A Home For The Aged: A BBM Marlins Expansion Dynasty

[Suicane]

Hey fellas, just wanted to drop you a line and say that I can't wait for the winter meetings. I want you guys to have scouting reports ready for every friggin free agent, available player and player in our system. Read this line carefully, MONEY IS NO OBJECT. Well, it's sort of an object, but I'm willing to increase our payroll 3 to 4 Million dollars this offseason if we find the right players.

Let's from this moment never look back. The foundation has taken 3 seasons to be properly layed but I believe we do in fact now have a core from which we can work with instead of trying to continualy turn over.

Our prospects in the minors are all appealing but I don't wanna rush them, if they win jobs they win jobs, but we will not be afraid to bring in players and continue to let our prospects develop.

See you soon,
Joey

[JesterBlaze]

Burks is tearing up your league! I like it.

[Suicane]

1995 EXPIRING & ARBITRATION ELIGABLE CONTRACTS

ARBITRATION ELIGABLE PLAYERS

Catcher, John Flaherty: He wants $450K, I think about making a counter offer but really I wanna see what's available in free agency and don't wanna be tied to any contract so I thank him very much and release him.

Starting Pitcher, Frank Seminara: Frank pitched very good for us this year after a very dissapointing 1994 but i'm just not sure I wanna invest the $430K he's asking in him when I have a slew of younger arms who'll all be fighting for a rotation spot. I decide to take the risk and release him instead of making a counter offer.


EXPIRING CONTRACTS

Catcher, John Russell: We have no interest in resigning John.

Shortstop, Kurt Stillwell: Despite having a logjam of middle infielders, Kurt is willing to take a pay cut to stay with the team and we decide to resign him at $240K for 3 years.

Relief Pitcher, Paul Assenmacher: To be blunt, Paul was awfull. We have Embree and Jacome as our lefties out of the pen slated to go in 96 so we have no desire to bring Paul back. We don't offer him a contract.

Starting Pitcher, Eric Hillman: Eric really doesn't like Florida that much and when it comes right down to it we really don't have a spot for him anymore. He's gone.

Relief Pitcher, Gary Buckels: His tenure here has been unspectacular and i've got no real use for him at the salary he wants, or at any salary really. We inform his agent that have no plans on making him an offer.

[Matt]

I'm not trying to be cute, but how many players exactly are in the Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame? Also, did he give the car to a kid without realizing he still had to drive it?

Fergie Jenkins. Ernie Whitt was inducted....

we're working on some new talent now. You are just starting to see the effects of world series champion Blue Jays. kids that were born in the mid 80's to 90's are growing up playing baseball and not road hockey!!!

[Suicane]

Fergie Jenkins was Canadian? Learn something new everyday.

[Suicane]

Edited in the award winners to the end of season post.

NL MVP: LF Barry Bonds, San Fransisco Giants
1995 NL Cy Young: SP Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves (2nd In A Row)
NL ROTY: CF Marvin Bernard, San Fransisco Giants

AL MVP: RF Manny Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
AL Cy Young: SP Mike Mussina, Baltimore Orioles (2nd In A Row)
AL ROTY: 3B Scott Sheldon, Oakland Athletics

[Suicane]

[Suicane]

1996 OFFSEASON MOVES

November 7th: Signed: RF Manny Ramirez, 23, 94/95 to a 5 year deal at $3.7 Million per season with 2 player option seasons at $5.4 Million. How's that for a friggin splash huh? Negotiations were short and sweet as he had been eyeballing playing here in Florida for quite some time. When we sat down to talk we discussed another deal we were in the process of making that made him even more excited to sign with us, but we'll get to that in a moment.

We now have someone who is the face of the franchise. Having it be a Latin player certainly doesn't hurt at all. The best thing about all of this? He's 23, he's already considered among the best players in baseball, and the future is bright for both Manny and the Marlins. BOOOYAH!!




November 10th: Trade:

We Send
-----------------
RF Shawn Green		22	77/93	$12K/ARB98
SP Tony Saunders	21	76/85	$146K/ARB96

To The Cincinnati Reds In Exchange For
-----------------
SP Jose Rijo		30	87/87	$2.6M/3YRS
SP John Smiley		30	88/88	$1.9M/2YRS
C  Corky Miller		19	59/71	$5K/ARB98
2B Brian Koelling	26	59/62	$12K/ARB98
RF Chad Mottola		24	60/67	$6K/ARB98
SP Curt Lyons		21	61/68	$5K/ARB98
RP John Riedling	20	65/74	$5K/ARB98

And yet another splash! We send a mega prospect in Green along with perenial problem pitcher Tony Saunders to the Reds and get 2 veteran front line starters and 5 cheap 40 man roster fillers. I had to do something to get some pitching and Green was the biggest asset I had. I've added a ton of salary now, I just hope it pays off.



