Borowski's Arm Falls Off During Exam

Okay, so maybe it didn't fall off...but the Phillies "team doctor examined the results of the physical and advised against giving the pitcher a multiyear contract," according to ESPN. Still, the report says multi-teams are clamoring to sign him for a year, including maybe the Phillies. Hope he gets a big fat contract, but whichever team gets him to sign better make sure that the pen he uses isn't too heavy.

Devil Rays-Marlins Games in Orlando Next Season?

'The Devil Rays are exploring the possibility of playing several regular-season games in the Orlando area, perhaps as soon as the upcoming season, as part of an effort by the franchise to broaden its fan base beyond Pinellas and Hillsborough counties....

'In order to change venues, even temporarily, the Rays would need approval from Major League Baseball and likely would have to negotiate an agreement with the players' association.

'Also, moving games away from Tropicana Field would require negotiating with the city of St. Petersburg, which holds the lease on the stadium and receives a portion of ticket sales.

'St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker said he has been approached by the Rays about the idea...

'A spokesman for Disney's Wide World of Sports said that Disney and the Rays have had "very preliminary" discussions about using the baseball stadium there for regular-season games. The listed capacity at Disney's stadium is 9,500, but the Braves drew 11,431 fans for a spring game against the Yankees this past March, and six other Braves games drew more than 10,000 this year.

'A spokesman for MLB said the Rays have not yet contacted the commissioner's office, an indication that the idea remains in the exploratory stage. If the plan picks up steam for next season, one possibility would be to move the scheduled three-game home series against the Marlins (May 18-20).' (TBO.com)

Scott Olsen Appearing...

...at Sawgrass Mills Mall December 2. (MLB)

OH NO: He may also appear on next year's disabled list if Tom Verducci's findings prove to be more than a statistical anomoly.(SI.com)

Old Player/Broadcasters Talk About Marlins Fans, Stadium Hopes

Tommy Hutton: "Don't get me wrong: It's flattering to have so many people know who you are,...But it's frustrating, too...because that means nobody goes to the games. And as great as it is to have so many people tuning in, as wonderful as it is to get the television ratings we've been getting, you'd much rather see those people at the ballpark...I think that will change if we can get a new, retractable-roof ballpark built...I think we have a better chance of getting a ballpark in South Florida than in any of the other cities that have been talked about. Charlotte, San Antonio, Las Vegas . . . None of those other places have the population or the TV market of South Florida."

Gary Carter: "Obviously, they've won two world championships without their own stadium, so they can survive there...But if you're looking at the long term, a new stadium would be much more beneficial...I can't understand why they can't find a location...I thought the area next to where the (Florida) Panthers play was ideal...I don't know if they'd do well in the city of Miami."

Jim Kaat: "I always thought a franchise would do better in a place like Jacksonville or Orlando, where they could get the corporate support they needed...But if they're going to make it down south, they're going to need a ballpark with some type of dome. I don't see how they can survive without one. And, really, they ought to be looking closer to Palm Beach County." (TCPalm)

Frisaro's Thinking on Marlins Trade Strategy

"Barring a change of thinking, I am getting the impression the club isn't going to part with any of the starting five pitchers, and I'm not sure if a major move will be made for a center fielder. Looking around at the skyrocketing salaries for free agents thus far, coupled with the Marlins' financial limitations, I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a big-splash push for a center fielder. The reasons are first, money, and second, other teams aren't eager to part with their young players who are affordable now as well. The Pirates, for instance, aren't eager to part with Chris Duffy.

"Trading top-rated prospects, or low service-time players, for prospects rarely happens. That's because teams know what they have in their own prospects and aren't quite willing to take the risk with another team's prospects. So I wouldn't be stunned if no major deal is done for a center fielder...

"There is a chance they could swing a deal for someone like Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli, but even that seems remote because the Marlins are not looking to deal any of their starting five pitchers. So it will depend on how creative the front office can be. They still are building toward being championship caliber over the next few seasons, and there is a reluctance to part with key pieces they'll need down the road in hopes of a quick fix. So that is the challenge in searching for a center fielder. Players along the lines of Ryan Langerhans fit the profile for outfield help because the dollars aren't there to go after more established players." (MLB)

Here's A Drawing of a 'New Marlins Stadium'

...on the 'New Stadium Drawings' blog. (Click here)

David Pinto Asks...

...'just how foolish were the Fish not to try to sign Miguel Cabrera to a long term deal?' (BaseballMusings)

County Officials Talking to Themselves

Craig from Fishstripes links to a Sun-Sentinel story about a new site being discussed for a Marins downtown stadium.

