October 02, 2005
McKeon Retires
Jack McKeon called it quits today. Florida had a disappointing season, and Trader Jack took responsibility for that:
"The last couple of years I haven't had as much fun as I'd like," McKeon said. "Since I'm the leader, I'll take full responsibility for the poor year we had."
Here's a job Lou Piniella that ought to interest Lou Piniella. There's a solid core here that. Cabrera, Delgado, Willis and Beckett would be a great lead four on any team. Plus, it's close to home, which is why Lou wanted to move to Tampa in the first place. I would not be surprised to see Piniella in teal next season.
Posted by David Pinto at
07:25 PM
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Isn't their talk that Delgado won't be with Marlins next year?
I am hoping the Astros make a run for Beckett.
Beckett isn't a free agent is he? I don't see the Fish getting rid of Beckett if they know Burnett won't be coming back.
Google brought up a little internet chatter that Delgado might be on the block. Hard to believe the Marlins would trade their best OPS guy unless they got overwhelming value in return. Delgado was simply one of the very best hitters in the NL this year, with no help from his park.
With Burnett almost certainly gone, I can't see the Marlins trading any of their remaining big names unless they get an All-Star team in return.
Piniella is a pretty shrewd judge of talent - not just the stars, but a team overall. I think he may smell "overrated" about the Marlins and look elsewhere. And who knows if Florida will even want high-maintenance Lou in the first place.
Hard to believe the Marlins would trade their best OPS guy unless they got overwhelming value in return.
Yes...but Delgado's contract demands ridiculous money next season. Because of delays in getting a new stadium, they signed him to a low salary in year one - he only made 4 million this year! But next year the salary jumps to 13.5, then 14.5, then 16 million each year. This was under the assumption that they would have a new stadium built at some point. But those salary numbers become somewhat unaffordable for Marlins ownership.
If the Marlins wave bye-bye to both Delgado and Burnett, I could easily see the team losing 85 games next year, barring the addition of serious talent.
The team is significantly worse than average once you get past Delgado and Cabrera with the bat, and Willis, Beckett and Burnett with the ball. Even with all those five guys, the team ran an uninspiring -15 run diff this year.
Take away two of the five, and the run diff might slip to -50 or worse. The Marlins got a little lucky in the won-loss column this year. Hermida's arrival offers some hope for the offense, but it's a big risk to rely on him to pick up the slack if Delgado departs.
When it rains...
Not only do the Marlins have so-so or worse talent beyond their big-name players, but they also play in a tough division. Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York all racked up big positive run diffs this year.
Of course, nothing's certain, and next year all these teams might collapse.
But the indications are that the Marlins will have to be significantly better than they were this year just to contend in 2006. This isn't the NL Weak. Losing both Delgado and Burnett would be a crusher.
