Results tagged ‘ Logan Morrison ’

And then there were two? …

The Rangers, according to beat writer T.R. Sullivan, have resigned to the possibility of C.J. Wilson parting ways, leaving the Angels and Marlins in what appears to be a two-horse race for the ace left-hander.

Stopped in the lobby at the Hilton Anatole on Wednesday afternoon, though, Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto wouldn’t comment on Wilson, saying only that the Halos continued working to also try and add a reliever.

“Bullpen,” he said. “Look for bullpen.”

Despite the Marlins’ signing of Mark Buehrle, they’re still believed to be in the market for Wilson. In fact, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com tweeted on Wednesday that the Marlins are the “best bet” to land Wilson, with the Angels a “close second.” There are reports that the Marlins have offered him a six-year contract, which could be the difference if true.

Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison communicated with Wilson on Twitter, telling him  ..

“[I] want to sing you a song — I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, and I know, I know, I know, I want you. I want you.”

– Alden Gonzalez

Upton a potential fit with the Marlins?

Though Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers cautioned that “he would be a tough guy to move,” he is at least looking into the possibility of trading young outfielder Justin Upton. With that regard, the Marlins could be a fit, writes The New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

Sherman said he heard from a few executives that the early favorites for Upton are the Marlins and Rays. The D-backs want to add to their bullpen, get some rotation arms and upgrade at first base. The Marlins, Sherman wrote, could offer up youngster Logan Morrison and No. 2 starter Ricky Nolasco. One executive told him that may be enough to get a deal done.

A source told MLB.com owner Jeffrey Loria had not heard anything regarding talks between the Marlins and D-backs about Upton. 

The Red Sox and Yankees may also get into the mix, Sherman added.

Upton, 23, is coming off batting .273 with 17 homers, 69 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. He is locked up through 2015 in an escalating contract that will have him make $4.25 million in 2011 and $6.75 million in 2012.

“You always seek out the information on what teams will do because you never know if, to get one player, a team will grossly overpay,” Towers was quoted as saying. 

– Alden Gonzalez

Cody Ross still available

The Marlins aren’t going to force anything, but for the right price, they will trade outfielder Cody Ross by Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline.

The Braves and Red Sox remain teams interested in Ross, who is batting .272 with nine homers and 52 RBIs.

Several other clubs could be in the mix, and the Marlins are on the fence of which direction to go with the outfielder.

One source said it may go down to whether the Marlins win or loss on Friday at the Padres.

Ross, who is making $4.45 million in his second season of arbitration, does not fit into the team’s long-range plans.

The Marlins on Thursday traded Jorge Cantu, and the team cleared all but $600,000 of the $2.2 million that remains on his $6 million deal.

A prime reason Cantu was dealt was because he didn’t fit into the club’s future.

The Marlins have several outfielders they are wanting to get a look at, including Bryan Petersen, Emilio Bonifacio and Cameron Maybin, who is in Triple-A New Orleans.

When the Marlins traded Cantu, the team noted that it was looking to position the roster for now and into the future. In 2012, they move into a retractable-roof ballpark, and they want to be as competitive as possible. Already, 20-year-old Mike Stanton is gaining valuable playing time in right field, and he projects to be a future star.

By moving Cantu on Thursday, prospect Logan Morrison was given the job in left field. The Marlins have high hopes for Morrison, who promises to be a centerpiece player in the years to come.

– Joe Frisaro

Cantu subject of trade talks

Boosted by winning seven of 10 on their homestand that completed on Sunday, the Marlins are not thinking about making wholesale changes before Saturday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

The most likely player to be moved is Jorge Cantu.

A free agent after the season, Cantu has drawn attention from the Rangers, Rockies and Giants.

The Rangers appear to be the most viable option, based on reporting by MLB.com and other news outlets.

One of the Marlins most productive players since 2008, Cantu has 10 homers and 54 RBIs this season. In his 2 1/2 years with Florida has has 55 homers and 249 RBIs. The Marlins are seeking pitching in return.

The Marlins have already shown signs that they are preparing to be without Cantu. Dan Uggla, who is not being shoppped, was switched to cleanup with Cantu, dropping from fourth to fifth. 

After Cantu made two costly errors in a loss to the Braves on Saturday, he wasn’t in the lineup Sunday, although manager Edwin Rodriguez said the veteran was expected to get the day off anyway.

In late innings, Cantu has often been replaced at third base by Wes Helms. In the past, Cantu would switch to first base when Helms entered. Now, Gaby Sanchez frequently remains at first.

And at Triple-A New Orleans, highly touted prospect Logan Morrison — primarily a first baseman — has started in left field in nine straight games, including Monday afternoon. The last time Morrison started at first base was on July 19.

The significance of Morrison playing more in the outfield means the team appears to be leaning towards moving Chris Coghlan from left field to third base.

Coghlan, whose best position in the Minor Leagues was second base, saw considerable time at third base when he was a prospect. Defensively, Coghlan is said to be a little better at third than Cantu, whose best position is first base.

If Morrison is added to the lineup, it would provide a much needed left-handed bat. Morrison at New Orleans is hitting .306 with six homers and 44 RBIs with 16 doubles, and a .424 on-base percentage. He doesn’t generate big home run numbers, but he is seen as a plus .300 hitter in the big leagues.

Cantu may wind up being the only Marlin traded before Saturday’s deadline. Cody Ross, a subject of speculation, is a steady center fielder and teams haven’t been offering anything to entice the Marlins to make a trade.

Uggla is part of the team’s plans for 2011. The team is weighing whether to sign Uggla to a multi-year contract.

– Joe Frisaro

Marlins eyeing relief help

Solidifying their bullpen is a top priority for the Marlins. So it isn’t surprising that word leaked out that the team has interest in Pirates veteran Octavio Dotel.

According to FanHouse.com, the Marlins have asked the Pirates about Dotel’s availability. This is true. But that doesn’t mean the team has more interest in Dotel than a high number of other relievers who might be available.

The Marlins feel they are in the same boat as 20 other teams all looking for the same thing. Their interest in Dotel is considered on par with any number of possibilities.

With the Marlins sinking more out of the race, their chances of mortgaging a prospect for a quick fix is remote.

Several teams have informed the Marlins that they are seeking prospect Logan Morrison in return on any possible trade. Morrison, who is playing first base and outfield at Triple-A New Orleans, is close to being untouchable. Morrison, the team feels, will be a lefty bat similiar to Mets rookie Ike Davis.

While Morrison doesn’t have Davis’ power, the club believes he will hit for a higher average.

The team has some internal relief candidates they are likely to consider promoting in the next few weeks or months. A hard-throwing reliever who is close to being big league ready is right-hander Jhan Marinez, a 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Marinez is at Double-A Jacksonville. 

Marinez throws in the upper 90s and he has a power slider.

Jose Ceda, who was acquired after the 2008 season from the Cubs for Kevin Gregg, is another internal reliever the Marlins feel is getting closer to being ready. Ceda missed all of last season with a shoulder injury.

– Joe Frisaro

 

| back to blog home |
Theme: MLB “pro” | Get a free blog at WordPress.com
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 411 other followers