Well, maybe not 'discussed'...probably 'proposed' is a better word, since the article seemed to state that the Miami-Dade County officials had only talked about this site amongst themselves.

The Marlins gave no comment about it (as if the Marlins front office has any say in the matter anymore), and MLB so far is still concentrating on the prevoius downtown parcel proposal.

I guess the article serves more as an announcement to whoever's concerned that 'Hey, we got this little plot of land right over yonder'. It's up to others to find the inevitable disagreeable aspects of it, like displacing the 'Children's Courthouse' that was supposed to go there, or the difficulty of making nefarious land deals from donated government property.

HERE'S ANOTHER: Field of Schemes contends the new site "wouldn't really be cheaper".

HAVE YOU WONDERED?: After all the years of officials moaning about where the Marlins can put a new stadium, have you wondered why it took them so long to discover this supposedly wonderful possible plot of land, especially since it is practically next door to the parcel the MLB is looking at? At least one official is wondering, too: "It was right under our nose all along."

UPDATE: 'Major League Baseball and the Marlins have been approached with Mr. Burgess' new proposal, according to county officials. But the plan to build the juvenile-justice center could scuttle the stadium project, officials say...

'Pending more information, commissioners Sosa, Gimenez and Barreiro were generally positive about Mr. Burgess' plan. "It sounds really good," Mr. Barreiro said. "If we can work things out with the children's court, this could be a perfect location. It has the Metrorail, parking and easy access. I really think it's ideal." (MarlinsBallparkNews)

Trade Time!

The Marlins trade lefties Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick to the Mets for righties Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens. They also trade righty Chris Resop to the Angels for righty Kevin Gregg. And they stick lefty Paul Mildren into their 40-man roster. (MLB)

MORE: 2 thumbs up on the trades, from BaseballGM.

Wes Could've Been a Yankee

"It came down between the Yankees and the Phillies...I definitely wanted to stay in the National League. I knew all the pitchers. I knew all the hitters. I know where to play them in the field. Everybody I know who has changed leagues, it's an adjustment period.

"It's a more comfortable place for me to come to. I think it's better for my family, also. I felt they'd be happier here than in New York.

"The role was to play first base...They were going to DH [Jason] Giambi. On the guaranteed side, they were a little higher [in salary]. But that's just me. I'm going to go where I'm happy. I felt like this is where I needed to be." (Philly.com)

Many Marlins News Notes

The 2007 Marlins Spring schedule is released. (MiamiHerald)

Beinfest checks out a day early, Gall signed, Wes signs with Phillies, and some news from Winter League (MiamiHerald)

Jacobs will get another chance, Hermida and Willis recovering, and Volstad progressing. (PalmBeachPost)

Marlins trying for Tavares, pining for Pie, happy about new Rule 5 rules (SunSentinel)

Bill Madden: Willie was 'Jobbed'

'No offense to Joe Girardi, who did a truly commendable job in guiding the $14 million "Baby Marlins" to the brink of the playoffs this season, but if you ask me, Willie Randolph got jobbed yesterday in the Baseball Writers Association NL Manager of the Year voting.

'I'm not alone on this. Mets GM Omar Minaya was amazed and two decorated veteran managers here at the GM meetings, Lou Piniella and Jim Fregosi, were likewise stunned.

'"I don't want to take anything away from Joe Girardi who did a fine job," said Minaya, "but I have a hard time justifying Manager of the Year for a team that didn't finish over .500 when my guy won 97 games. You had to look at our team and take into account the whole body of work by Willie, even though it started last year. This team plays like Willie played. They adopted his whole personality."

'A manager who has manned the dugout in both New York and the Sunshine State agreed.

'"You gotta be kiddin'!" said Piniella. "I thought Willie did an outstanding job this year. The Mets played hard all year and his starting rotation was in flux. Taking nothing away from Joe, who also did a real nice job down there in Miami, but if I had a vote, I'd have Willie first and Joe second."

'"How do you have a guy be manager of the year with a losing record?" said the equally flabbergasted Fregosi.

'How indeed? It had never happened in the history of the voting. But as Girardi - who was nevertheless fired at the end of the season after butting heads with team owner Jeffrey Loria and GM Larry Beinfest - noted in a conference call yesterday, his 78-84 Marlins were almost universally picked at the beginning of the season to do a lot more losing than that. And absolutely no one could have envisioned them contending for a playoff spot almost down to the final week of the season.

'"I'm not surprised," Girardi said of the vote. "I know an awful lot of people had us picked to lose 110-115 games, and for us to come as close to making it into the postseason as we did...I think people who watch the game every day appreciated what we accomplished."

