SB Nation User Blog: craig

Marlins Trade Matt Lindstrom

craig — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:06:23 -0000

As I am sure you all know by now the Marlins traded Matt Lindstrom to Astros for a couple of warm bodies.

The Marlins get right-hander Robert Bono and shortstop Luis Bryan from Houston. The player to be named will be Houston's first pick in today's Rule 5 draft, according to ESPN.com.

My favorite part of this was the quote from the Astros general manager, Ed Wade.

"Our guys think Bryan is going to be a really good big league player, but he's 19 years old and X number of years away from the big leagues," Wade said. "Bono has a chance to pitch in the big leagues and we recognize it impacts the depth of those young arms, but if we have a chance to add a kid who could close and who has the stuff Lindstrom has, you have to give up something to get something."

Uh huh, so says the man who sits atop of the organization, who is so good at evaluating young talent, that they have the worse farm system in all of the baseball world.

So did the Marlins get the best of Houston's crappy farm system? Not quite. This via twitter from Baseball America's Ben Badler.

Neither Robert Bono nor Luis Bryan, the two guys the Marlins got from Houston for Lindstrom, would have made the Astros top 30

Here is the deal, the Marlins gave Lindstrom away for free. Now maybe one of the guys we got in return will surprise, but I sincerely doubt it.

Radio Interview

craig — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:23:53 -0000

I did an internet radio interview last night and really didn't say anything you don't already know. However, if you like to hear it, the link will be posted in just a second.

To preface it a little, GameFish and I had the following text discussion. (Note: I didn't get her permission to post this but I think it will be all right. Oh, btw, she and I have to communicate on certain occasions )

GameFish: Getting ready for your interview?

Craig: Chugging Jack Daniels as we speak. ;)

So with that in mind, here it is.

Sports Talk Soup

Normally once the radio interview season starts I get pretty good at not using "you know" as a filler. But last night proved I wasn't anywhere near midseason form. I'm not a pro at the radio game like GameFish.

My segment is in the final thirty minutes of the hour and a half show.

Chum Bucket

craig — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:16:14 -0000

It is still Monday at least for a few more minutes, so why not put up Monday's Chum Bucket in honor of the close of the first day of the Winter Meetings.

Sadly, we didn't cover the first day of the meetings the way we had planned. It seems that both of our day jobs: 1) have never heard of the Winter Meetings and 2) didn't care if they existed. We are hoping to a better job with the site tomorrow, but I'm not promising anything. But if Beinfest will hold off until Wednesday to trade away half of the team, that would really help, because by then we will getting on all eight cylinders again.

In the meantime if you have a favorite rumor from the meeting, please feel to share. If you are like me and haven't had a chance to look at any of it, maybe you heard your favorite song on the radio and you can't wait to tell someone. Here is the place.

But whatever you decide, Have a Great Evening!

The day job is the bane of the baseball blogger during the winter meetings. Me.

craig — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:39:59 -0000

The day job is the bane of the baseball blogger during the winter meetings.

Me.

Matt Lindstrom being shopped

craig — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:56:05 -0000

The Marlins are apparently entertaining offers for Matt Lindstrom.

According to Ken Rosenthal.

Here is one reliever who is virtually certain to be traded at the winter meetings, if not before:

Marlins right-hander Matt Lindstrom.

Of the six teams to express interest in Lindstrom, three have jumped to the forefront in recent days, according to major-league sources.

The Marlins are "close" to trading Lindstorm, one source said, adding that a deal "could happen any day now."

The Rays and Rangers are among the teams that have expressed interest in Lindstrom, but neither is close to a deal, sources said.

Lindstrom, who turns 30 on Feb. 11, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The Marlins are fairly deep in late-inning relievers. Right-handers Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto and Tim Wood will return, and left-hander Taylor Tankersley is expected back from elbow surgery. — Ken Rosenthal

Joe Frisaro even adds more via twitter.

JoeFrisaro

#Marlins In talking to Lindstrom Sunday, he said Marlins flew him to Miami in mid-Nov for an exit physical. MRI showed elbow is fine.

Matt Lindstrom is a very interesting playter. It isn't everyday a pitcher who throws the ball 100 mph is on the blocks. Almost all teams will see the potential and think, if we can only get him working with our pitching coaches we take him to the next level where he will dominate consistently. And maybe they are right.

Before you get all sad, assuming you would, Lindstrom will be 30 years-old by the time next season starts. He is first year of being arbitration eligible and the Marlins aren't going to spend the money in hopes of him being the closer of the "future". If he was 25, maybe they would, but not at 30.

