Sunday, December 17, 2006

Dave Hyde: Bargain-Basement Beinfest Befuddled By Below-Best Ballplayers Bolstered By Big Bucks

'If (Gil) Meche is worth $11 million, the Marlins' starting young pitchers are worth their weight in gold bullion. Not simply for their talent. But, outside of Dontrelle Willis, the likes of Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez will make $360,000 next season.

'So how can the Marlins afford to trade something as fragile as starting young pitchers, even if they're loaded with them? To replace them would be impossible.

'This isn't to say the Marlins have no money to spend. Too many people see the Marlins' attendance and majors' puniest payroll and say that. But do some simple math.

'The Marlins get approximately: $30 million in revenue sharing; $12 million in local TV; $18 million in national TV and $10 million in licensing and merchandising from Major League Baseball. That's $70 million before selling a single ticket, which is a good thing considering the number of tickets they sell.

'They can't spend like the Yankees or Red Sox. And they aren't so desperate as to roll the dice like the Royals and Orioles. But for the past several years Beinfest hasn't just made trades that smartly upgrade the roster but to spot bargains that worked out for everyone.

'This winter might prove the end of that.' (SunSentinel)

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