The Marlins have signed Wes Helms to a one-year, $1MM contract for 2011, tweets Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Helms had been in the final year of a two-year, $1.9MM deal, but now appears poised to remain a Marlin through next season.
The 34-year-old has served as a part-time third baseman for Florida this year, hitting .226/.301/.362 in 296 plate appearances. Those numbers are roughly in line with what Helms has done for the duration of his three-year stint in Florida (.248/.306/.357). Despite his uninspiring slash line, Helms' presence on the bench is valued highly by the Marlins. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro noted prior to the trade deadline that even if the team traded Helms, they may have tried to re-sign him in the winter, since they envision him as a future coach in their organization.
