May 31
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The signs have been there. Five home runs in the last 11 games. Three hits Wednesday in Philadelphia. An average that has not dipped below .200 for 10 straight games. Still, even if Dan Uggla continues to emerge from a season-long funk, it might not be enough to keep him in a Florida uniform next season, or even past the July 31 trading deadline if the Marlins determine they cannot contend. The former University of Memphis standout understands that his salary -- he will be eligible for arbitration again this winter -- could make him too costly for the bottom-line-conscious Marlins. "Everybody knows how this organization works," the second baseman said. "They're going to do what's best for ..."
May 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The San Francisco Giants have made it known they're in search of a bat, and Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! second baseman Dan Uggla is among the players piquing their interest. According to an industry source, the Giants have made preliminary inquiries about Uggla. The conversations are not believed to have reached the general manager level. The Giants likely are investigating any number of options from Nationals' first baseman Nick Johnson to Indians infielder Mark De Rosa. One thing that makes Uggla attractive is he's not eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season. The expectation is the Marlins will move Uggla at some point. He's already earning $5.35 million. Team ..."
April 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! may not be done tinkering with their bullpen. According to a baseball source, the Marlins are among the teams pursuing Rockies right-hander Juan Morillo, 25. The Rockies designated Morillo for assignment Friday when they added Matt Belisle. Out of minor league options, Morillo made the Opening Day roster but he did not appear in any games. He has accumulated just 8 2/3 innings worth of major league experience since his 2006 debut, but Morillo can boast a big arm. A native of the Dominican Republic, Morillo touched 100 miles per hour three times last season according to Baseball Info Solutions. His fastball generally sits in the mid- to upper-90s. ..."
April 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Netherlands' second-round run was among the best World Baseball Classic storylines. In exchange for his contribution, right-hander Rick VandenHurk may have have sacrificed a healthy start to the regular season. Saturday, the Marlins placed VandenHurk on the disabled list with inflammation on the outer portion of his elbow. VandenHurk began feeling discomfort after he returned from the Classic and it got worse after a March 28 appearance against the Mets. VandenHurk, who had a repeat MRI Friday, has been on no-throw status for five days. He was scheduled to visit the doctor Saturday and expected to begin a throwing program in the next few days. "I've had elbow trouble before," said ..."
March 30
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Statistically, it's a no-brainer. Brett Carroll has performed better than the two remaining reserve outfielder candidates in Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! camp. No one need tell Carroll that batting averages aren't the only numbers that matter. "[Getting cut] would definitely be a tough pill to swallow, but that's how this game is," said Carroll, who's batting .412 with a 1.046 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 34 Grapefruit League at-bats. "It's a game of numbers, and sometimes it's not your time." Everything Carroll has done says it is his time. In addition to going 2 for 3 as a pinch-hitter, he's again demonstrated arguably the organization's best outfield arm. A natural right ..."
March 8
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! right-hander Scott Proctor figured he'd have to go through something like this. The surprise was it didn't happen sooner. The breakup of scar tissue produced sufficient discomfort to slow Proctor last week. Proctor, who the Marlins signed to a free-agent deal in January, underwent elbow surgery in October to repair a partially torn flexor tendon. Saturday, Proctor reiterated pitching coach Mark Wiley's belief that this would not jeopardize the reliever's readiness for Opening Day. "I'm not concerned at all," Proctor said. "It's upsetting right now because I want these guys to see me on the mound, but we still have a month. As many times as they run us ..."
March 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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That he made it through the offseason as a Marlin surprised infielder Robert Andino. That he ultimately reported to Jupiter for spring training didn't give him reason to feel any more settled. Andino, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now!' 2002 second-round pick out of Miami Southridge, has been the organization's middle infield security blanket. It could get ripped off now that Andino is out of options. If Andino does not make the 25-man roster, he would have to clear waivers to remain in the system. Forecasting the waiver process is at best speculative, but there's a decent chance a team light on able-gloved middle infielders would take a chance on Andino. If the Marlins don't ..."
February 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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A John Baker-Mike Rabelo catching tandem is becoming an increasingly realistic scenario for the Marlins. That said, a source who has spoken with their front office said Pudge Rodriguez remains a possibility at the right price. The Marlins have just about reached their payroll budget and are prepared to open camp a week from Saturday with their current inventory. The only free agent they'll consider adding at this point is Rodriguez to platoon with the left-handed hitting Baker. The question is Rodriguez's willingness to accept a six-figure base salary and modest incentive package. The source said even though owner Jeffrey Loria is on board with a Rodriguez reunion, it would have to happen ..."
January 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins have pared down a lengthy list of arbitration eligible players, but it appears they're headed for hearings with some if not all of the remaining four. Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida were the lone Marlins who came to terms Monday on one-year deals. Cantu will earn $3.5 million and Hermida will get $2.25 million with the possibility of another $50,000 in performance bonuses. Alfredo Amezaga, Ricky Nolasco, Cody Ross and Dan Uggla have yet to reach accords on 2008 contracts. Per club policy, if agreements are not in place before the two sides submit figures at noon today, negotiations cease and the Marlins move forward with hearings. According to multiple baseball sources, as of ..."
