The Marlins are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (5)
- Anibal Sanchez - Sanchez will be in high demand this offseason. He's just 28 and he continues to pitch like a top-of-the-rotation starter. The Marlins figure to make the right-hander a qualifying offer to be eligible for draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.
- Juan Carlos Oviedo - Oviedo, the pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez, is not part of the Marlins' long-term plans. He hasn't pitched in 2012 because of issues surrounding his age and identity.
- Randy Choate - Most modern bullpens employ lefty specialists and Choate remains effective in that role at age 36.
- Chad Gaudin - There's no reason to believe the journeyman right-hander figures into the team's 2013 plans just yet.
- Austin Kearns - Kearns has been useful as a lefty masher this year, even batting cleanup seven times. Perhaps the Marlins will want him back as a platoon bat/extra outfielder.
Contract Options (1)
- Carlos Zambrano: $19.25MM vesting option. The option vests if Zambrano places in the top four in this year's Cy Young voting and finishes the season healthy. As well as he has pitched, it seems unlikely the option will vest.
Arbitration Eligible (7)
- First time: Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez, Brett Hayes, Ryan Webb
- Second time: Emilio Bonifacio, Donnie Murphy
- Third time: Edward Mujica
The Marlins face a mid-sized arbitration class that could diminish in the coming months. Coghlan could be non-tendered if the Marlins feel a gap has developed between the former Rookie of the Year's resume and his current skills. Murphy could also be non-tendered. Sanchez is now in the minors and unless he returns to Miami, his arbitration eligibility will be delayed. The Marlins saved themselves millions by delaying Giancarlo Stanton's MLB debut in 2010; he will miss the cutoff for super two eligibility by a couple of weeks. Even if the team retains all seven players, the cost should stay in the $10-15MM range.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Marlins have already committed $85MM to next year's team, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Revenue from their new stadium should provide ownership with the opportunity to boost payroll in 2013 and exceed their current $101.6MM tab.
Anibal is an absolute animal when he’s healthy. A third year in a row this year and he’ll cash in.
They should have extended him before the season began.
Now? I hope he is ANOTHER Fish who makes their way to Boston.. Hermida, Lowell, Beckett, Ross.. If the Fish are cracked enough to let their only reliable and great combo of a SP walk.. yet sign some goofball of a Manager? They deserve to lose him and I am a Marlins fan also.
yes, he wants to come home to the team that originally signed him
I was under the impression that Z voided his vesting option in order to facilitate the trade to Miami.
The Cots link confirms that Z did waive NTC and 2013 option although it does not link to a source. I assume it’s swimming around in Google somewhere though.
Assuming Z continues to pitch well & he keeps it under control, I wonder what his market is? yr. to yr. with the Fish or multi-year offer elsewhere?
Bonifacio is going to be the next Sanchez as far as messing up by not extending current players they have and not getting them under control/locking down payroll for a few seasons. They don’t have to give him a huge deal, even go more than 3-4 seasons, but would be willing to bet he could be had for less than Mayben got (5/25m) and at least Bonifacio has proven he can hit at the MLB level.. Something Maybin has never done and still isn’t able to do.
Maybe bonifacio isn’t close to the defender of Maybin.. partially because the Fish keep sticking him all over the field.. But you leave him alone at one of the OF positions and he would become league average at least and Bonifacio is at LEAST as fast, plus far better with the bat than Maybin will ever be.
Luria should definitely keep Trader Jack close to the team and hire him as a motivational instructor at least for the outstanding job that he ALONE did with Bonifacio, getting the negative thoughts out of his head and rubbish prior coaches had put into him with regards to how to steal bases.
Bonifacio is a terror on the bases and should have the green light anytime he is on.