3:53pm: Buck's three-year deal with the Marlins will be worth $18MM, tweets Rosenthal. This will be Florida's biggest free agent signing since Carlos Delgado in 2005.
2:03pm: The Marlins are close to signing Buck to a three-year deal, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. We had speculated on the three-year possibility just a few hours ago.
10:26am: The Marlins are working hard to sign free agent catcher John Buck, an official from another team told Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (Twitter link). Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Marlins are definitely interested in Buck, but not close to a deal. Yesterday, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos described Buck's market as "very, very strong" and implied his agents at ACES seek a multiyear deal. Buck, 30, hit .281/.314/.489 with 20 home runs in 437 plate appearances for Toronto this year. He signed for $2MM after being non-tendered by the Royals.
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reported yesterday that the Marlins and A.J. Pierzynski share mutual interest, but he might be too pricey for the Fish.
Since when do the Marlins sign players coming off their best season to multi-year deals?
they don’t. this is very strange. i don’t buy it.
you read my mind lol.. hopefully this is a sign of things to come
Bad things. This guy is horrible. He has a career year and he going to get overpaid. He lingers between 220-240 every year and now he’s good. I’d be pissed if I was a marlins fan.
Marlins Front Office is a joke. This signing just killed any chance we had of making it to the playoffs for the next 3 years.
damn with fans like you guys its no wonder we fill up the stadium every night… good positivity guys
Must be the new coach
Must be the new coach
[As this becomes more official]…WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?
Since they couldn’t sign Dan Uggla and had extra money to spend…
I love this deal. John Buck is one of my favorite players in Baseball!
How is Buck one of your favorite players in baseball? Or maybe a better question–who isn’t one of your favorite players in baseball?
Ricky Romero/Cameron Maybin/Ricky Nolasco
If they trade Uggla they would have more than enough to sign Buck. Uggla for Buck and prospects and even a bit more extra cash might be a pretty good deal for the Fish.
Sure, they would be able to afford to do it…but why do it at all?
Depending on who the relievers were, it’s not a good deal. They need to hold on to Uggla and let someone else pick up Buck (assuming we can’t have both).
Depending on who the relievers were, it’s not a good deal. They need to hold on to Uggla and let someone else pick up Buck (assuming we can’t have both).
John Buck will cost more than A.J. Pierzynski.
My thoughts exactly. If Pierzynski is too pricey, how can they afford John Buck? AJ can at least be had on a one-year deal. Buck will require two years at least, and probably at a higher annual salary than Pierzynski (or at the very least the same annual salary).
I would have thought the Rangers would be all over John Buck right now since Molina is thinking about retiring or is.
Rangers will likely go after V-Mart first…
The Marlins are probably going hard for him to trade him to the Red Sox to get more relievers.
Except you can’t trade a Free Agent the same year that he is signed. The Marlins are just idiots
I would think that Buck would want to play for a winning team for the first time in his career, he’s not getting any younger.
He played for the Blue Jays last year, they are both young and good.
He played for the Blue Jays last year, they are both young and good.
AA should resign Buck (he’s stated he prefers to play in Toronto and will let them match any deal he recieves) Then use him as the centerpiece to Florida for Uggla.
I’m 99.9% sure you can’t do that. There’s gotta be a rule which prevents sign and trades. I don’t think you can sign someone and trade them before April or May.
It was a joke. . . but i’m pretty sure that it would be perfectly within the rules.
Any FA has a full no trade clause until June 15th. Same as every off-season.
John Buck – forever in blue jeans, babe.
i do not see the jays signing then trading. they would loose their supplement pick by doing so. btw i believe he is looking for 3-4 year deal at around 5mil a season.
If Gregg Zaun is healthy, I see him as a more realistic target for the Marlins.
John Buck will sign with whomever offers the highest dollar. He will do this because he knows that he will never, ever repeat what he did in 2010. It was a career year and he is going to cash in on it.
Then he will revert to what he really is – a decent backup.
At the end of the day he’s still John Freaking Buck.
can you blame him?
I wish I had a middle name as badass as “Freaking”. Oh well…
It doesnt beat those few Yankees that have “bleeping” for a middle name
I really don’t think anybody should go beyond 2 years/$14MM guaranteed with a $1MM buy out and a $6MM option, because he is bound to decline.
3 yrs 15mil is prob what he is aiming for – your deal is better for him.
I honestly expected him to go to the Sox. But I bet the Marlins were one of the few teams going three years.
