On a day dedicated to honoring the Most Valuable Player award recipients, the transactions wire was dormant, with only a pair of contracts for backup catchers preventing the hot stove from turning ice cold. The Braves scooped up Gerald Laird to fill David Ross’ shoes with a two-year deal, and the Cubs added Dioner Navarrofor a 2013 salary of $1.75 million. As you wait for more action, here are a few developing stories to keep an eye on:
Marlins intend to keep Ricky Nolasco… or, so they say
While the Tigers and Giants were resting up for the World Series, the Marlins were busy preparing for the offseason, and on Oct. 23, President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest told fans, “Our hope is that a new manager, along with roster improvements, will restore a winning culture.” He delivered on the promise of a new manager, hiring Mike Redmond to replace Ozzie Guillen, but then—perhaps under a directive to cut payroll—blew up the roster he had promised to improve. The lesson, for those who had not already learned it: don’t always take the Marlins at their word.
On Thursday, President David Samson said during a radio appearance with Dan LeBatard that the team intends to keep Nolasco in Miami, where he would provide a veteran presence to an otherwise youthful rotation. The 29-year-old is owed $11.5 million, set to hit free agency after next year, and showing signs of decline. He is exactly the sort of player you would expect the now-rebuilding Marlins to unload.
Time to invoke an overused adage: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” In hindsight, considering that a public-relations disaster was the only obstacle preventing Beinfest from shedding heavily backloaded contracts after a 69-93 season, the 12-player shocker currently on Bud Selig’s desk should not have been all that shocking. Now, with Nolasco accounting for roughly half of owner Jeffrey Loria’s remaining player payroll, and the team’s reputation already in the doldrums, the only thing standing between Beinfest and a deal involving Nolasco is a search for a willing taker.
And the only things standing between Beinfest and a willing taker are the data in this table:
The rest of this article is restricted to Baseball Prospectus Subscribers.
Not a subscriber?
Click here for more information
on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or use the buttons to the right to subscribe and get access to the best baseball content on the web.
Do you think Cashman will play "hard ball" when it comes to resigning Cano. Cashman was willing to let ARod go until he was undermined by Hank Steinbrenner. The Jeter negotiations were suprisingly drawn out.
Thanks for reading. My guess is that the Cano talks will be drawn out, with both sides playing "hard ball" considering Boras' history of advising clients to test the market. But ultimately, he's the best position player on the team, and the Yankees don't have anything resembling an in-house replacement if he were to sign somewhere else. I don't expect Cashman to let Boras have his way without putting up a fight—and if other big-market teams (like the Dodgers) have openings at second base, Boras could likewise turn them into leverage—but I think the sides recognize that a new deal with the Yankees is both in their best interests and the most likely outcome.
Raising Aces: Bush Lea... (11/16)
2 comments have been left for this article. 
Surprise Me!
Do you think Cashman will play "hard ball" when it comes to resigning Cano. Cashman was willing to let ARod go until he was undermined by Hank Steinbrenner. The Jeter negotiations were suprisingly drawn out.
yankee,
Thanks for reading. My guess is that the Cano talks will be drawn out, with both sides playing "hard ball" considering Boras' history of advising clients to test the market. But ultimately, he's the best position player on the team, and the Yankees don't have anything resembling an in-house replacement if he were to sign somewhere else. I don't expect Cashman to let Boras have his way without putting up a fight—and if other big-market teams (like the Dodgers) have openings at second base, Boras could likewise turn them into leverage—but I think the sides recognize that a new deal with the Yankees is both in their best interests and the most likely outcome.