January 22nd: Signed: Catcher Dan Wilson, 26 years old, rated 76/76 to a 3 year deal at $1.4M per year. He's solid defensively, can hit from both sides, and comes from Cincinnati where he's pitched to Smiley and Rijo. May have overpaid a bit for a Catcher but I wanted a stallwart behind the plate and I believe i've landed him. He really wanted to come here as well.

[Suicane]

1996 MLB OFFSEASON MOVES

BIG FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
3B Matt Williams heads back to the Giants at $1.9M and 4 years.
SP Scott Sanders signs with Baltimore for 2 years at $2.2M.
SP Jeremy Hernandez goes to the Dodgers for 2 years at $2.2M.
SS Mark Lewis signs with KC for $2.5M over 3 years.
SP Jim Deshais goes to the Cubs for $1.8M at 2 years.
CF Roberto Kelly ends up in Los Angeles for 2 years at $1M per year.
SP Rheal Cormier leaves St. Louis for Baltimore at $1.8M per year for 2 years.
Baltimore also signs 2B Brett Boone to a 2 year deal worth $2M per year.
Orioles also add 3B Vinny Castilla at $1.2M over 2 years.
1B Erick Karros, much traveled, ends up back in Dodger blue at $2.2M over 2 years.
The Dodgers also add CF Deion Sanders and LF Matt Stairs and CF Damon Mashore.
Toronto signs Montreal catcher Darrin Fletcher for 2 years at $1.9M.
California signs 1B Paul Sorrento for 2 years at $1.5M and 2B Jody Reed at 2 years and $1.5M.
SP Mike Moore returns to Oakland.
Cincinnati signs 1B Andres Gallarage.


TRADES
The only big deal of the offseason saw the Mets acquire Brewers SS Bill Spiers in return for pitching prospects Paul Wilson and Kevin Lomon.


RETIREMENTS
Chris Sabo, Chris Gwynn, Rick Sutcliff, Franklin Stubbs, Doug Jones, Todd Worrell, Dave Stieb, Mike Boddicker, Mike Pagliarulo, Rick Aguilera, Eddie Murray, Bud Black, Paul Assenmacher, Dave Righetti, Jim Eisenreich, Tom Henke, Dennis Martinez, Steve Howe.

[Suicane]

1996 ROSTER AND PREVIEW
1996 ROSTER AND PREVIEW

C-  Dan Wilson		27	76/76	$1.4M/3YRS
1B- JT Snow		28	84/90	$160K/ARB96
2B- Fernando Vina	26	76/76	$160K/ARB97
SS- Aaron Ledesma	24	71/73	$160K/ARB98
3B- Bill Mueller	25	80/80	$160K/ARB96
LF- Tom Goodwin		28	79/92	$850K/3YRS
CF- Darren Lewis	28	79/79	$390K/2YRS
RF- Manny Ramirez	23	94/95	$3.7M/5YRS

BENCH
C-  Chad Kreuter	31	73/73	$186K/2YRS
1B- Gene Larkin		33	67/67	$410K/1YRS
2B- Kurt Stillwell	30	67/67	$240K/3YRS
3B- Phil Nevin		25	81/81	$160K/ARB97
RF- Jon Nunnally	24	74/75	$160K/ARB97

PITCHING STAFF
SP- John Smiley		31	88/88	$1.9M/2YRS
SP- Jose Rijo		30	87/87	$2.6M/3YRS
SP- Chuck Smith		26	76/80	$160K/ARB96
SP- Phil Leftwich	26	77/77	$160K/ARB96
SP- Tim Van Egmond	26	75/77	$160K/ARB97
CL- Troy Percival	26	79/82	$160K/ARB97
SE- Gil Heredia		30	76/77	$280K/2YRS
SR- Jason Jacome	25	78/84	$160K/ARB98
SR- Salomon Torres	24	71/74	$160K/ARB98
MR- Alan Embree		26	77/82	$160K/ARB96
MR- Pete Walker		26	74/76	$160K/1YRS
LR- Ryan Bowen		28	69/69	$370K/2YRS


