Marlins increase offer

External Since: Oct 26, 2003 Posts: 62

Marlins Make Another Offer to Pudge as Deadline Nears
Florida Agrees to Contract With Reliever Fox
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP SPORTS

MIAMI (Dec. 7) -- The Florida Marlins increased their offer to Ivan Rodriguez
on Sunday as they faced a midnight deadline to sign the All-Star catcher or
defend their World Series championship without him.

The Marlins say they can't come close to Ivan Rodriguez's request for a
four-year, $40 million contract.

"The team has presented an enhanced financial offer with hopes of retaining
Pudge," team spokesman Steve Copses said, declining to give specifics.

Rodriguez asked the team Friday for a $40 million, four-year contract, a figure
that general manager Larry Beinfest categorized as "significantly apart" from
what Florida could afford.

All three of the Marlins' top executives -- owner Jeffrey Loria, president
David Samson and Beinfest -- were on the telephone with Rodriguez's agent,
Scott Boras, on Sunday when the offer was made, Copses said.

If Rodriguez doesn't accept Florida's offer, the Marlins likely will enter next
season with two veteran backups, Mike Redmond and Ramon Castro, vying for the
starting job.

Redmond hit .240 with no homers in 125 at-bats in 2003; Castro hit .283 with
five home runs in 53 at-bats.

If Rodriguez returns, Florida probably won't offer a 2004 contract to Redmond,
who earned $1.05 million last season.

Florida did announce one signing Sunday, agreeing with reliever Chad Fox on a
$1.2 million, one-year deal. Fox had a 2.13 ERA after joining Florida as a free
agent in August, and could graduate from setup man to closer.

The Marlins were not expected to offer free agent closer Ugueth Urbina salary
arbitration before Sunday's deadline, and have not announced whether they'll
offer Braden Looper -- their closer for much of last season -- a 2004 contract.

Also, the team formally announced the signing of second baseman Luis Castillo
to a $16 million, three-year contract. Castillo passed his physical to make the
deal complete, Copses said.

12/07/03 17:11 EST

External Since: Sep 05, 2003 Posts: 47

Come on Pudge, AGREE. The Marlins fans LOVE YOU despite our cheap ass
owner!

"Marlin Nation" <marlinnation RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031207180235.04179.00000350@mb-m29.aol.com...
> Marlins Make Another Offer to Pudge as Deadline Nears
> Florida Agrees to Contract With Reliever Fox
> By TIM REYNOLDS, AP SPORTS
>
> MIAMI (Dec. 7) -- The Florida Marlins increased their offer to Ivan
Rodriguez
> on Sunday as they faced a midnight deadline to sign the All-Star catcher
or
> defend their World Series championship without him.
>
> The Marlins say they can't come close to Ivan Rodriguez's request for a
> four-year, $40 million contract.
>
> "The team has presented an enhanced financial offer with hopes of
retaining
> Pudge," team spokesman Steve Copses said, declining to give specifics.
>
> Rodriguez asked the team Friday for a $40 million, four-year contract, a
figure
> that general manager Larry Beinfest categorized as "significantly apart"
from
> what Florida could afford.
>
> All three of the Marlins' top executives -- owner Jeffrey Loria, president
> David Samson and Beinfest -- were on the telephone with Rodriguez's agent,
> Scott Boras, on Sunday when the offer was made, Copses said.
>
> If Rodriguez doesn't accept Florida's offer, the Marlins likely will enter
next
> season with two veteran backups, Mike Redmond and Ramon Castro, vying for
the
> starting job.
>
> Redmond hit .240 with no homers in 125 at-bats in 2003; Castro hit .283
with
> five home runs in 53 at-bats.
>
> If Rodriguez returns, Florida probably won't offer a 2004 contract to
Redmond,
> who earned $1.05 million last season.
>
> Florida did announce one signing Sunday, agreeing with reliever Chad Fox
on a
> $1.2 million, one-year deal. Fox had a 2.13 ERA after joining Florida as a
free
> agent in August, and could graduate from setup man to closer.
>
> The Marlins were not expected to offer free agent closer Ugueth Urbina
salary
> arbitration before Sunday's deadline, and have not announced whether
they'll
> offer Braden Looper -- their closer for much of last season -- a 2004
contract.
>
> Also, the team formally announced the signing of second baseman Luis
Castillo
> to a $16 million, three-year contract. Castillo passed his physical to
make the
> deal complete, Copses said.
>
>
> 12/07/03 17:11 EST
>