Marlins have one last hole to fill

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Marlins have one last hole to fill - 03/27/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

Marlins have one last hole to fill
By BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

Now that the Marlins have traded for a closer (Jorge Julio), will they fill their other glaring need by acquiring a center fielder? General Manager Larry Beinfest indicated Tuesday he's examining external options but, ``we've reached the conclusion what we have here is good enough to start the season. Our center fielder is here in camp. But there's no doubt we're looking.''

Florida will choose a starter shortly among Alejandro De Aza (''he does everything well,'' Beinfest said), Alex Sanchez and Eric Reed. Sanchez (.163 this spring) admitted Reed and De Aza (both .351) have played ''better than me'' and expects to learn his fate today.

But if the starter struggles early, don't be surprised if Florida makes a trade. A high-ranking executive with another team said the Marlins are intrigued by the Cubs' Angel Pagan, among others.

• Union chief Don Fehr said the Marlins' $18 million payroll last year -- now up to $32 million (including Al Leiter/Carlos Delgado deferred payments) -- ''concerns us.'' In fact, though Fehr declined to discuss it, we hear the union last year considered bringing the Marlins' matter to an independent arbitrator -- which the labor contract allows -- in an attempt to force them to use more revenue sharing money to improve the team.

• The 12-man pitching staff is set except for Taylor Tankersley, who could open on the disabled list (shoulder tendinitis), creating a spot for a journeyman or Felix Rodriguez. . . . Manager Fredi Gonzalez spoke of alternating cleanup hitters: Mike Jacobs against right-handers, Josh Willingham against lefties.

[all4phillysportsfan]

They will finish 3rd this year unless the 3 teams ahead of them collapse. Firing Girardi is gonna prove to be costly.

[ScoutingBook]

Girardi will definitely be missed. That was just crazy.

[all4phillysportsfan]

Yeah it was. Girardi was perfect for that team. Young manager, young team, they could have grown together in a couple years been a great team.

[Nimajneb]

Take my Jeremy Reed, please.

[all4phillysportsfan]

I'll take Jeremy Reed over Pat Burrell.

[Sawman]

Originally Posted by all4phillysportsfan

I'll take Jeremy Reed over Pat Burrell.

I hope you're being sarcastic. I mean, I understand Philly fans being disenchanted with Burrell, but the above statement is just absurd. Reed's only full season in the major leagues, he had a .674 OPS. Burrell's been consistently better than league production for 7 years.

[all4phillysportsfan]

I don't think there's anybody in the league that takes more called 3rd strikes than Pat Burrell. I'll take 20 less homeruns anyday over the amount of called 3rd strikes Burrell's been called out on.