3:00pm: Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (via Twitter) hears that the Marlins offered Cespedes less than $40MM.
1:54pm: Yoenis Cespedes met with Marlins brass this week and returned to the Domincan Republic with an offer worth roughly $40MM over six years, a source close to the negotiations told Eric Reynoso of Cafe Fuerte. Cespedes, according to the source, still doesn't have any immediate plans to meet with other teams.
Prior to meeting with Cespedes, Marlins president David Samson hinted that the club would make an offer to the Cuban outfielder. The interest seems mutual as Cespedes told reporters that he would like to play in Miami.
Also within the piece, Reynoso writes that utility player and fellow Cuban Adonis Garcia became a free agent on Thursday. Agent Carlos Perez says that he has fielded interest from six teams, though the Marlins are not among them. The 26-year-old, who has shown the ability to hit for power, spent this winter with the Magellan Navigators of the Venezuelan League.
JacksTigers
That’s only about $6.5MM per year. Dombrowski should be able to match it.
edge
agreed. Lets get him.
LordD99 2
$6.5 million a year for a guy who probably can’t hit a breaking pitch? Be thankful your team, in this case the Tigers, don’t get him. He will be viewed a bust a year from now.
JacksTigers
Alexi Ramirez did fine. I don’t buy all of this “he can’t hit because Cuba isn’t as good of a league” stuff. I’m interested in his speed and defense, anyway. As long as he hits .260, I’m happy.
José K
He was unable to hit in DR. He is not ready for MLB
JacksTigers
Since when is 35 at bats a big enough sample size to judge a player? Especially when you consider that he had not played in a while. I think he will need Spring Training and a month in AAA, then he will be ready.
wholenewworld
Dream on.
elscorchot
Unable to hit after months off. Give him time to train, then judge him. His track record in Cuba a more accurate sample size than 35 Ab’s in winter league.
notsureifsrs
“Alexi Ramirez did fine.”
alexei ramirez is valuable because he plays a premium defensive position and plays it very well. he is a below average MLB hitter despite being an elite hitter in cuba
JacksTigers
My point is that he is adequate enough to hit. If Cespedes plays like Alexi, I think we’re good, but I do think that Cespedes is a better hitter.
disgustedcubfan
Do you want to match it though?
Wouldn’t the Tigers rather use that $$$ on a fifth starter or a second baseman?
LioneeR
I am curious how Cespedes’ contract will work. Will there be a minor league option on it in case he just isn’t quite ready or are they going to be forced to keep a sub-par player on their roster?
JacksTigers
I think that there would have to be minor league options. Maybe not three, like there are traditionally, but there would need to be at least two.
Clayton Wilson
Replied to your ridiculous comment to me on the Anibal Sanchez arbitration article, Einstein.
JacksTigers
So?
JacksTigers
So?
john
Its a big gamble for whoever signs him. I see it as a 50/50 gamble since scouting reports differ on his abilities. He is either going to be a super star or a big bust.
Cheeseballs
I disagree. I think he’ll be a fine major league player. But not of the superstar capacity. And at that price, it won’t be that big of a bust. He’ll simply need to be worth a little over 1 WAR to constitue that contract, which is completely attainable
LioneeR
His workout video alone is worth at least 1 WAR imo.
wholenewworld
Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle, Yeah.
(Now THAT video is worth 1 WAR)
DanMizer
Biggest surprise of the off season… Snoooozzzeeeee. Can’t we just make it official and move on to Osealt reluctantly signing with BoSox
toneighty
haha Oswalt probably should have taken the 10 mil the tigers offered him earlier. Its funny none of the teams he wants to play for want him.
DanMizer
I wonder how that works- a player signing to a team he doesn’t want to play for and the team/players/fans understand that as well. Also if St Louis can’t free up or expand payroll to 3-4+ million(needed to move McClellan) to sign Oswalt as their 3-4th SP, in an offensively starved league THEY ARE CRAZY.
Cheeseballs
You mean none of the teams he wants to play for have room for him. He is a clear upgrade for the Cardinals.
Leonard Washington
Doesn’t seem to be enough major players for a huge bidding war so I don’t know why Miami started with such a high offer. I would have offered him 20M tops to start. Let him field other offers and match the best one. He is completely unproven and has no major track record even in Cuba. He is just a toolsy prospect who is already 27. It would be silly to invest huge money for a guy who might play AAA for the rest of his career.