Lindstrom is an interesting trading piece, if the Marlins decide to go that way. Late inning bullpen help is always a need, now, if the Marlins trade him what they will get in return remains to be seen. A lot that will factor into whether the other clubs seeing this as just a salary dump or whether they feel the Marlins are trading a late inning pitcher to improve the team. Also one must figure in the other clubs need for a late inning pitcher.

We will see what happens.

Winter Meetings start today

craig — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:33:59 -0000

The Winter Meetings are underway, well, sort of. The major players are still gathering in Indianapolis but the negotiations should start soon. The Winter Meetings last from December 7-10 and conclude with the Rule 5 draft on the 10th. The Marlins won't be selecting anyone in the Rule 5 draft since there isn't a slot on the 40-man roster available. However, that doesn't mean the Marlins won't lose a player or two in the major league version of the draft. The minor league version may be somewhat different.

Most of what you will hear this week is speculation and rumors, but some will be true. As best we can, we will cover all of those rumors that seem plausible. Example: if some fool writes that the Marlins are willing to trade Bonifacio for Lincecum and the Giants are interested to the point that are willing to eat all his future salary, we won't be relaying that one. Though, I would be happy if it happened.

The main focus of this week for baseball sites is the Winter Meetings and we are no different.

Oh, I think it is funny that the beat writers are like kids seeing their first snow fall. Nothing like living in South Florida.

Weekend Chum Bucket

craig — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:08:40 -0000

Mercifully the weekend has arrived and that can mean only one thing: It is time for the Weekend Chum Bucket! Woo Hoo!

Let's see what is going on. It is championship weekend for college football. You know, the time when most of the bowls are determined. Probably the two biggest games are UF vs UA and UT vs NU. The first game will determine one of the participants in the national championship game and the second will find the biggest supporters of Nebraska are in Fort Worth, TX where the Froggies will be cheering wildly for the corn heads. Of course, there is more than just those two games. Cincinnati and Boise State will be looking to keep their perfect seasons alive.

But enough about college football, the Heat continue their West Coast trip and play on Sunday. The Panthers are at home and face Atlanta tonight. The Fins will be hoping to even out their record with a win at home against the Patriots.

I'm sure there are a gazillion other sporting events scheduled and if you want to discuss them, go for it.

As always, here at FishStripes we are more than sports. If you have seen a good movie and read a good book, tell us all about it. If opera is your thing, discuss away. (No lie, one of the longest threads ever on a Chum Bucket was about opera. Of course, that was four years ago.)

But whatever you decide to do, the most important thing is to Have a Great Weekend!

Alfredo Amezaga still rehabbing

craig — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:45:24 -0000

It seems that Alfredo Amezaga isn't exactly good to go, yet.

Thursday, President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said Amezaga has yet to begin a running program, but his rehab is going fine since undergoing microfracture knee surgery. Amezaga, who made $1.3 million last season and is eligible for arbitration again, missed all but 27 games in 2009 because of the knee injury he sustained while representing Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. His rehab schedule will not allow him to play winter ball, but the Marlins anticipate Amezaga will be ready for spring training.

The length of his recovery, which is normal for his type of injury, may mean he won't be with the Fish next season. I doubt he will command much of an increase in salary for next season, but if the front office feels there may not be a chance of him being a 100% by the time of spring training. Then they will non-tender him. We will know soon.

Marlins sign six minor league Free Agents

craig — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:26:29 -0000

The Marlins signed six minor league free agents to see if their is a diamond in the ruff.

The team on Friday announced the signings of six six-year free agents -- right-hander Kasey Olenberger, outfielder Brandon Tripp, right-hander John Fulton, right-hander Jesse Foppert, utility player Vinny Rottino and infielder Hector Luna.

The six are Minor League free agents who will be invited to big league camp in February.

There is next to no cost to signing them, and the team's only obligation is to carry them through Spring Training. Most of the time it doesn't workout, but every now and then it does. We will see how they do in Jupiter.

Marlins game plan going into Winter Meetings

craig — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:51:10 -0000

Joe Frisaro covers the Larry Beinfest press conference.

State of Marlins update

Hayden Penn?! Really?! Look, I don't care who the Marlins look at it, heck, they could invite me to camp. Sure, I would be cut before lunch on the first day of workouts in the spring, but so what. However, do they really think Hayden Penn is going to crack the starting rotation? Maybe I am missing something here.

In other news, as long as the front office believes they can sign Josh Johnson to a long term contract, he will remain with the Marlins.

Click on the link and read the whole thing, which should take you the better part of a minute.