NewsInbox: Who will man the hot corner in '10?
Beat reporter Joe Frisaro answers fans' burning questions
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/21/09 2:01 PM ET
Who do you think is going to be the Marlins' third baseman on Opening Day?-- Dennis C., Miami
We haven't even started free agency, and the organization right now is trying to settle its coaching staff, so it is way too early to give a truly accurate prediction of who will start at a number of positions. For conversational purposes, deep down I think Jorge Cantu will be on the team. If he is, and either Logan Morrison or Gaby Sanchez wins the starting first-base job in Spring Training, then my guess is Cantu will be playing third base. Now, if Cantu is back, and Morrison and Sanchez aren't big league ready by Opening Day, Cantu likely would return to first base. That leaves third base open, and it's anyone's guess. Many are assuming Dan Uggla won't be back, so Emilio Bonifacio or Chris Coghlan are possible second-base candidates.
Are the Marlins going to explore the closer or relief pitcher market? I know the Marlins were very close to making the playoffs, but I
thought the bullpen was lacking.
-- Bobby S., Orlando, Fla.
I have to disagree about the bullpen. The relievers ended up being a team strength, especially when you consider how much they were used. The starting pitching, on the other hand, was an area of concern. Remember the first half when the starters struggled to go five innings? That meant the bullpen was picking up a lot of innings every game. Eventually, you will wear out the 'pen. Florida relievers combined for 543 1/3 innings, fourth most in the National League. Still, the bullpen ERA was 3.89, which was tied for seventh best in the NL. Regarding a closer, the team has some decisions to make. Leo Nunez is in line to earn about $2 million in arbitration. If the Marlins allocate $2 million for their closer, they will have to figure out if Nunez is the player they want to give that to. In fairness to Nunez, this was his first time as closer, and he had 26 saves. Granted, he had his struggles, allowing 13 home runs in 68 2/3 innings, but the team may feel with this year under his belt, he will be more seasoned to handle the job in 2010.
I've been a Marlins fan since the beginning. Now that we have the ballpark deal done, do you think that we are going to push this year to maintain the base and also bring a star to the infield, either at third base or second base for Uggla?
-- Franklin D., Miami
Getting the ballpark deal done provides franchise stability for the next four decades. However, the team has repeatedly stated that payroll will stay in line with revenue. Until the team is generating the revenues from the new park, I think we're still going to see modest payrolls. Obviously, with Uggla in line to make about $7 million in arbitration, retaining him seems like a long shot. I suspect we will see the team focus on retaining its pitching, so I expect there will be perhaps a sizable allocation of the payroll going to the pitching staff. I don't think we will see any high-priced free agents being targeted.
As noted earlier, if Uggla is moved, either Bonifacio or Coghlan could be switched to second. We also don't know if the team will target a modest stop-gap free agent to play second. Perhaps Orlando Hudson could be a fit.
What about all the relievers that were signed for $400,000 this year? With the way they pitched, aren't they up for raises too?
-- Bruce W., Georgetown, Del.
The way the system works, players with fewer than three years of MLB service time are under club control. Most make around the league minimum based on how long they've played. In the case of Dan Meyer, for instance, he made $400,000 (the minimum) this year. Meyer is not yet up for arbitration. So the team would likely bring him back for around what the 2010 minimum would be, perhaps $410,000, give or take a few thousand. Other relievers like Burke Badenhop and Brian Sanches also could return for roughly the same money. Relievers like Renyel Pinto, Matt Lindstrom and Nunez are eligible for arbitration -- meaning their service time is in the three-to-six year range. It's at this stage when players start seeing their salaries climb to around $1 million, depending on how much success they've had.
I heard that Gary Sheffield wants to play one more year and then retire and he wants it to be with the Marlins. What are the realistic possibilities that he does come back? I would love it personally, he is still one of my favorite players.
-- Joey T., Boca Raton, Fla.
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Without question, Sheffield is popular. Not sure he would fit the plans as an everyday player with the Marlins. There is a good chance the 2010 outfield will be Coghlan in left, Cameron Maybin in center and Cody Ross in right field. If that is the case, I'm not sure how Sheffield would handle coming off the bench. Also, the Marlins generally like to have clubhouse harmony. They don't like when players are outspoken about their playing time or where they want to play. When Sheffield, wearing a Mets uniform a few months ago, said publicly that he wanted to be with the Marlins, that doesn't help his situation. It hurts it. I know Sheffield has always been outspoken. Not sure he is a fit at this stage of his career with Florida.
I know a lot of people are disappointed that we did not make the playoffs, but the team is progressing well. I think the young pitchers -- Chris Volsted,
Sean West, Andrew Miller, Rick VandenHurk and Anibal Sanchez -- need to make progress next year. The team has a good one-two tandem of Josh Johnson and Nolasco, do you think they should do deals for the next four-to-five years to give the team a good foundation for the future? In terms of the rest of the team, do you think that dealing Uggla and Jeremy Hermida will free up the cash to do these type of deals?
-- Wayne B., Leicester, UK
As an organization, the Marlins pride themselves on developing its own pitching. The disappointment in 2009 was over the fact that the young starters didn't mesh together the way the team had hoped. Just because it didn't happen this year doesn't mean there is a lack of quality arms. The pitchers you mentioned, Volstad, West, Miller, VandenHurk and Sanchez, all are expected back. Having another year of experience should help. It doesn't guarantee anything, but they are worth giving a chance to win rotation spots. Foremost, if they stay healthy, each of them has the talent to be productive. I don't anticipate the Marlins seeking to add a marquee free-agent starter. Now, in any trades they make, they could always bring back someone with experience.
If Uggla and Hermida are traded, that indeed would free up some dollars -- about $9.5 million. But the way the team budgets its payroll, that would only impact freeing up money for 2010, not beyond because neither is signed to a long-term contract.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