I honestly expected him to go to the Sox. But I bet the Marlins were one of the few teams going three years.
Those fish are feeling feisty this offseason.
Those fish are feeling feisty this offseason.
The Marlins are about a sign a 30-year-old catcher with a lifetime OPS of .722 for three years?
Good luck with that!
The Marlins are about a sign a 30-year-old catcher with a lifetime OPS of .722 for three years?
Good luck with that!
this could be a huge deal for the fish if they can pull it off.
i’m trying to understand it. why do you think it is huge, seriously? i was looking at his stats, and he is avg. before this past year. there has to be a reason the sox, jays, and marlins all want him. could you explain?
his leadership and game calling and ability to work with a young staff is invaluable.
His only claim to fame before 2010 was being the personal catcher to Gil Meche….look how that turned out…
Because he had so much to work with in Kansas City..
After a rough start to 2010, Buck did a great job with all the young pitching stars the jays have.
thank you. i was hoping that was it.
Guess the Sox are going to either 1. pony up for Victor, or 2. see what Salty has to offer. I would be ok with either, but I know Theo was interested in Buck earlier this offseason.
Wow. Unexpected much?
quit following me around these threads. haha
quit following me around these threads. haha
Wow. Unexpected much?
Weren’t the fish looking for a catcher in return for Uggla?
Maybe now they deal Uggla for a package that doesn’t include a catcher
Maybe now they deal Uggla for a package that doesn’t include a catcher
Weren’t the fish looking for a catcher in return for Uggla?
Yah Marlins ! Sign him so the Jay’s can’t resign him, PLZ ! We want that sup draft pick !
How would that work? The Marlins would be signing him as a free agent therefore they wouldn’t get any pick there.
I think he’s a Jays fan who’s saying he hopes he signs elsewhere so the Jays get the pick
I said sup(limentary) pick ! Which is wicked for the Jays. As a type B free agent, Buck doesn’t cost the team that signs him a pick, but rather provides a pick to the Jays in the supplementary round which lies between the first and second rounds. If the Jays resigned him then we wouldn’t get that pick and i’d be mad. So as I said, Yah Marlins !
Ah, that makes sense. Upon first read, it seemed as though you thought you were stealing the supp round pick by signing him (as a Fish fan). Apologies.
The Jays already have 2 catchers….theres about a 0% chance he returns.
Really they have 2.5 half right now (.5 being Olivo who will probably decline arb).
Yah Marlins ! Sign him so the Jay’s can’t resign him, PLZ ! We want that sup draft pick !
I’m worried about this move. He’s 30, had a career year in literally every meaningful offensive category and his defense is a liability and over his career, he’s never played in more than 118 games in a season. But they’re gonna sign this guy to a three-year deal?
If they think this is going to soften the blow of trading away one of the top 5 second basemen in the game, they’re sorely mistaken. Here’s hoping they hold on to Uggla and find a better fit behind the plate. I don’t hate Buck or anything – he’s fine – just that I’d MUCH rather hold on to Uggla than sign Buck with all his shortcomings.
Buck is one of the main reasons our young rotation did so well. he knows how to call a game and have a pitcher pitch to his strengths. Look what happened to Grienke after he left ERA over 4…
ya but you can’t pay a catcher 6mil a year for 3 yrs just because he can call a good game. he was good for the jays last year but you could really see his flaws. he has a good swing but loves to chase stuff in the dirt. also doesn’t draw walks so its either a hit or miss with him. those 20 jacks, don’t expect to see them again as TO was a HR friendly BP, i doubt the marlins stadium will help him replicate that. GL buck
agree that he will more then likely not get to 20 hrs again. but that being said you never know. i will say he helped Cecil a lot as well as Romero and Marcum. He was a good clubhouse presence with the right attitude. He will help Johnson get to the next level and maybe Volstad will start pitching to expectations.
“just that I’d MUCH rather hold on to Uggla than sign Buck with all his shortcomings.”
I’m sure the FO does too…but last I checked Uggla turned down a very nice deal.
Yeah, he did. But, if they’re willing to overpay for Buck, why not overpay for the known quantity that is Uggla?
Furthermore, they’re opening up a new ballpark in 2012. They should overpay a little bit (if they have to) to keep him so that he can be there on opening day 2012. He’s a better draw than Buck, for sure. You can’t expect players to give you a discount when nobody goes to the games. Pay him so that you can reap the benefits in 2012. We need to open that stadium with a real contender. Plain and simple.
