NewsInbox: Will Marlins hold on to Uggla?
Beat reporter Joe Frisaro answers Marlins fans' questions
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/28/09 10:00 AM ET
Is there any chance that the Marlins can extend Dan Uggla like they did with Hanley Ramirez? Uggla is a great player and I could see him in the Opening Day lineup in the Marlins new stadium.-- Yosbel V., Hialeah, Fla.
From what I hear and gut instincts, chances of that happening seem pretty slim. Now, that doesn't mean the Marlins wouldn't figure out a way to sign Uggla for his second arbitration season. I just don't see a long-term deal as part of the equation. Uggla has put himself in a class of making a lot of money based on three straight years of 30 or more homers. With their limited resources, the front office will decide whether to put about $7 million into retaining Uggla or using that money elsewhere. Now, a factor that could lead to him returning is if the team feels it doesn't have a suitable replacement at second base. If the Marlins feel Chris Coghlan should switch to second, then it makes it pretty much inevitable that Uggla will be traded.
Do you think Michael Stanton could make an impact next season for the big league club? What other prospects do you think have a chance to impress in 2010?
-- Alex K., York, Pa.
Patience is what comes to mind when talking about Stanton. Give him time to keep developing. On Nov. 8, he will turn 20. He's already spent half a year in Double-A, which is a pretty big step from Class A. In 79 games for Jacksonville, he hit .231 with a .311 on-base and .455 slugging percentage. He also struck out 99 times in 299 at-bats, so there is no sense rushing him.
Now he's in the Arizona Fall League, seeing some better pitching. At Double-A, Stanton had a strong playoffs, and his team won a championship. Those are all positives. So much is expected of him, and it is up to the organization to make sure he isn't rushed until he is ready. Miguel Cabrera came up at age 20 and he was a star on a World Series team. While Stanton has shown more power now than Cabrera did at the same age, Cabrera was a more seasoned overall hitter. The earliest I see Stanton getting called up is around June 1.
Some prospects to keep an eye on to make immediate impacts in 2010 are Logan Morrison or Gaby Sanchez.
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Why are the deep pockets not put to use to benefit the Marlins? Clearly, we were a pitcher or two away from making the playoffs. Why doesn't Jeffrey Loria step up and sign a veteran starter? As Chris Volstad looked bad, he was given so many chances. Also, Nick Johnson did wonders for this team, as far as hitting. I know he has an injury-plagued past, but he played in the majority of games last year, and Chris Coghlan flourished with him in the lineup. It's time for the Marlins to step up and pay!
-- Barry A., Boca Raton.
Many share your thoughts, Barry. The facts with this team remain the same. Payroll will stay in line with revenue. Even though the Marlins finished second in the NL East, their attendance remained near the bottom of the league. There weren't substantial revenues generated for a variety of reasons. Excessive rain played a part in keeping fans away.
You wanted a veteran pitcher, and the team explored the market. The price tag set by other teams in terms of a trade was high. The Marlins weren't going to trade their top prospects, either Stanton or Morrison. Moving either of them would have been more damaging long-term. Also, cost is a factor, obviously. The Blue Jays were seeking a lot for Roy Halladay, and the Marlins inquired but weren't going to deal Stanton and other top prospects.
As for Volstad, yes, he struggled. But someone with that kind of talent, you give him every opportunity to work through it. Volstad was out of the rotation in September. Not sure which veteran pitcher could have made a difference. Maybe they could have made a play for Cliff Lee before the Phillies did. Again, the price of the prospects may have been a factor. The bottom line is payroll will rise more substantially in 2012, when the new ballpark opens. Until then, the team has shown it will stay competitive.
Last season, we saw John Baker vs. righties and Ronny Paulino vs. lefties. Do you think the Marlins will continue to follow this pattern or will we be seeing more of Baker this season? Also, what are the possibilities of us dealing off Paulino? Baker has a $400,000 contract, and could be an everyday starter. This would open up more possibility for improving our bullpen. Any thoughts?
-- Sam P., Fremont, Calif.
Paulino is arbitration eligible, so his salary will rise. Still, he should be affordable. I think the team is leaning toward retaining the two. Baker has always been a terrific hitter, but his numbers against left-handers this year were down. It was just 35 at-bats, but he hit .171 vs. lefties. Baker was the primary catcher, appearing in 112 games. Catching in the South Florida heat isn't easy. It is taxing on the body. So are the high number of rain delays. Unless you have someone like Ivan Rodriguez in his prime, when he caught 140 plus games a year, I think it is crucial to have two catchers to share the duties. There aren't too many Brian McCanns out there, who can be productive with more than 480 at-bats. Baker had the seventh-most at-bats of any National League catcher, so it's not like he isn't getting a majority of the work.
With the possibility that neither Dan Uggla nor Jeremy Hermida will be back, could the Marlins pull off a deal to bring in either Adrian Gonzalez or Ryan Zimmerman, who are already signed to multiyear deals for very moderate money? They would certainly improve us offensively and defensively.
-- Frank C., Miami.
Zimmerman is signed for five years at $45 million and Gonzalez has two more years left, if you include his $5.5 million club option in 2011. Gonzalez is signed for $5.5 million in 2010. Comparatively, these two are modestly priced, but the reason why the Nationals locked up Zimmerman long term was to keep him and build around him. That may not make him untouchable, but the Nationals won't just give him away. Same with the Padres if they look to move Gonzalez. Other teams would probably want Stanton in a deal for Zimmerman or Gonzalez.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
