Blue Jays: SP Josh Johnson SP Mark Buehrle SS Jose Reyes IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio C John Buck $4 Million from Marlins Marlins: SS Yunel Escobar SS Adeiny Hechavarria SP Henderson Alvarez SP Justin Nicolino CF Jacob Marisnick. C Jeff Mathis P Anthony DeSclafani
The Marlins are such a ****ing joke. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BlueJays">#BlueJays</a> on verge of acquiring Josh Johnson from <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins">#Marlins</a>. Deal could be even larger than that.</p>— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/268490930485616641" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:10:00+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Buerhle headed to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BlueJays">#BlueJays</a> along with Josh Johnson, sources tell me and @<a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi">jonmorosi</a>.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/268491875038687232" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:13:46+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Yunel Escobar and Hechavarria part of package going from <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BlueJays">#BlueJays</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins">#Marlins</a>. Monster deal.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/268492650032803841" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:16:50+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>One source tells me Jose Reyes is expected to go to Toronto, as well. This is not a joke.</p>— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/268493135292813312" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:18:46+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jose Reyes could - repeat, could - be part of this. Two shortstops - Escobar, Hechavarria - going from <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BlueJays">#BlueJays</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins">#Marlins</a>.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/268493167932866560" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:18:54+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Inclusion of Reyes unconfirmed. What we know: Buerhle and Josh Johnson to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BlueJays">#BlueJays</a>. Escobar, Hechavarria to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins">#Marlins</a>. And more both ways.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/268493473236258817" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:20:07+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Confirmed: Reyes going to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BlueJays">#BlueJays</a>. Henderson Alvarez also going to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins">#Marlins</a>.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/268496374004330497" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:31:38+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
selig would be smart to nix this deal...hes going to kill whatever market there is left in miami. just contract the team if you let this deal go through, bud
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>If by "Blockbuster" you mean "A business model based on refusing to remain competitive like Blockbuster Video" then yes, it's a blockbuster</p>— Astros County (@AstrosCounty) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosCounty/status/268506893520089088" data-datetime="2012-11-14T00:13:26+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It baffles me how they expect to maintain a fan base when they have fire sales time and time again. But, hey, they got their new stadium, right?
Total embarrassment. Baseball should contract the Marlins and use what should have been there share of revenue sharing to pay back Miami for that stadium.
Reactions... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Are the marlins drunk?</p>— Jarred Cosart (@JarredCosart) <a href="https://twitter.com/JarredCosart/status/268502881374699520" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:57:30+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Alright, I'm pissed off!!! Plain & Simple</p>— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) <a href="https://twitter.com/Giancarlo818/status/268502933832888322" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:57:42+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>WHEN'S LOGAN MORRISON GOING TO TWEET ABOUT THIS?</p>— Not Buster Olney (@TrippingOlney) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrippingOlney/status/268502574322286592" data-datetime="2012-11-13T23:56:16+00:00">November 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Miami tax dollars at work, waiting for Stanton's farewell</p>— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/268507565183336448" data-datetime="2012-11-14T00:16:06+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Massive deal is in the works, but you would assume MLB is going to take a hard look because of long-term ramifications for MIA market.</p>— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/268507326414196736" data-datetime="2012-11-14T00:15:09+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>A year ago, Marlins sold a total rebranding to the MIA market -- a publicly funded park, uniforms, players, whole thing. Now: All torn up.</p>— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/268507600885256192" data-datetime="2012-11-14T00:16:15+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Another consideration for MLB as it reviews this trade: the Marlins will be held up as cautionary tale for cities asked to build ballparks.</p>— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/268510379846561794" data-datetime="2012-11-14T00:27:17+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Never thought I'd be dialing up the MLB network this evening. I believe The Sugar Land Skeeters will outdraw the Marlins next year.</p>— Matt Jackson (@MJ4Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJ4Sports/status/268509846796640256" data-datetime="2012-11-14T00:25:10+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Marlins get a publicity nightmare in the short term, but depending on the quality of the prospects, this CAN be a huge win for them. Jose Reyes is way overpaid, and Josh Johnson is a constant injury risk. If they get 3 A-level prospects and then re-spend all that money on better players, they end up that much better.
Seeing these facts ...I have to wonder if the Marlins clearing room for an AROD deal? That the only way this makes sense. Also - I think this deal could effectively give Houston Super Bowl LI. Dolphins Stadium needs a renovation to host another Super Bowl ...think City of Miami will be down to publicly fund another stadium project after this Marlins fiasco?!?
I don't know anything about the Blue Jays players except Yunel Escobar, but that looks like one major, major salary dump. The fact that Miami spent big on players before getting a taxpayer-funded arena, then sold off all their pieces afterwards, is not going to settle very well with people.
If they get A-Rod, NYY should be paying 80%+ of his salary. He's an average player at best these days. To be fair, most of Miami's big spending (Reyes, Buehrle, Bell) was after getting the taxpayer funded arena (last off-season). It looks like they changed their mind after one season of underperforming and not selling seats, though.
Allow me to help there. The Marlins received the Blue Jays' #3, #5, and #13 prospects (according to the 2012 Baseball America Prospect Handbook). The Marlins' system was rated 28th by BA, so surely this should bolster the ranks somewhat, although it's probably a bottom-10 system still. Marisnick (3) is an outfielder who was probably going to be blocked by Jose Bautista, Anthony Gose, and Colby Rasmus as he progressed closer to the Majors. He had a breakout 2011, hitting .320/.392/.496 with 14 homers and 77 RBI in Low-A, but he couldn't quite replicate those numbers this year, hitting only .249/.321/.399 with 8 homers and 50 RBI between High-A and AA. Marisnick is said to have five-tool potential and was more polished than Gose. Nicolino (5) was being talked about on this board as a possible target in the event of Wandy Rodriguez getting traded to the Blue Jays. He's a left-handed starter from Orlando and got his first exposure to full-season baseball in Low-A. In 28 appearances for Lansing (22 starts), he went 10-4 with a 2.46 ERA. In 124.1 innings, Nicolino allowed 112 hits (6 homers), 41 runs (34 earned), walked 21, and struck out 119. His best pitch is a plus changeup that has made hitters at the lower levels look silly. He also throws a curveball that could be average. Fastball is usually 89-92, up to 94. Hechavarria (13) is a Cuban shortstop who defected to Mexico in 09. He received a major league contract with a $4 million bonus and $10 million in total guarantees in April 2010. His defense is major-league ready. He has struggled quite a bit at the plate, though. Hechavarria made his major league debut on August 4, going 0-3 as the starting 3B. In 41 games with the Blue Jays, he hit .254/.280/.365 with 2 homers and 15 RBI. Desclafani is the only player that wasn't ranked. A right-handed pitcher, he was a 6th-round pick out of Florida in the 2011 Draft. In 28 games (21 starts) with Lansing, he went 11-3 with a 3.37 ERA. In 123 innings, he allowed 145 hits (3 homers), 55 runs (46 earned), walked 25, and struck out 92. He throws 4 pitches: fastball, slider, curveball, and a changeup. The other two (besides Escobar) were with Toronto all season. Alvarez went 9-14 with a 4.85 ERA in 31 starts. He threw a complete game shutout against the Angels on May 4. Mathis, a longtime Angels backup catcher, reprised that role in his lone season in Toronto. In 71 games, he hit .218/.249/.393 with 8 homers and 27 RBI. Highly unlikely.
