The Dodgers and Marlins may turn out to be surprisingly big spenders this offseason, Jayson Stark writes at ESPN.com. Here are the details and the rest of Stark’s rumors…
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told Stark that he intends be aggressive in his attempts to retain key contributors this offseason. "It's our intent to sign some of our core guys long-term," Colletti said. "It's also our intent to improve the club." Colletti acknowledged that it “remains to be seen" whether the Dodgers’ ownership issues will affect the team’s attempts to lock up the likes of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw.
- Florida president David Samson told Stark that this offseason will be different than most for the Marlins. "With our payroll going up, we have a chance to put together a team at a payroll level we don't currently have," Samson said. Rival front offices get the sense that the Marlins plan to go all-in this offseason before moving into their new stadium.
- The Mets don’t appear to be interested in waiting around for Jose Reyes to weigh various offers this winter.
- Stark hears that Jim Thome is undecided about whether he’ll play in 2012.
- MLB won’t add playoff teams in 2012, according to Stark.
Even if the Marlins go all in this offseason, they’ll just trade everyone away again after one or two good years. They’re still owned by Loria, aren’t they?
Let it go will ya? Still living in the last decade…
Yeah, Loria’s totally changed in the last four years. He’s started spending on outside talent, he’s stopped running managers out of town.
by “last decade” he meant 2010, when they traded dan uggla for a chinese finger trap
oh shut it…he got infante in the deal
all in for the Marlins probably just means they’ll actually spend more money than the league hands them, not that they’ll actually be competitive.
Considering Loria never actually did this…
Trade Ethier, lock up Kemp and Kershaw.
Gwynn / Kemp / Sands outfield?
I’d take Juan Rivera over Ethier and use the money that was going towards him to add a decent third baseman.
Not that I disagree with you, but where would Uribe go? Looks like Gordon and Sellers may be the starting middle infield.
Not that a person has to actually work these things out when they’re noodling around on message boards, but I can’t help thinking that the same people who are calling for trading Ethier now (after an injury-shortened season, really smart) are the same ones who were saying that Kemp should go after last season.
To be honest I think Uribe’s contract is going to be a combination of Schmidt/Jones. He’s either going to be hurt or just not play well enough to play everyday.
Sellers is not the answer at 2B. Never a highly regarded prospect, not doing much to change that perception at the major league level. His minor league numbers are just a result of playing in the PCL.
The Dodgers should be able to find an upgrade at 2B/3B. Uribe can play whatever spot is open… or be a vastly overpaid utility guy.
just let Reyes go, He shouldn’t waste his last few years as a prime player on a losing team. Of course half my apathy towards him rejoining the Mets his that he hasn’t run full out since he came back from his last hammy injury, doesn’t bode well for his future.
Offer Reyes 5 years, $100MM. If he doesn’t take it, walk away. It really is, and needs to be that simple. I’d love to see Reyes and Wright remain Mets for the entire duration of their careers, but with the team unlikely to be in serious contention for what looks like several years, it wouldn’t break my heart to see either one or even both gone for the greater good of the franchise.
just wondering….how do you “appear to be interested in waiting around” without weighing in on this issue either way, I’d just like to point out how stupid that sounds.
Like to see the Red Sox get Either to replace Drew next year and because I don’t think Reddick is a long term answer and Kalish you just don’t know.
Reddick and/or Kalish would likely be part of the package it would take to acquire Ethier from LA.
Ethier is another JD drew. Overpaid and overrated
not even. drew was a better player when signed than ethier is or has ever been
Wrong on multiple fronts in multiple ways.
better hitter, better defender, better baserunner. probably trails ethier in craps given, but that’s about it
You’re not completely off base, but Ethier’s ’08-’10 is probably better than any three consecutive years Drew has ever had, just because Drew has never really been healthy and at his best for three straight years.
the injury issue is a big deal, no doubt. but i don’t know what you mean about ’08-’10. despite playing in 55 fewer games, drew was more valuable during that exact same time
drew: 385 games .377 wOBA 128 wRC+ 18 UZR 11.6 WAR
ethier: 440 games .373 wOBA 130 wRC+ -38 UZR 8.4 WAR
and i’d wager that ethier will never in his career approach drew’s 2004-2006 peak
Wow, they’re further apart in Fangraphs WAR than I would have expected. Baseball-Reference has them closer. Obviously, part of the issue is that Ethier can’t touch Drew’s ’04. I am putting some premium on consistency, though. Even in the best three year stretch of Drew’s career, you only actually get two and a half seasons.
Really? An impersonator? Wow, never though I’d see the day.
Kemp would be the best but I don’t think the Red Sox will add that much payroll in the offseason.
No a big fan of the extra playoff team. Keep it the way it is.
Would you change your mind if your team makes it as “the extra playoff team”?
The Marlins with money that their willing to spend makes them a deadly team. Also a healthly hanley, J.J, and stanton watch out Phillies because that young team in Miami is gonna be comin’ for that title soon!
Josh Johnson is rarely healthy though. It’s a shame because if he could pitch a full season, he’d probably be a top 5 pitcher in baseball. Hanley doesn’t have the makeup to lead a championship team. Stanton is a beast though.
I think the Marlins need more pitching, a 2nd baseman (Infante is a utility player who happens to be an every day 2nd baseman) and a Center Fielder. The question is, are the Marlins willing to pay for all that?
More importantly, are they going to be able to find a manager A) willing to work for that ownership group and B) Who will be able to keep his job long enough to develop a team capable of being better than Philly/Atlanta.
Who exactly are the Marlins going to go all-in on? They have two good first basemen and a good shortstop (well, he plays short and is good), so it’s hard to see them going after Pujols, Fielder, or Reyes. What could they do that would constitute going all-in?
I’d except them to big players in the pitching market. Hanley has already said he’ll play third if they sign Reyes (though I don’t see that happening).
What pitching market? They’re going to spend $130 million to get C.J. Wilson and Jonathan Papelbon to make a statement to the fans?
Probably would take more then that. And I’d be very happy to see the Marlins sign C.J. Wilson. Already have a decent rotation if JJ can stay healthy. If we add Wilson, rotation would be JJ-Wilson-Sanchez-Nolasco-Volstad/Sanabia/Hand. Not quite Philly-esque, but definitely can put up a fight.
I don’t think the Marlins are C.J. Wilson away from competing.
Right Samson… I’ll believe it when I see it.