The Miami Marlins have a new name, new ballpark, new uniforms, and now they are making a big splash in free agency. The Marlins expect to have a huge increase in revenue now that they own their own stadium, and they are wasting no time in spending it. The Marlins signed shortstop Jose Reyes to a 6 year, 106 million dollar contract on Monday. Reyes is one of the best players available and, when healthy, is one of the best players in the league. The key to that is: "when healthy". Reyes has missed 191 games over the past 3 seasons with multiple injuries. At 28, Reyes should be in his prime for most of this contract. If mostly healthy, Miami got a slight bargain on a top player, but if he continues to having nagging injuries they might regret this one. I think he is well worth the risk though.
Now that Reyes has teamed up with perennial all star Hanley Ramirez (who will be making the move to 3rd), Miami should have one of the best lineups in the National League. To go along with Reyes and Hanley, they also have another budding star in Mike Stanton, who hit 24 home runs last year. Emilio Bonifacio was a breakout star for them last year, and when teamed with Reyes and Hanley, should give them the fastest lineup in the league. They also have Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez who are pretty good players in their own right. 1-6 the Marlins will have no easy out.
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| The Marlins new stadium has a fish tank for a backstop. |
Signing Reyes was not the Marlins only big move so far in free agency they also signed closer Heath Bell away from the Padres. Bell has 90 saves over the past 2 seasons and has been one of the elite closers in the league. At 3 years, 27 million, I think they payed a high price for him, but it is 3.5 million a year less than the Phillies had to pay for Papelbon. They are getting him cheaper because he is older, but at 34 he should be good for the length of the contract. I am not really a fan of paying this much for a closer, and at his age there is a decent chance this one backfires. Miami needed a closer after a story broke that their current closer, Leo Nunez, is currently in the country under a stolen identity. With Nunez's status in doubt, I can see why they wanted to make a move, but I think they over payed for this one.
Even though Miami has already sunk 133 million into two guys this offseason, they may have plans for an even bigger signing. Free agent Albert Pujols has already had a visit with the Marlins this offseason, and the Marlins might just have enough money to pry him away from St. Louis. It is going to take a crazy deal for it to happen, but if the Marlins really want to put themselves on the map, this would be the move. I dont really see it happening, but crazier things have happened. No one really expected A-Rod to sign with Texas when he did, but with enough money anything can happen.
Nice to see that the Marlins are finally moving into an actual baseball stadium. They have been playing at the Miami Dolphins stadium ever since they came into the league. That stadium was built for football and never really worked for baseball. Here are some more pictures of the Miami Marlins fancy new stadium:
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