This Date In Transactions History: Marlins Fire Sale
Two weeks ago, the Marlins agreed to send basically every player making decent money on their roster to the Blue Jays for a package of prospects. The 12-player blockbuster became official a week ago, leaving Miami with just three players scheduled to make $2MM+ in 2013. Ricky Nolasco ($11.5MM) and Yunel Escobar ($5MM) could both still be moved before the end of the winter as well.
This isn't the first time the Marlins have torn things down and rebuilt from scratch, of course. They did it immediately following their 1997 World Series win, then again a few years after bringing home the 2003 World Championship. On this date in 2005, the team officially swung a pair of trades sending three of their highest paid players elsewhere.
Trade #1: Boston Red Sox
Josh Beckett, then just 25, was coming off a 3.38 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 178 2/3 innings for Florida. He earned $2.4MM in 2005 and was due a significant raise in his second trip through arbitration, plus the team was unlikely to re-sign him long-term when he hit free agency after 2007.
Beckett had significant trade value, so the Marlins took advantage by attaching then-31-year-old Mike Lowell to him in talks. If a team wanted Beckett, they had to take Lowell as well. The third baseman slipped to .236/.298/.360 with eight homers in 558 plate appearances that year, but more importantly he was scheduled to earn $18MM total from 2006-2007.
Few teams could meet Florida's demand for a young shortstop, but the Red Sox were one of them. The two sides worked out a seven-player trade that sent Beckett, Lowell, and Guillermo Mota to Boston in exchange for prospects Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Harvey Garcia, and Jesus Delgado. The Marlins saved all $18MM owed to Lowell in addition to second- and third-year arbitration salaries for Beckett and a third-year arbitration salary for Mota. The trade worked out well for both teams as Beckett and Lowell helped the Red Sox to the 2007 World Championship while Ramirez developed into an MVP candidate and Sanchez became a rock solid innings-eater for the Marlins.
Trade #2: New York Mets
During the 2004-2005 offseason, Florida landed the top free agent slugger by signing Carlos Delgado to a four-year, $52MM contract with a fifth-year vesting option. The then-33-year-old hit .301/.399/.582 with 33 homers in the first year of the contract, good enough to earn him a sixth-place finish in the MVP voting. However, like the contracts of Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle, Delgado's deal with the Marlins was heavily backloaded. He earned just $4MM in 2005, then his salary was scheduled to jump to $13.5MM in 2006, $14.5MM in 2007, $16MM in 2008, and potentially $12MM in 2009 if the option vested ($4MM buyout).
Rather than pay him that huge salary over the next three years, the Marlins traded Delgado to the Mets for three minor leaguers: Yusmeiro Petit, Mike Jacobs, and Grant Psomas. The Mets also received $7MM from Florida in the trade, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to the $48MM left on the contract. Delgado hit .265/.349/.505 with 100 homers during his first three years with New York, which was enough for the team to exercise his option even though it didn't vest. Jacobs had three decent years with the Marlins while Petit and Psomas flamed out, but the real get for the club was the $41MM in payroll savings. Combined with the Red Sox swap, the Marlins shed more than $59MM in contract obligations with these two moves seven years ago today.
Quick Hits: Upton, Figgins, Raburn, Rays, Orioles
Here's the latest from around the league as Saturday turns into Sunday…
- Free agent outfielder B.J. Upton is looking to make a decision this week, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Both the Braves and Phillies consider him their top target.
- Within the same piece, Topkin speculates that the Rays could have interest in the recently–released Chone Figgins and Ryan Raburn. Both players grew up in the Tampa area.
- Things with the Orioles are quiet now, but Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun says not to be surprised if Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Chris Tillman, and Zach Britton pop up in trade talks during the Winter Meetings.
- The Blue Jays have hired Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale as their new bench coach, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com (on Twitter). Hale has been a popular target for coaching and managerial positions in recent years.
Daisuke Matuszaka Interested In Pitching For Padres
The walls are coming in at spacious Petco Park this offseason, but that hasn't stopped one reclamation project pitcher from wanting to play there. Daisuke Matsuzaka has interest in pitching for the Padres next season according to Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune, and money is not the biggest factor for the right-hander.
Matsuzaka, 32, pitched to an 8.28 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 45 2/3 innings this season after returning from Tommy John surgery. Center says the former Red Sox hurler seemed to enjoy both San Diego and Petco Park while playing there in the World Baseball Classic. The Padres reportedly have a list of starting pitchers they're targeting this offseason, but it's unclear if Dice-K is on it.
Twins Have Interest In Brett Myers
The Twins are in the market for starting pitching help this winter, and there is a growing sense within the organization that Brett Myers could be a fit according to Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune. Agent Craig Landis confirmed the team's interest.
"They're interested, or perhaps even very interested … And that's about as far as we are right now," said Landis. GM Terry Ryan acknowledged he's "touched base with most of the pitchers on the market" without discussing Myers specifically.
The 32-year-old right-hander has told teams this winter he prefers to work as a starter first, a closer second, and a setup man third. Myers posted a 3.31 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 65 1/3 relief innings for the Astros and White Sox this season, but just a year ago he posted a 4.46 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 216 innings as a starter for Houston.
Minor Moves: Nate Spears, Jose Flores
Here are Saturday's minor moves…
- The Indians have signed infielder Nate Spears to a minor league contract, reports MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (on Twitter). The 27-year-old hit .240/.329/.396 with ten homers in 395 Triple-A plate appearances this season. Spears has made two brief cameos with the Red Sox in each of the last two years and has experience at all four infield spots as well as in the corner outfield.
