Are The Marlins Trying to Get Back Into the Pudge Business?

Ivan Rodriguez's one year relationship with the Florida Marlins was certainly a beneficial one for both sides. The Marlins won the World Series and Rodriguez won the NLCS MVP and a four-year, $40 million contract with the Tigers. That turned into $53 million when the Tigers picked up Pudge's option before this season, despite years of diminishing offensive returns.

Now it seems that the Marlins want to try to recapture the magic with a late-summer fling. According to the Miami Herald, the team inquired about Pudge's availability as they try and find a better catcher than Matt Treanor. The Tigers still harbor some hopes of getting back into the mix for a playoff spot and aren't ready to deal the impending free agent.

I might reconsider if I were running the Tigers. They wouldn't lose all that much by going with Brandon Inge behind the dish full-time and it's time to face some facts about the future of the team. They're old, the attempt at overwhelming the American League this season didn't work and Rodriguez isn't part of a future that makes any sense.

The Tigers need to begin refilling their system after emptying it in search of the pennant this year. Pudge won't bring a ton in return but losing him also won't crush their remaining hopes of salvaging something of this season. That's a smart trade to make at this point in the season.

(H/T Baseball Musings)