User 4245925809
IMO he ends up there anyway..
No offense in ANY way intended here now…
The south Florida area is a huge Cuban area as it is and has been since the Mariel boatlift/refugee times of ’79 and gotten nothing but larger since. That area has to appeal to him and would be perfect for him in that regard.
With Loria throwing the huge 40m offer out, he is playing it smart and giving him a huge Spanish speaking populace, plus financial incentive as well to come to south florida.
Leonard Washington
I agree he ends up in Miami but he shouldn’t be getting 40M though.
User 4245925809
40m is stiff..Right… There must be other teams “rumbling” of high offers being contemplated for the normally tight Loria to offer that.
Me? I would rather see that 40m given/offered to Sanchez over 3 seasons on an extension, or 4/50-55 even. Sanchez is something that team dearly needs and is a proven commodity.
Chris
didnt he already say he wanted to play in miami a couple weeks ago?
Frank Riccard
Every time I see a post by you, I read it in Leonard Washington’s voice.
Leonard Washington
Thats awesome.
User 4245925809
Someone has serious issues and I think it was the one behind the keyboard..
JacksTigers
When in doubt, blame the government.
User 4245925809
LOL. Hey now.. Sometimes it IS the problem.. Then that is another entirely different area….
stewie75
if the marlins sign him- can you imagine what ozzie will say if he actually does turn out to just be craig monroe? i think his head would just explode.
DbacksAreBeast
Come on get him Dbacks! Then we would have Parra, Kubel, Upton, Young, and
Cespedes.
GOTIGERS24
???? You only play 3 outfielders not 5 sorry about that!
JacksTigers
He was being sarcastic.
DbacksAreBeast
this was a joke…
mattbennett_22
I’m a Orioles fanatic, and trust me, the Marlins are probably one of the teams that i know the least about so don’t slam me if I’m far off here;
How do the Marlins have any money left? Reyes, Bell, Buerhle, new stadium, and now Cepedes?
Cheeseballs
I think that is being investigated currently.
User 4245925809
Several have already been fired over the stadium finances.. Do you recall who? I can’t off the top of my head.. Seems as tho the Mayor is currently in hot water as well??? I am in central FL and only read sometimes on that issue.
jondogg2010
They’re banking on things to happen that haven’t yet happened. (Selling tickets being the main thing) (selling more tickets= more sponsors= new tv deal etc etc etc)
LioneeR
The new stadium is the reason they are expecting higher revenues next year. They are also back loading contracts. It is possible they are going to try to trade these players in a couple years, or are just hoping the hype around the team/possible success will increase revenues further.
Chris
actually if they win the series this year they will trade or try to trade everyone on the team .
GOTIGERS24
I’m wondering the same thing. They better hope they all have good chemistry otherwise an angry zambrono Hanley Ozzie and LoMo would be a mess
User 4245925809
Because the good people of Florida helped foot the bill on the stadium. As I recall.. Loria does not have 1 shiny nickel invested in it.
FillyPhan
Thats why they are now the Miami Sellouts, I mean Miami Marlins.
jondogg2010
What I don’t get is the way in which signing international players is designed. There should be a way to control how it’s done. If a MLB team is willing to bring (player) from (country) to play here in the states, they should be able to control the WHOLE process, and if the player doesn’t like it, stay in (country). Simple as that. So imo, the Marlins should be able to determine the amount of minor league options, years, $$, and if the deal would be incentive laden or guaranteed. It’s all garbage that’s getting out of hand.
JacksTigers
The Marlins do not have control over him. He is a FREE agent. He will be treated as such.
jondogg2010
I meant if he SIGNS with the Marlins…. (or any team)
JacksTigers
If he signs with a team, then they would have come to an agreement on all of that stuff.
Vote4DougWilson
Exactly. I can’t figure out what this guy’s issue is… what does he think they negotiate over during contract talks if not years and $?
Maydusja
Grow up. This page is for trade rumors. If you want a page meant for baseball discussion, go find a forum or Facebook page meant for it.
NorthYorkJays
A simple “thank you” would have been nice to receive even in the absence of recognition.
elscorchot
Seems like a logical offer. 60 mill was crazy.
Mike McLellan
Why aren’t other teams going after this guy? Is it because he made it known that he ‘wants’ to play in Miami?