ORLANDO, Fla. – One game that has been all the rage this winter is find the team not named the Yankees that could emerge as a significant bidder for Robinson Cano.
Surprisingly, one club that comes up from time to time is the Marlins. The theory: They are further along than you think because of their accumulation of young talent and no owner has proven more impetuous – in spending and selling off – than Miami’s Jeffrey Loria.
Consider this: I have been told by multiple sources that the Marlins were in late and at a big number to try to sign Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu, who eventually landed with the White Sox for six years at $68 million.
Now, Cano is going to be in a different stratosphere, especially since the Yankees already have offered roughly $100 million more than Abreu received to try to retain their second baseman. And that different financial zip code likely will keep the Marlins from playing for Cano.
“It probably doesn’t fit,” said new Miami GM Dan Jennings. “We have to know our market and our payroll and our history. And our history is to build around young players and add pieces when it has become very clear that we are ready to win.”
The Marlins believe they have strength and depth at pitching and in the outfield and are looking to upgrade the infield, particularly third base. Miami has been tied to Boston’s Will Middlebrooks, as an example.
As far as their outfield, Jennings also attempted to douse another long-held rumor, that the Marlins will trade Giancarlo Stanton this winter for a boatload of prospects.
“We think he is a special guy,” Jennings said. “We brought him into the organization, raised him to the majors. We feel we want to build around him going forward.”
Stanton is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, so he will make about $3 million. As he gets more expensive and heads toward free agency following the 2016 campaign, Stanton could become more of a priority for the Marlins to move.
He was very upset about the team’s selloff of veterans during and following the 2012 season and the belief has been he will not sign long-term with the Marlins.