THOMAS JOSEPH

The Marlins have three contract years at undeniably affordable costs. It's worth the risk, such as it is, especially given the ludicrous FA contracts given to middling and over-the-hill starters these days. A monster starting rotation is the envy of every team. It means true playoff aspirations. Yet, as Ely stated, I still expect a trade, and will be ok with the decision, I suspect. After all, this whole thing is a giant crapshoot. We hope, we measure, we argue, but have no access to the internal assessments, no vote, and certainly nothing to say about injuries. Happy New Year, fellow Marlins travelers.

I usually disengage after a player is traded, however, I am planning to stay up with Johnston, Wagaman, and Weiners in 2026.

Ugh. Just ugh.

From your lips to reality!

Bullish on Ruiz. There's almost always a Spring Training breakout player. Thinking this year it will be De los Santos, forcing some thought into the Opening Day roster. No comment on Cabrera, although I do expect a trade.

Plenty of upside. I hope Ruiz gets sufficient ABs.

Me likey. Excellent look at an upside, which I believe truly exists here. This feels like a change-of-venue rebound candidate.

I am solidly in the "meh" camp, although he will be put to use extensively. His 2025 total of 60 innings is the most Fairbanks has pitched in MLB. Since Hernández pitched 73 last year, I think we can assume that Fairbanks will be asked to exceed his 2025 apex. Still, at $216,000 an inning (based on his career high innings of 60), it's not a deal. Fairbanks is not improving. My gut tells me he will collect his extra half-million, traded by the deadline. I think what we see is Marlins fans are happy literally with any signing, like a thirsty desert traveler, regardless of the contract, which is, of course, followed by the endless fan lament of "ok, that's a good start." Just sign someone! Some of this is reasonable and understandable in the context of the team's actions, but most of it is the conventional fan thinking that applies to every team. My second gut feeling is that the Marlins will regress in the division, with the Mets (counterintuitively) and the Braves rebounding, so Mr. Fairbanks will not be lonesome at the trade deadline. Of course, none of this would have happened if the team had only signed Williams, or Helsley, or Jansen, or O'Hearn, or...

Right. I think the low- and mid-revenue teams simply cannot agree to any CBA without significant changes in the MLB ecosystem. It's a redline negotiation which will result in a lost or severely reduced 2027 season.

This is a big blow to the Marlins. I'm not discounting that a replacement is possible, but Hernández was so reliable, and mid-level relievers, especially, are so fickle. Stick with a one-year deal or a deal with a team option. I don't think we're having a 2027, which creates an unproductive on-the-hook commitment into 2028. Hope that the CBA isn't venomous, but we all know it will be.

Baseball coaching "success" is highly nuanced. The damages sought might be so nominal in the scheme of things that a quick "make it go away" no-admission-of-wrongdoing settlement does seem likely. Which is, of course, often the goal of these types of claims. It is, like baseball itself, a game.

You're right on. It's like a mantra. My thoughts are that the post-CBA team financials will be nicely aligned, provided the 2027 season isn't lost. Like the pandemic losses, another lost season would be devastating for the financially tight teams, like ours. Merry Christmas.

I'm of the same mind regarding winter ball veracity. Bruján had excellent Dominican League stats, if memory serves. Another point you made - one extra win per month last season and there's the playoff-goal 85 wins. But, as we know, every year starts from scratch. Merry Christmas.

I make no bones about not liking Morel. He's a Chisholm-esque prima donna, imo. Still, I want him to go well for the team's sake, of course. I think not, a la Anderson. It's an inexpensive, low-risk shot that I understand. Based on the show comments, De los Santos has been somewhat rejuvenated in the Marlin plans. He's had a productive winter ball stats. Morel could be a reclamation project success or simply the bridge to Deyvison. I hope it's the latter and Morel is gone quickly, so he can take his self-absorption elsewhere.

David Samson had a segment breaking the canard that revenue sharing was strictly for direct payroll. No grievance in this area ever succeeded. After the new CBA, García and the other smaller sunk contracts are completed, plus the Stanton residual payments will be nearly settled, as well. The team will be in much better financial shape, I bet, coinciding with its window on the field.

Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that the major league payroll does not constitute the team's entire expenditure for a year? Lol.

I formed an unflattering opinion of Morel after watching him dance around the based when he was with the Cubs. He had hit a home run in Spring Training, for crying out loud. Of course, as a fan, I want him to be more of a success at first than Mervis (but I doubt he will be).

These articles are fun to read. I'm fine with the team's current program, boring or not. The results appear to be worthy of a vote of confidence, imo.

I, also, would be surprised at an Alcántara trade. There's likely no equitable return and there's no payroll pressure. Coming off the 79-win season, a trade in the current Marlins environment seems incongruous with the on-field vector and healing perceptions of the fan base.

Kudos to Azout and Barral.

I certainly realize that not every player is Bryce Harper. Still, his successful move to first base didn't seem to be widely discussed. Let's see what happens with internal options at first.

I think they should pair adding the three additional playoff slots (Wild Cards) with tripling or quadrupling the CBT. Lots more teams in the "you never know" playoffs, while dampening the high AAVs. Probably must also significantly diminish the salary deferrals in some way. These would avoid the whole cap/ceiling issue. Players would like the expanded playoff money pool, as well.

Well done.

Fifty million dollars for Williams. But, then again, it's all relative. In Cohen's case, it means little, since all he wants is a world title before leaving this mortal coil. My prediction is that another $400 million will make Stearns the new "genius" general manager, Or. will it be Dombrowski in Philly? Oh, I forgot, they didn't win anything yet either. Cashman! Oh. To hell with it, just give the title to the Dodgers for the rest of the decade, as long as they play the Yankees in the World Series, the baseball and media powers that will be elated! Problem solved, right? I mean, the rest of the league is irrelevant anyway. That is what 2027 will be about. I am fine with trading a lost season for a long-overdue revision of the broken baseball ecosystem. Or, let's expand the playoffs, adding another three Wild Card teams. One never knows!

Well done.