Hot Stove Daily: Florida Marlins
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Editor's note: Yahoo! Sports will examine the offseason plans of every MLB team before the Dec. 3-6 winter meetings
2007 record: 71-91
Finish: Fifth place National League East
2007 opening-day payroll: $30 million
Free agents: Aaron Boone 3B; Armando Benitez RP; Felix Rodriguez RP; Byung-Hyun Kim SP.
WISH LIST
Slugging third baseman Miguel Cabrera is on the trading block, and the Marlins want a center fielder, a starting pitcher, a catcher, and a replacement third baseman in return. That's a lot of bodies, especially when the Marlins expect, say, three of them to be ready to plug into their lineup next season.
Can they get it? Cabrera is undeniably a special player, and a bargain to boot, for another year anyway. His numbers match those of Alex Rodriguez at the career stage. But would the Dodgers part with powerful and fast center fielder Matt Kemp, left-handed starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw and third baseman Andy LaRoche? Would the Angels part with hard-hitting infielder Howie Kendrick, pitcher prospect Nick Adenhart and versatile power hitter Brandon Wood? The Indians, Yankees and Red Sox also could put together enticing packages.
Otherwise, the Marlins would like to upgrade at catcher if they can't get one in a deal. Free agents Yorvit Torrealba, Michael Barrett and Paul Lo Duca probably will price themselves beyond the Marlins budget. The starting rotation is in need of shoring up, but they can't afford any of the small handful of sure things in the free-agent market.
REALITY CHECK
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It's no fun to go shopping without any money. The Marlins simply aren't a player in the free-agent market. So instead they dangle Cabrera, and more reluctantly, starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
Yet the Marlins are acquiring a reputation for wanting too much for a top talent in his arbitration years. Willis is exhibit A, and his trade value diminished over the last year because he didn't perform especially well and is now only one year away from free agency.
Their best scenario is to get the green light on a new stadium, or a one-way ticket to a more hospitable city. But maybe those options belong under Wish List.
