Pudge gets an offer

Marlins offer Pudge two-year, $16 million deal

By Juan C. Rodriguez
Staff Writer
Posted December 3 2003

Their 2004 infield all but constructed, the Marlins on Tuesday shifted their
attention behind the plate.

With less than a week to consummate a deal with catcher Pudge Rodriguez, they
made their initial pitch. General Manager Larry Beinfest would not reveal the
particulars, but an industry source said it was a two-year offer for between
$15 million and $16 million.

That represents a seven-figure pay cut for the National League Championship
Series MVP, who signed a one-year contract for $9.3 million in January. All but
$3 million of that salary was deferred, so regardless of whether he is in their
uniform or not the Marlins will have Rodriguez on the payroll each of the next
three seasons.

If the two sides do not come to terms by Sunday, the deadline for teams to
offer salary arbitration or forfeit negotiating rights until May 1, Rodriguez
will be elsewhere Opening Day. His current contract precludes the Marlins from
offering him arbitration and receiving a compensatory draft pick if he signs
with another team.

With a 2004 budgeted payroll of no more than $60 million, the Marlins -- who
have already signed All-Star infielders Mike Lowell and Luis Castillo to
four-year deals -- are working under financial as well as time constraints.
Their on-field payroll may not reach the $50 million mark, considering they owe
Rodriguez and Mike Hampton a combined $11 million in deferred salary.

"We stepped up to something we were comfortable with and we thought was fair
within the parameters we were able to work with," Beinfest said. "That's what
we're moving ahead with. It's Pudge's privilege as a free agent to explore and
look elsewhere and do whatever he needs to do. We also need to do what we need
to do."

Rodriguez is cruising the Caribbean on his yacht and isn't due back until about
Dec. 10. His agent, Scott Boras, could not be reached.

Even after remaining healthy a full season and carrying the club through much
of the playoffs, Rodriguez likely won't be able to write his ticket. Beyond the
Marlins, the Cubs and Orioles appear the most likely landing spots. However,
the Cubs already have a $3 million catcher in Damian Miller, who they would
have to jettison before adding Rodriguez. In addition, an industry source said
the Orioles are closing in on free-agent catcher Javy Lopez.

"The math doesn't work," said a member of one National League front office.
"The market is Miami. Pudge needs the Marlins, and the Marlins need Pudge."

Added manager Jack McKeon, Tuesday's featured guest in the Life 101, Personally
Speaking series at Nova Southeastern University: "Larry and the guys have to
work with their parameters. We'd all love to have him back, if it's possible."

BULLPEN BUZZ

The Marlins can offer salary arbitration to right-hander Ugueth Urbina and
haven't ruled it out, but not so much for the purpose of re-signing him.
Sources said the Marlins believe Urbina will land a multiyear contract
elsewhere, which would bring a compensatory draft pick if they offer him
arbitration.

That remains a risky proposition. If Urbina accepts the Marlins' arbitration
offer, he is guaranteed no less than 80 percent of his 2003 salary, which comes
out to $3.6 million. More likely, Urbina would command a raise and top the $5
million mark.

Beinfest said the Marlins have not extended an offer to Urbina, adding the team
is hoping to retain right-handed reliever Chad Fox. A source said discussions
are ongoing but a deal is not close.

If he has ANY Brains--he's REJECT it--Cheap Fucks!
"Marlin Nation" <marlinnation.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031203150416.15426.00000056@mb-m12.aol.com...
> Marlins offer Pudge two-year, $16 million deal
>
> By Juan C. Rodriguez
> Staff Writer
> Posted December 3 2003
>
> Their 2004 infield all but constructed, the Marlins on Tuesday shifted
their
> attention behind the plate.
>
> With less than a week to consummate a deal with catcher Pudge Rodriguez,
they
> made their initial pitch. General Manager Larry Beinfest would not reveal
the
> particulars, but an industry source said it was a two-year offer for
between
> $15 million and $16 million.
>
> That represents a seven-figure pay cut for the National League
Championship
> Series MVP, who signed a one-year contract for $9.3 million in January.
All but
> $3 million of that salary was deferred, so regardless of whether he is in
their
> uniform or not the Marlins will have Rodriguez on the payroll each of the
next
> three seasons.
>
> If the two sides do not come to terms by Sunday, the deadline for teams to
> offer salary arbitration or forfeit negotiating rights until May 1,
Rodriguez
> will be elsewhere Opening Day. His current contract precludes the Marlins
from
> offering him arbitration and receiving a compensatory draft pick if he
signs
> with another team.
>
> With a 2004 budgeted payroll of no more than $60 million, the Marlins --
who
> have already signed All-Star infielders Mike Lowell and Luis Castillo to
> four-year deals -- are working under financial as well as time
constraints.
> Their on-field payroll may not reach the $50 million mark, considering
they owe
> Rodriguez and Mike Hampton a combined $11 million in deferred salary.
>
> "We stepped up to something we were comfortable with and we thought was
fair
> within the parameters we were able to work with," Beinfest said. "That's
what
> we're moving ahead with. It's Pudge's privilege as a free agent to explore
and
> look elsewhere and do whatever he needs to do. We also need to do what we
need
> to do."
>
> Rodriguez is cruising the Caribbean on his yacht and isn't due back until
about
> Dec. 10. His agent, Scott Boras, could not be reached.
>
> Even after remaining healthy a full season and carrying the club through
much
> of the playoffs, Rodriguez likely won't be able to write his ticket.
Beyond the
> Marlins, the Cubs and Orioles appear the most likely landing spots.
However,
> the Cubs already have a $3 million catcher in Damian Miller, who they
would
> have to jettison before adding Rodriguez. In addition, an industry source
said
> the Orioles are closing in on free-agent catcher Javy Lopez.
>
> "The math doesn't work," said a member of one National League front
office.
> "The market is Miami. Pudge needs the Marlins, and the Marlins need
Pudge."
>
> Added manager Jack McKeon, Tuesday's featured guest in the Life 101,
Personally
> Speaking series at Nova Southeastern University: "Larry and the guys have
to
> work with their parameters. We'd all love to have him back, if it's
possible."
>
> BULLPEN BUZZ
>
> The Marlins can offer salary arbitration to right-hander Ugueth Urbina and
> haven't ruled it out, but not so much for the purpose of re-signing him.
> Sources said the Marlins believe Urbina will land a multiyear contract
> elsewhere, which would bring a compensatory draft pick if they offer him
> arbitration.
>
> That remains a risky proposition. If Urbina accepts the Marlins'
arbitration
> offer, he is guaranteed no less than 80 percent of his 2003 salary, which
comes
> out to $3.6 million. More likely, Urbina would command a raise and top the
$5
> million mark.
>
> Beinfest said the Marlins have not extended an offer to Urbina, adding the
team
> is hoping to retain right-handed reliever Chad Fox. A source said
discussions
> are ongoing but a deal is not close.
>
>