January 17
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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If Andruw Jones doesn't return to the Atlanta Braves, he might find a landing spot in South Florida. According to a baseball source, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! have conducted internal discussions about Jones, who the Dodgers released Thursday after restructuring the remaining $21.1 million owed him on a two-year, $36.2 million deal. Jones could be had for the $400,000 league minimum, but it's doubtful the Braves, Marlins or any other team would offer the major league contract Jones is seeking. Asked during a radio interview Thursday with 790 the Zone in Atlanta whether he would consider a minor league deal from the Braves, Jones said: "No, probably not." He may have to ..."
January 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Don't look for Pedro Martinez to sign with the Marlins anytime soon. A baseball source who has spoken with the front office said a report the Marlins were in early negotiations with the three-time Cy Young winner was bogus. A hamstring injury slowed Martinez last season, contributing to his ineffectiveness in 20 starts for the Mets. He went 5-6 with 5.61 ERA, 44 walks and 87 strikeouts in 109 innings. In addition, Martinez, 37, damaged his rotator cuff in 2006 and made just five starts in 2007, which he mostly spent rehabbing from the surgery. That the Marlins didn't pursue Carl Pavano aggressively may be an indication they don't want to guarantee a rotation spot to a pitcher trying to ..."
December 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Thirty minutes after Friday's midnight deadline to tender contracts to unsigned players, Joe Nelson thought about picking up the phone and admitting he made a mistake. He was a free agent now, an enviable position considering the work he did for the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! in 2008. Yet Nelson struggled with abandoning a situation that allowed him to take his kids to school and commute to work. A West Palm Beach resident, Nelson was the lone Marlin who was not offered a contract. The two sides wanted to continue the relationship into 2008, but could not agree on Nelson's worth. The gap in guaranteed money likely was no more than $200,000. "It's a double-edged sword," said ..."
December 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Thirty minutes after Friday's midnight deadline to tender contracts to unsigned players, Joe Nelson thought about picking up the phone and admitting he made a mistake. He was a free agent now, an enviable position considering the work he did for the Marlins in 2008. Yet Nelson struggled with abandoning a situation that allowed him to take his kids to school and commute to work. A West Palm Beach resident, Nelson was the lone Marlin who was non-tendered. The two sides wanted to continue the relationship into 2008, but could not agree on Nelson's worth. Nelson wasn't seeking a seven-figure salary, so the gap in guaranteed money likely was no more than $200,000, if that. "It's a double-edged ..."
December 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! didn't have many concrete objectives at these winter meetings, but one of them was to find a new home for catcher Matt Treanor. They came close to completing a trade, President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said, but when that fell through they opted to release an arbitration-eligible player who had spent a dozen seasons in the organization. "He did a good job for us," Beinfest said as the meetings concluded Thursday. "I spoke to him [Wednesday] night. He was emotional and upset, understandably, but he'll be fine. He'll get a job, and he'll be OK." Treanor postponed surgery to repair a sports hernia until the season ended, but his services ..."
December 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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With less than 10 minutes remaining before the midnight deadline, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! on Friday announced they tendered contracts to all of their unsigned players with the exception of right-hander Joe Nelson. General Manager Michael Hill and Doug Schaer, Nelson's Los Angeles-based agent, had one final conversation at 11:50 p.m., but could not come to terms. Nelson is believed to have been seeking an $800,000-$900,000 deal. The Marlins increased their original offer, but balked at Nelson's asking price. "Ultimately they made what was certainly a reasonable offer," Schaer said. "You can imagine the difference between what they offered and what Nellie wanted in the ..."
December 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Key Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! decisionmakers remain split on whether to trade Jeremy Hermida now or give the former first-rounder another season to realize his vast potential. "Somewhat of a disappointment" is how one National League official described the enigmatic right fielder at these winter meetings. Judging from Larry Beinfest's comments Tuesday, the man with the deciding vote in the Marlins' suite at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino is willing to remain patient. "It's there," said Beinfest, the team's president of baseball operations. "Everybody's confident it's there. It just needs to happen and happen consistently." That has been a problem for Hermida, who doesn't turn 25 ..."
December 9
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! may yet deal Jeremy Hermida to the Rays, but you can disregard those national Web site rumors that had them interested in receiving slick-fielding shortstop Jason Bartlett in return. That would almost certainly require moving Hanley Ramirez off the only position he has played in his three major league seasons, and Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest made clear Monday that his franchise player is staying put. "We believe he can play short," Beinfest said from his suite at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, site of the Winter Meetings. "He really made strides at shortstop. Could he play the outfield? Absolutely. I think he could do ..."
December 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Here's a look at the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now!' interests this week as well as the situation with some of the big-name free-agents on the market: Hitting the ground running The Winter Meetings open Monday in Las Vegas, but the Marlins' reshaping has long since begun. President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest and his staff already have traded Mike Jacobs, Josh Willingham, Scott Olsen and Kevin Gregg in moves designed to control payroll while improving team speed, defense and the bullpen, and decrease strikeouts and home run reliance. What's ahead Don't look for the Marlins execs at the slots. Before Friday's non-tender deadline, the Marlins have to find a taker for ..."