You should be very worried! There is a reason he was non-tendered in order to make room for Jason Kendall.
except unfortunately the jays actually have good coaches( especially hitting, pitching) hence y he did so well,and didnt do so well in kc. your loss, jays gain(sup draft pick) marlins loss(over paying , since they dont have the coaches the jays have he will resort back to mediocrity) go jays!
Tim is 0/2 so far.
0/2 with Kuroda signing with the Dodgers
Forgot about him
Tim is 0/2 so far.
Why would the Marlins commit more than 15MM to John Buck over three years? They’re pretty much admitting that they’re closing the book on Uggla. I’ll be happy to see him go, as a Phils fan, but man… Has me wondering.
Why would the Marlins commit more than 15MM to John Buck over three years? They’re pretty much admitting that they’re closing the book on Uggla. I’ll be happy to see him go, as a Phils fan, but man… Has me wondering.
This is the same John Buck that hit like complete crap in KC right? So why would ANY team, let alone the Marlins offer a multiple year deal when the player is on the decline? One year in Toronto should not result in millions being throw away.
Cito fixed him
he sucked so bad he helped Grienke develop into a premier pitcher….
ummmm no, that was his therapist that made that happen.
This is the same John Buck that hit like complete crap in KC right? So why would ANY team, let alone the Marlins offer a multiple year deal when the player is on the decline? One year in Toronto should not result in millions being throw away.
A decent catcher but he had a .314 OBP in a year that he hit .281. not sure i’d be comfortable going 3/15 for that.
A decent catcher but he had a .314 OBP in a year that he hit .281. not sure i’d be comfortable going 3/15 for that.
well, at least if they make this move and do trade uggla (i kinda hope not), they can go after a better pitcher in trade.
Dammit, I was really hoping the redsox would sign Buck to a multi-year deal just in time for him to regress to sub-100 wRC+ levels.
As a Jays fan I have to agree with the uncertainty of this potential deal. Buck did have a great year, but I don’t want him back! He did however work well with our young pitchers excluding Morrow but he was a pass ball/ wild pitch king… I would get very angry watching him stick his glove out and completely miss the ball. Especially when catching for Romero, he would not jump at the ball which resulted in Romero throwing 18 WP!
November 16th and the lock worst contract of the year is already in. The Boston media for some reason had wood over the idea of signing Buck, luckily they are proven to be mouth-breathers once again.
some one will give vmart 5 years and that will take the cake.
3 years of John Buck?? Yikes. What are the Marlins thinking? Is Cito running that team now?
hey don’t criticize cito, he said he was going to play buck until he hits 20 dingers
and look how that worked out for him lol
In other news, Lyle Overbay has generated a lot of interest and looks to be signing a lucrative 4 year deal with the Braves worth a whopping 24 million
not to be out done, it has been announce that Brian Tallet has been offer a 3 year deal worth 12 million from the brewers.
The Red Sox resigning V-Mart becomes that much more important with Buck signing elsewhere.
Or their trust level of Salty.
Why, Saltalamacchia is as likely to not suck as Buck was.
As much as I dislike Buck going forward, at least he has a track record of some sucess in the Majors. Jarrod has none.
why would you dislike buck? he did a lot of good for our young staff last year at a bargain price. he was very solid for us last year. why hate him for what he signed for? if a different employer (although i am guessing at this point you are in school or something) offered you three times the pay for the same job would you say no? if you did you are missing a few nuts and bolts up there….
Less than a year ago Salty had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher, and has been inconsistent in his time in the majors. At least Buck was an All Star last year, and has put up good numbers before.
I don’t like this at all…this has bust written all over it.
I wanted him for my team, but I wouldn’t touch that alleged deal with a ten foot pole.
this deal could be nice for the fish,but they could be in for a bust.
you just got done saying in the posts below that this was huge for the fish, if they make the deal. i don’t think you know what you want to say.
Very risky signing. And it pretty much looks like Uggla is def gone now.
I think the Marlins are going to sign this guy to play. But numbers for a catcher coming off a career year is a bit suspect. Those 20 HR’s are sure to dip in the Marlins ballpark in my opinion. It’s a fair deal for both sides, but I think three years is one too many.
Two good things for the Jays:
1. They get a pick and the Marlins are not a big spender so they likely wont sign better free agents, which would lower the pick the Jays receive.
