• Marlins Willing to Sign Pudge at a Big Discount

  • After hearing that the Fish have no chance of signing Pudge Rodriguez, we are obviously not too surprised to find out that it’s all a ploy to convince the still-unsigned catcher to return at a huge discount. Pudge is looking for something around $5 millions while the Marlins could see an incentive-based $1 million deal.

    The question is if Rodriguez’ is willing to accept a six-figure base salary and modest incentive package. The source said even though owner Jeffrey Loria is on board with a Rodriguez reunion, it would have to happen for around $1 million, including performance bonuses.

    No doubt that Pudge will be an upgrade from Rabelo so let’s hope this dry market, which has left several big name players without a contract, allows an opportunistic front office to bring him back.

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  • Marlins, County Reach Deal; Vote Scheduled for February 13th

  • The Florida Marlins have reached agreement with Miami-Dade County on 5 contracts (read them here) which were necessary to close the deal for the new ballpark. The agreements will face final approval by both the County and the City of Miami on February 13, 2009. Among the concessions made by the Marlins:

    – If Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria sells the team in the seven years after the agreement has been reached, the county would almost double its share of any profits.

    – The ball club’s $2.3 million a year in rent will go up by 2 percent each year.

    – Extra costs due to scheduling or problems between the contractor and subcontractors will now be paid by the Marlins.

    And, we get the first official renderings here and here.

  • Marlins Park

  • Nolasco, Amezaga and Ross Sign; Uggla Headed to Arb

  • The Marlins were able to close the gap with Ricky Nolasco, Alfredo Amezaga and Cody Ross.

    Florida reached agreement on a one-year deal with Ricky Nolasco early Tuesday afternoon, according to a baseball source.

    The 26-year-old right-hander will earn $2.4 million, plus he can earn another $50,000 in incentives. The sides had been about $200,000 apart in recent days. Locking up Nolasco means both sides avoid an arbitration hearing.

    And…

    The Marlins have avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Cody Ross, who agreed to a 1-year deal for $2,225,000 shortly before Tuesday’s noon deadline.

    That leaves Dan Uggla unsigned. Uggla has put up monster numbers in his first three years and rightfully believes he will get a huge number in arbitration.

    Update: Uggla wants $5.35 million

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  • Same Story, Different Day

  • Surprise! The final votes on the Marlins ballpark deal have been delayed until next month.

    Today’s excuse?

    The holidays, coupled with Tuesday’s presidential inauguration — which will be attended by several elected officials — combined to push back the final votes that could bring the team its long-elusive permanent home in South Florida.

    Clearly the Fish know that this will take forever which is why they pushed groundbreaking to May or June.

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