'But the same could certainly be said for Randolph and the Mets. You had to see them every day to appreciate how they got to their NL-high 97 wins, especially after losing Pedro Martinez for the last two months and cobbling together a rotation with castoffs John Maine, Oliver Perez and Orlando Hernandez.' (NYDailyNews)

New FL Governor was Old Minor-League Lawyer

MLB Prez DuPuy courting Crist, trying to restart stadium discussions, considers Pompano a possibility. ALSO: Yankees broadcaster may be Manager of the Year, and forget Wes. (SunSentinel)

Hanley's The ROY!

(PortervilleRecorder)

ALSO: Larry comes in 2nd in the SN MLB Exec of the Year voting. (Ohio.com)

Any Certanties for the Naples GM Meeting?

Well, Willis is certain to be 'one of the hot topics'...'Cabrera is all but certain to return'...'One thing is certain, the Marlins won't go after a top free agent'...'The Marlins have had talks with the agents for right-hander Joe Borowski and first baseman Wes Helms, who each filed for free agency after solid seasons in Florida.' (PalmBeachPost)

OH, YEAH: 'Beinfest...already has signed journeyman reliever Nate Field to a minor-league contract.' (MiamiHerald)

Miguel Bringing in the Big Guns?

'Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who Friday won his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive player at this position, has severed ties with his representatives at RKL Sports and is close to signing with powerful SFX Sports, the agency that represents several Latin American stars including Alfonso Soriano, David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Vladimir Guerrero.

'Cabrera is eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter and could be asking for as much as $7 million a season after making just $472,000 last year.' (MiamiHerald)

The Certainty of an Uncertain Future

'Owner Jeffrey Loria has provided his front office with the 2007 budget. Last year, the Marlins spent about $19.6 million (including deferred payments) on the major league roster. The 2007 figure is expected to remain in that area.

'General Manager Larry Beinfest would neither talk about payroll specifics nor whether the projected outlay would enable the Marlins to keep both arbitration-eligible stars, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. The two are expected to earn a combined $12 million or more.

'"I'd rather not comment on specific players and how they fit in the payroll other than to say those are very good, important players to the Marlins," Beinfest said.

'If the Marlins' track record holds true, neither Willis nor Cabrera will have security beyond 2007.

'"Those are pretty hefty numbers and years," said Beinfest, acknowledging the swirling speculation around Willis in particular. "We recognize his contributions, what he's done in the past and what he can do for us in the future."' (MiamiHerald)

MLB Players Vote Uggla 2006's Top Rookie

(SunSentinel)(MiamiHerald)

A Blurb

"Desperate for bullpen help, the Marlins inquired about Yankees free agent Octavio Dotel, who returned in August after elbow surgery. He had 36 saves for Oakland in 2004." (MiamiHerald)

"2007 Florida Marlins"

A clear-eyed look of the Marlins' needs and possibilities, with a few good links and comments. (MLBTradeRumors)

Dontrelle Does More Good

(MLB)

Marlins Scout Bob Oldis in the Iowa Hall of Pride

He donates his Pittsburgh Pirates baseball uniform from the 1960 World Series.(DesMoinesRegister)

Ex-Marlin Mota Gets 50-Game Suspension

(Yahoo)

Vote For The Frick!

Hey, our buddy Rich's on the ballot. Imagine that. (MLB)

Allison Piling On the Charges

Heroin possession, possession of stolen vehicles, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a public officer, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, misdemeanor larceny charge, speeding and driving without a license.

ALSO: "The Marlins on Tuesday named Gaby Sanchez and Chris Volstad as their Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively."....and Wes getting interest. (SunSentinel)

Buster Olney Says Trade Willis

"The Marlins should trade Dontrelle Willis this winter. There is so little pitching available this winter that if the Marlins dangled Willis, there would be a robust trade market for him. Willis turns 25 this winter, he's left-handed, he has a World Series ring. The Marlins could get the kind of top outfield prospect that they need if they agreed to deal Willis.

"But if Florida keeps Willis, whose salary could be in the area of $8 million next season after he goes through arbitration, and he has a season similar to what he posted last year -- a decent-but-not-great 12-12, 3.87 ERA -- his trade value will drop, as his salary rises, as he gets closer to free agency.

"There are questions about how long Willis can maintain his complicated delivery, and whether he'll stay healthy. And Florida has enough depth in its rotation (Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco) to trade Willis now and still be competitive next year. His value will never be higher than it is right now, and the Marlins should take advantage of that." (SheaNation)

ALTHOUGH: Bleed Cubbie Blue thinks Willis would be "relatively cheap... I think a package of Murton, Marshall, and a lower end prospect would be totally reasonable and that the Marlins would be insane to pass that up." (BleedCubbieBlue)