2. The Marlins do not NEED a catcher in the Uggla deal. The Jay would get to hang on the Arencibia and offer better pitching prospects, which the Jays have a lot of. As long as the Jays do not have to put anyone from their starting 5 in a deal then i think Uggla maybe a possibility at 2B with Hill moving to 3B.
***changed my mind****
Make that starting 6. Anyone but fab 4 + Drabek, Stewart is fine by me.
Its a compensation pick, the Marlins can go out and sign Cliff Lee, Werth and Crawford and they will still get a supplementary round pick from this.
3 years and over $15 million dollars to a catcher who was absolutely awful before this year and still had a terrible .314 OBP this year
Terrible, terrible deal for the Fish
I just don’t understand why we’re overpaying for John Buck. Seriously, John Buck? We just let Cody Ross go for a bag of peanuts; we’re gonna let Uggla walk away; but we’re going to sign JOHN BUCK for three years, $18 million???????
Why?
The Marlins Front Office is testing how much they can ruin the team and still take the fans money. Don’t go to any games in 2011 or 2012. I know i’m not and I went to 28 of them last year.
if you dont go there will be no one there. sad to see so many orange seats at a game and then listen to the lie of attendance being reported by ownership
Poor small market team. You dump your decent to good players to avoid arbitration and sign mediocrity for 3/18. According to wRC+ Buck was at best average and usually below average before the 2010 season.
Couldn’t agree more…
he was a major influence on the development of grienke.
3 years over 18? This has to be a part of another move, no way the fish eat this deal through it’s entirety. Do they really need a catcher that badly?
18 mil for a .314 obp career year. Good luck with this one!
Either they overpaid by 6M or the market for catchers that can hit is requiring a lot of money. Looks like V-Mart is going to get a hefty deal wherever he signs. We all knew that from the beggining but now it seems like it’s going to require more than what everyone thought to sign him.
That’s just bleeping ugly.
Decent power/ Bad OBP
Seems like he was swinging for the fences with Tor. and trying to earn a payday…..he did.
3/18 seems expensive IMO.
Ridiculous. Can’t believe the Marlins spent their limited funds on Jon Buck.
AA seems to create draft picks out of thin air like how the Federal Reserve prints money. Seeing Buck go this fast only underscores what a great investment that Olivo trade is, he’s next.
How frustrating would it be for a KC fan to watch TOR create 2 supplemental round picks out of the Royals catching tandem from 2009?
Olivio will be jays catcher next year. we wont get a pick instead we will sign him. buck and olivio agreed to the same offer from AA – search the market let us know what you have been offered and we will go from there. now that buck is gone olivio will be signed.
so you’re saying that they really want one of those guys, but are allowing OTHER teams make that choice for them and to set the market for them?
I guess I just don’t understand the logic. If you want one of them, just sign the one you want, why play games?
Also, I hadnt heard about that agreement, but I am not omnipotent….yet
Cito was right!!! Getting to 20 Homers really was going to lead to someone overpaying him!!
the moustache can’t be wrong!
DO NOT DISRESPECT CITO
HIS TWO WS RINGS LETS HIM SEE INTO THE FUTURE
As much as I don’t like the signing…I’d still prefer Buck over John Baker and Ronnie Paulino…although Brett Hayes wasn’t too bad near the end of the season…regardless, I would much rather keep Uggla and go at it with another catcher…
Paulino > Buck
Wow.
Another horrible moment for the fish. I’m fine with 3 years. I’m not fine with 6 million per. 4 million tops. Just bad.
Every free agent catcher should send a gift basket to the Florida Marlins.
You know who just fist pumped?
Victor Martinez! How can he argues for anything less than at least double the cash compared to John Buck.
Now Miguel Olivo will try to get paid too.
vmart cant throw out base runners nor can he call an above average game. he does hit both sides well and will carry better avg and obs then buck but what buck does for the rotation you can not put a value on. i would rather have buck then vmart. thanks.
John Buck seems like the kind of catcher that often turn into excellent managers — smart mind, limited skills
but that is a beyond-stupid signing
(maybe if they morphed their two catchers into one and created John Bucker)
WOW JUST WOW
im just glad Omar Minaya can now relinquish his title of MLBTR Pinata…after the Uggla trade + this signing…this dude MUST wear the dunce hat…
I’d imagine Olivo value just went up?
Lol @ Marlins. Uggla and now Buck signing.
Dierkes’ predictions are now 1 for 3!
glad we got the supp pick, thanks marlins.