Rumors for Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins sign catcher Mike Rivera
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According to MLB.com’s transaction page, the Florida Marlins signed catcher Mike Rivera and assigned him to Triple-A New Orleans.
The Marlins have been speaking about adding a catcher this week with manager Edwin Rodriguez saying the team was in the process of adding one.
Rivera, 33, last played with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009 when he went .228/.326/.342 with 2 home runs and 14 RBIs in 41 games. The seven-year veteran has played with the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres as well as the Brewers.
VIDEO: Fight between Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out this video of the bench clearing brawl between the Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals:
According to the Associated Press, Nyjer Morgan of the Nationals charged the mound after a pitch from Florida’s Chris Volstad sailed behind his head. Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez clothes-lined Morgan and sent him to the ground.
Here’s another video from the same game where Doug Slaten and manager Jim Riggleman are ejected after Slaten hit Gaby Sanchez.
Florida Marlins looking to add another catcher
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Yesterday we heard that the Florida Marlins would be looking to add another catcher during the off-season in the wake of Ronny Paulino’s recent 50 game suspension for violating MLB’s substance abuse policy. Today is appears that the team isn’t going to wait until the off-season to make the move. Manager Edwin Rodriguez says that the team is in the process of signing another catcher, according to Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald.
Catchers that are free-agents after this season include Bengie Molina, Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez, Rod Barajas, Yorvit Torrealba and A.J. Pierzynski. Yesterday, Angels‘ Mike Napoli said he wanted more playing time, and with the Angels being likely crowded next season behind the plate, he could be a good fit for the Marlins. Napoli is also under team control, so he wouldn’t be a short-term rental.
Fredi Gonzalez is at the top of Chicago Cubs managerial list
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Sources close to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times say that former Florida Marlins manager, Fredi Gonzalez, is at the top of Cubs’ general manager Jim Hendry’s wish list at this stage of the process. Wittenmyer adds that Hendry prefers a manager with Major League experience, so sentimental favorite, Ryne Sandberg, may not get his opportunity to lead his former team.
”I don’t have anything I can tell you,” Hendry said, ”except Jim and I go back to my high school days. He coached one of the opposing teams when I played. And we worked together with the Marlins.”
Hendry declined to comment on whether Gonzalez had interviewed or expected to interview. But indications are that he’s in the first group of candidates on Hendry’s list. Hendry is expected to complete his interview with Sandberg this week.
Other candidates include interim manager Mike Quade and current New York Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, should he become available.
Florida Marlins make three-year offer to RHP Ricky Nolasco
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Despite not being eligible for free agency until 2012, the Florida Marlins have made a three-year offer to right-handed pitcher Ricky Nolasco. However, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the two teams are still $10 million apart. Jackson reminds us that the Marlins had a bigger gap before agreeing to a deal with Josh Johnson.
Johnson agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract last January. Other pitchers that signed similar deals at this stage of their career include Johan Santana’s four-year, $40 million deal with the Minnesota Twins (2005-2008) and Zach Greinke’s four-year, $38 million deal with the Kansas City Royals (2009-2012).
Nolasco, 27, is 14-9 with a 4.51 ERA in 26 starts this season.
Florida Marlins looking for a new catcher this offseason
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MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Florida Marlins are strongly considering moving in another direction at catcher in the wake of Ronny Paulino’s recent 50 game suspension for violating MLB’s substance abuse policy.
Paulino is under team control, and could see a salary increase to $3 million for 2011, but the Marlins may be cautious about paying that much money to a player coming off a suspension.
The other internal option the Marlins have is John Baker, but he has been out with elbow issues since mid-May. He will likely undergo surgery on his right elbow.
Catchers the Marlins could go after this off-season include Bengie Molina, Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez, Rod Barajas, Yorvit Torrealba and A.J. Pierzynski. We talked earlier today about the Angels‘ Mike Napoli wanting more playing time, and with the Angels being likely crowded next season behind the plate, he could be a good fit for the Marlins.
Colorado Rockies sign RHP Luis Ayala to Minor League contract
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According to the Pacific Coast League transaction page, the Colorado Rockies have signed right-handed pitcher Luis Ayala to a Minor League contract and assigned him to the Colorado Spring Sky Sox.
Ayala was with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization earlier this season when he signed a Minor League deal in May, but he never made it to the big league club.
The right-handed relief pitcher, 32, has not pitched in the Major Leagues in 2010. He has a career 29-39 record with a 3.67 ERA in 6 seasons with the Expos, Nationals, Mets, Twins and Marlins.
Update – Dan Uggla wants a five-year $55+ million contract extension – talks slow
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8/28 17:23: According to Jim Bowden of FOXSports, he tweets, “Dan Uggla just told us that his negotiations are going really slow with the Marlins and so he doesn’t know what’s going to happen”
8/24 11:32: Major League sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that Florida Marlins second baseman, Dan Uggla, wants a five-year contract extension in the $55-60 million range.
We heard earlier this month that the Marlins and Uggla’s camp have been discussing a contract extension for some time, but at the time the sides were far apart. The Marlins were said to be in the three-year, $30 million range.
Uggla currently is making $7.8 million. He will be in the final year for salary arbitration for 2011, and could expect a one-year salary around $10 million. He can be a free agent starting in 2012.
Teams tend to negotiate contract extensions for star players before their arbitration eligibility runs out. In exchange for the long-term security, players will sign contracts slightly below open-market value and giving up their final years of arbitration eligibility and beginning years of free agency.
Uggla, 30, is in the middle of his best season in his short career. He’s hitting .288/.375/.519 with 28 home runs and 79 RBIs.
Join PRO Rumors on ESPN 1420am with The Sports Animals
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Join PRO Rumors on ESPN 1420 AM Honolulu, Hawaii tonight at 8:35pm PST (5:35pm Hawaii Time) with The Sports Animals Chris Hart and Gary Dickman. You can listen live at http://www.espn1420am.com
Chicago Cubs interview Eric Wedge for vacant managerial position
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Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry confirmed that he had dinner with former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge and spent all day with him today for an interview, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Wedge is the first known candidate the Cubs after interviewed.
Wedge will not be the last the team interviews. Several possible successors to the Cubs’ throne include interim manager Mike Quade, Hall of Fame great Ryne Sandberg, former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, former Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, current New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Washington Nationals coach Pat Listach. Outside possibilities include Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre and ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine.
