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The cash-strapped Florida Marlins found ways to keep most of their starting infield, outfield and pitching together this offseason. Agreeing to terms with All-Star closer Armando Benitez was just another bonus.
``That was probably the last piece of this team that was really in need, and we took care of it,'' Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said Sunday, a day after the hard-throwing right-hander accepted a $3.5 million, one-year deal with the World Series champions.
Benitez's acquisition
was probably the last significant personnel move the Marlins will make before
spring training. It also ended the five-year relationship Florida had with Braden
Looper, who spent much of the 2002 and 2003 seasons as the Marlins' closer but
may have won a contract of $4 million or more in arbitration.
That was simply too much for Florida to invest in a stopper who had an ERA of
6.14 after the All-Star break and 5.14 in the postseason.
``This was a situation where we had two viable closer candidates with very good arms,'' Beinfest said. ``We just felt that Benitez is going to flourish here.''
Benitez was the Mets' closer from 1999 through his trade midway through the 2003 season. He saved 160 games in 185 chances, but blew a major league record six of his 10 postseason save chances while with the Mets, who traded him to the Yankees in July. The Yankees sent him to Seattle three weeks later.
``The numbers are still good,'' Beinfest said. ``The arm is still good. The three-pitch quality is still good.''
The decisions on Benitez and Looper were part of Florida's flurry of moves late Saturday night, as the team raced to strike deals with arbitration-eligible players before the midnight deadline.
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez agreed to a $6.2 million, two-year deal, and right-hander A.J. Burnett -- who missed virtually all of last season after elbow reconstruction surgery -- accepted a $2.5 million offer for 2004. Relievers Toby Borland and Armando Almanza were not tendered contracts and became free agents.
Florida had 15 arbitration-eligible players on its roster after the World Series; only two, starters Carl Pavano and Brad Penny, may need to have contracts settled in mediation.
``Some very tough decisions and tough moves were made to get where we are,'' Beinfest said.
Only a handful of Marlins entered the offseason under contract for 2004, and the team says it cannot afford a payroll significantly higher than last year's $54 million -- paltry by baseball standards.
Somehow, though, the pieces were arranged to fit in a way so the Marlins could make good on their promise not to dismantle another World Series winner.
``We are within our payroll operating range,'' Beinfest said.
Second baseman Luis Castillo and third baseman Mike Lowell got multiyear deals, so Gonzalez's return means three infield spots are set. The expected opening day outfielders -- Jeff Conine, Juan Pierre and Miguel Cabrera -- were already under contract.
Catchers Mike Redmond and Ramon Castro re-signed, as did setup man Chad Fox, who excelled in the final two months of last season. World Series MVP Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis had existing contracts, and now Penny and Pavano are back for at least 2004. Michael Tejera (another re-signee) could hold down the fifth spot until Burnett completes his rehabilitation, possibly by May.
There were notable changes. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez and closer Ugueth Urbina were not signed and became free agents, plus first baseman Derrek Lee, left-handed starter Mark Redman and outfielder Juan Encarnacion were traded away.
``There is some change, a lot of it for financial reasons,'' Beinfest said. ``But when you're talking about three-fourths of your infield, your whole outfield and four-fifths of your starting pitching coming back, I think that's a long way from dismantling.''