AAA
1B- Tim Costo		27	58/61	$160K/ARB98
2B- Edgardo Alfonzo	22	78/91	$13K/ARB98
SS- Melvin Mora		24	76/88	$13K/ARB98
3B- Brian Koelling	26	58/61	$13K/ARB98
LF- John Cangelosi	33	65/65	$170K/2YRS
CF- Carl Everett	24	74/91	$13K/ARB98
RF- Chad Mottola	24	67/70	$6K/ARB98
SP- Cory Lidle		24	74/84	$8K/ARB98
SP- Pat Ahearne		26	69/72	$160K/ARB98
SP- Curt Lyons		21	68/71	$5K/ARB98
SP- Jeff Ballard	32	63/63	$360K/1YRS

AA
C-  Corky Miller	20	59/70	$5K/ARB98
1B- Guillermo Velasquez	27	53/57	$16K/ARB98
2B- Ralph Milliard	22	64/74	$6K/ARB98
SS- Esteban Beltre	28	63/65	$26K/ARB97
LF- Scott Lydy		27	59/62	$13K/ARB98
CF- David Hulse		28	69/69	$160K/ARB96
RP- John Riedling	20	65/74	$5K/ARB98

A
C-  Ben Petrick		18	61/73	$6K/ARB98
1B- Lyle Overbay	19	55/72	$5K/ARB98
2B- Jerry Hairston	19	54/71	$5K/ARB98
SS- Keith Kessinger	29	54/58	$13K/ARB98
3B- Mike Lamb		20	53/80	$6K/ARB98
CF- Carlos Beltran	18	65/85	$6K/ARB98
SP- Rodrigo Lopez	20	65/92	$6K/ARB98
SP- Ryan Rupe		21	65/90	$6K/ARB98
SP- Adrian Hernandez	21	54/91	$5K/ARB98
RP- Eric Gagne		20	61/71	$6K/ARB98
RP- Jason Childers	21	59/83	$5K/ARB98

R
3B- Troy Glaus		19	59/83	$5K/ARB98
RF- Kosuke Fukudome	18	55/78	$5K/ARB98
SP- Roger Deago		18	54/92	$5K/ARB98
RP- Winston Abreu	18	50/78	$5K/ARB98
RP- Tony Cogan		19	49/78	$5K/ARB98

Obviously these moves need to work, if we suck with this budget it's back to the drawing board all over.
I'm happy with my major league roster but I really wish my prospects, namely Mora, Everett and Alfonzo will develop stronger this year. I think i'll be good offensively with Goodwin and Lewis setting the table for a pretty damn good middle of the order.

In the pitching category I think I can rely on Smiley and Rijo obviously but I need the backend of my rotation to really give me something. Smith and Leftwich especially need to show me something.

I really like my bullpen, I think theres a real nice balance of lefty/righty guys who can get the job done.

Well, it's time to rock & roll.

[Suicane]

START OF 1996 FINANCES

Farm System:	$7,500,000	(4th)
Scouting:	$7,500,000	(6th)
Medical:	$4,000,000	(9th)
Salaries:	$15,700,000	(26th)
Salary Budget:	$3,800,000	
Cash:		$6,200,000

The salary budget is something i'm not too worried about as it will go up with success on the field and increased attendance. While I expect to lose money I think the cash I have will keep me above water and hopefully by next season the revenue will be much greater.

1996 STARTING LINEUPS

RIGHT HANDED			LEFT HANDED
1. LF Tom Goodwin		1. CF Tom Goodwin
2. CF Darren Lewis 		2. CF Darren Lewis
3. 3B Bill Mueller		3. 1B Phil Nevin
4. RF Manny Ramirez		4. RF Manny Ramirez
5. 1B JT Snow			5. 3B Bill Mueller
6. 2B Fernando Vina		6. 2B Fernando Vina
7. SS Aaron Ledesma		7. SS Aaron Ledesma
8. C  Dan Wilson		8. C  Dan Wilson

Gonna go with a pretty set lineup here, just sitting Snow vs lefties in favor of Nevin.
Our bench is pretty balanced with Nunnaly as a lefty, Nevin as a righty and Stillwell and Larkin both switch hitters.

[Matt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadia...l_Hall_of_Fame

[Suicane]

Sparky Anderson??? I did not know.

[Matt]

i think i might go and find out what his contribution was to cdn baseball.

[tarcone]

It sounds like the canadian baseball HoF is for paople that contributed to baseball in general and not just to canadian baseball.

Sparky Anderson played one season in the majors and had 597 ABs. that was it. He never played in the majors again. As for managing, he was one of the greatest ever.