

Posted: April 6th, 2008

The first place Florida Marlins have brought back Wes Helms via a trade with Philadelphia. Helms was designated for assignment by the Phillies and the Marlins traded for him plus cash in exchange for an infamous player to be named later. Helms is making $2.15 million this season and has a $750,000 buyout for 2009.

Here is what the experts are saying:

“Wes was unbelievable in the role for us in 2006, filling in at third, and filling in at first, and being a primary bat off the bench,” Marlins president of baseball operation Larry Beinfest said. “He was a guy that we never wanted to lose in the first place. We’re happy to have him back.”

To make room for Helms, the Marlins designated Jason Wood for assignment. No word if the last place winless Detroit Tigers will try to pick up Wood (just a joke).

As Seen In: News, Players, Trades

Posted: March 20th, 2008

MLBTR speculates that the Marlins are looking to trade for another starter. We know Sergio Mitre is out and Scott Olsen is slow to recover but is it worth trading away Mike Jacobs or some younger talent to get one of these guys?

potentially available starters include Kyle Snyder, Kei Igawa, Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas, Jason Marquis, Daniel Cabrera, Matt Morris, Woody Williams, Matt Belisle, Justin Germano, Anthony Reyes, Cliff Lee, Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey, and Gustavo Chacin.

BTW, I don’t buy the salary argument. If the Fish found a meaningful starter who has a multi-million dollar salary, I’m sure ownership would make it’s infamous one-player salary splurge.

As Seen In: Rumors, Trades

Posted: December 14th, 2007

From the good guys at FishStripes:

Lo Duca was traded to the Marlins in July 2004 and the last evidence in the report of him buying performance enhancing drugs was in August of the same year. Lo Duca signed a three-year deal with the Marlins in January of 2005.

If the report is accurate, the Dodgers juiced him up and sold the Marlins a bill of goods and the only way I can see to right the wrong is to give us Brad Penny back and have the Dodgers pay out Penny’s existing contract. And you wonder why I’m not the commissioner.

As Seen In: Baseball on Drugs, Commentary, Trades

Posted: December 5th, 2007

It’s a good time for a poll:

As Seen In: Players, Polls, Trades

Posted: December 5th, 2007

We’ve talked about this before:

• Why the Marlins Should Trade Cabrera
• Why the Marlins Should Trade Willis

As Seen In: Commentary, Trades