For those interested in watching the dominoes fall this MLB offseason, one of the biggest could be next with New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes. He’s being courted by the Marlins to the tune of $90 million over six years and that would create an infield move of some kind for Hanley Ramirez. If that’s the case, it’d be the kind of move that would make the Marlins relevant again, as they often do from time to time to win the World Series and then sell off every piece a year later.
Hanley Ramirez isn’t gung-ho about the move and for good reason: he’s been the key to the club for years and excelled at shortstop. It’s the single best asset the Marlins have possibly ever had as a franchise and now they’re enticed by a free agent at the same position. I’d be frustrated, too. (Although if I were making millions upon millions, I’d gladly step to the right and play somewhere else.)
If anything, the Marlins have been the anti-Royals in their history. They’re known for developing talent for certain, but the times that they’ve won have been moments when they cashed it all in for one season and then conducted a fire sale the next. Owner Jeffrey Loria swears this time is different with a new ballpark and manager in Ozzie Guillen, formerly of the White Sox. But it’s interesting to see this approach of being rumored to court every major free agent. Guess that’s what makes the fireworks of the offseason so interesting.