- The Indians have also re-signed right-hander Jose Flores to a minor league deal according to Bastian. Flores, 23, posted a 2.42 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 44 2/3 relief innings at two levels of Cleveland's farm system this year. The Mariners gave him a look as a Rule 5 Draft pick in 2011, but returned him to the Indians at the end of Spring Training.
The Latest On Mike Napoli
Free agent catcher/first baseman/DH Mike Napoli has drawn interest from the Mariners, Rangers, Red Sox, and Yankees so far this offseason. The Brian Grieper client is reportedly holding out for a four-year contract, however. Here's the latest on the 2012 All-Star…
- Napoli is meeting with the Red Sox in Boston this weekend, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Yesterday we learned that he's already met with the Mariners.
- ESPN's Buster Olney says (on Twitter) evaluators view Napoli as a part-time catcher only, not someone who can play 120+ games behind the plate.
Yankees Have Interest In Jeff Keppinger
The Yankees have "renewed (their) longstanding interest" in free agent utility man Jeff Keppinger, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. People within the industry think the team may be laying groundwork to use Alex Rodriguez as the primary DH as soon as 2013, which GM Brian Cashman refuted.
"There is no discussion whatsoever about Alex transitioning from third base to DH, part-time DH, first base or any other position on the field," said Cashman. "As we approach anyone in the free-agent market or anyone in trades, we’re making sure we have insurance policies, (asking) our what-ifs?"
Keppinger, 32, hit .325/.367/.439 in 418 plate appearances for the Rays this season while playing primary second and third bases. The Yankees tried to acquire him from the Astros two winters ago. Rosenthal says New York has not spoken to the Tigers about Jhonny Peralta as they look for utility infield help, though they reportedly have interest in free agent Stephen Drew.
Rodriguez, 37, hit .272/.353/.430 with 18 homers in 529 plate appearances last season. He missed more than a month with a broken bone in his hand after getting hit by a pitch. Derek Jeter is currently rehabbing from a fractured left ankle and the team expects to be ready in time for Opening Day. The Yankees are still seeking infield depth just in case either veteran continues to fight the injury bug.
Poll: Next Top Ten Free Agent To Sign
So far this offseason, only one of Tim Dierkes’ Top Ten Free Agents has signed a new contract: Hiroki Kuroda (#9) re-upped with the Yankees. That’s not at all uncommon at this point of the winter, as most top free agents tend to wait until the Winter Meetings in early-December before deciding on their next baseball home.
The market for outfielders Josh Hamilton (#2), Michael Bourn (#3), B.J. Upton (#5), and Nick Swisher (#6) have been pretty robust so far, ditto Zack Greinke (#1). Anibal Sanchez (#4) has generated some buzz as well, but things have been slow for Edwin Jackson (#7), Dan Haren (#8), and Kyle Lohse (#10). That will change soon enough. One of these guys will soon follow in Kuroda’s footsteps and ink a new deal, but who will it be first?
Which top ten free agent will be next to sign?
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B.J. Upton 35% (8,432)
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Nick Swisher 12% (2,981)
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Zack Greinke 11% (2,747)
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Michael Bourn 9% (2,132)
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Anibal Sanchez 8% (2,024)
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Dan Haren 8% (1,825)
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Kyle Lohse 6% (1,438)
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Josh Hamilton 6% (1,379)
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Edwin Jackson 5% (1,090)
Total votes: 24,048
Ichiro Drawing Interest, Prefers To Stay With Yankees
Although he is drawing interest from other teams around the league, Ichiro Suzuki prefers to re-sign with the Yankees according to his agent Tony Attanasio. Attanasio told George A. King III of The New York Post that his client is willing to wait to see if New York wants him back after working out new contracts with Mariano Rivera and potentially Andy Pettitte.
"They are going after pitching first which is what the Yankees normally do," said Attanasio. "There has been a lot of interest [from teams], but he enjoyed playing for the Yankees so much it’s hard for him to say no to the Yankees. His preference is to stay there instead of going someplace else, but we will wait and see."
Ichiro, 39, hit .283/.307/.390 in 663 plate appearances last season, but put up a .322/.340/.454 batting line in 240 plate appearances with the Yankees following the trade. He also agreed to move from right field to left and bat near the bottom of the order. King says if the Yankees want Ichiro back, he would have to agree to a one-year contract with a pay cut from the $17MM he made in 2012.
The Giants and White Sox were among the teams with interest in Ichiro prior to the trade deadline, and earlier this month we heard the Yankees have some interest in bringing him back as a replacement for Nick Swisher. Tim Dierkes ranked the long-time Mariner as the 40th best free agent on his Top 50 Free Agents List, predicting he would sign with the Rays.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mets, Posey, Upton, Ichiro
Hot stove shopping has yet to resemble Black Friday shopping, which is officially underway across the country. Here's the best from the week that was on the baseball blogosphere…
- Over The Monster compared the Dodgers-Red Sox blockbuster to the Blue Jays-Marlins blockbuster.
- Amazin' Avenue makes a case for the Mets to trade both David Wright and R.A. Dickey.
- Rising Apple says J.P. Arencibia is a potential trade target for the Mets.
- Bay City Ball looked at a potential long-term contract for Buster Posey.
- Baseball Jerks listed some potential landing spots for B.J. Upton.
- Meanwhile, Infield Shift says Upton is a good fit for the Braves.
- Royal Blues mused about a potential blockbuster involving the Royals.
- McCovey Chronicles wrote about the Giants and Ichiro Suzuki.
- Lasorda's Lair wrote about the Dodgers and their interest in Kyuji Fujikawa.
- Wahoo's on First listed three potential trades for the Indians.
- Baseball Time in Arlington breaks down the Rangers' payroll situation.
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