The Marlins' Greed Cost Them Manny

As I've said here on FanHouse during the last week, I didn't think the Red Sox were actually going to trade Manny Ramirez. I figured it was just the annual tradition of the team acting like it was going to move their slugger just to get an idea of his worth before eventually scrapping the idea. Then, as time passed, it looked like Manny was really going to get traded to the Florida Marlins and for the first time ever, I felt the deal was distinctly possible.

Then two hours later I was hearing that Manny had been traded, but to the Dodgers instead of the Marlins. So what happened in those few hours to take the Marlins out of the race? Apparently they got too greedy (fourth item).

One high-level Red Sox official said he expected Manny Ramirez would end up with the Marlins, but the Marlins backed off Wednesday night and justified asking for an additional $2 million (on top of paying Ramirez's salary) to cover salaries of the compensatory draft picks Florida would get for losing Ramirez to free agency this winter. Plus, Florida's refusal to include outfielder Mike Stanton -- who leads his Single A league with 27 homers -- helped kill the deal.

Are the Marlins really that cheap? "Okay, we'll take Manny off your hands for you, but you have to pay his salary, pay for the draft picks we'll get when we don't re-sign him, pay Mr. Loria's mortgage, and build us a new stadium. Oh, and we're not giving you anything in return either. Deal?"

Just the Marlins being the Marlins, I guess.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

8-04-2008 @ 1:17PM

Wallers said...

The Marlins are famous for being cheap. After reading this post I can not believe the gall of thier management. No wonder the Marlins are one of the lowest teams in attendance. Only big crowds they get are when they play the Mets, Phillies, Yankees and Red Soxs.

8-04-2008 @ 1:24PM

Desides said...

You realize the Marlins are in the National League, right? They don't play the Yankees and Red Sox, barring a World Series matchup or an exhibition game.

No one comes to Marlins games because an open-air stadium in South Florida is unbearable in the summer. (This is why the Marlins' future stadium features a retractable roof.) We stay at home and watch the team on TV: the Marlins' local TV ratings are routinely in excess of the seating capacity at Dolphin Stadium.

8-04-2008 @ 1:58PM

jeff said...

great comments

8-04-2008 @ 1:18PM

Sorry, but no. The Marlins asking for an additional $2 million did not kill the trade. The Red Sox were willing to pay it. What killed the deal was the Pirates' demands for more players from the Marlins. Beinfest was not willing to give up additional players for a two month rental--and why should he have been? Because Manny Ramirez is a bigger name than Jeremy Hermida? So what?

I realize the template around here is "Jeffrey Loria is greedy and cheap," and maybe he is--though Hanley Ramirez certainly doesn't believe so--but whatever greed he may or may not possess is not why this deal died.

I expect better research and smarter reporting, Tom.

8-04-2008 @ 2:06PM

Nick said...

Dah,

They play interleague games now. Marlin fans deserve what they get. Most games are played outdoor in the heat and humidty too.

8-04-2008 @ 1:48PM

Joel said...

Desides:

You're familiar with this thing they call "interleague play," no?

8-04-2008 @ 2:41PM

The Marlins do not play the Red Sox or Yankees during interleague play. They play Tampa Bay.

The Yankees have visited Dolphin Stadium once since the 2003 World Series: this year, for a preseason exhibition game.

8-04-2008 @ 4:12PM

But Boston visited in 2006. The teams they play in interleague rotate.

8-04-2008 @ 2:05PM

Wheels said...

Desides - you do realize that there is such a thing as "Interleague Play"?? And you think that we should give "kudos" because you can get 100,000 people to watch on TV, plus the 15,000 people at the ballpark?? How many people live in your market?? Please give the rest of us a break with your skewed rationale. Last time I checked, it's pretty hot in A LOT of cities during the summer - but people still show up to watch and support their team...not just the "armchair warriors" that you apparently associate with.

8-04-2008 @ 2:48PM

"And you think that we should give "kudos" because you can get 100,000 people to watch on TV, plus the 15,000 people at the ballpark?? How many people live in your market?? Please give the rest of us a break with your skewed rationale."

There's nothing skewed about anything save your opinion. Are you aware of the demographics of South Florida? A good number of the people living here were born not in Florida, but in the northeast. They are fans of northeast teams: Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets. They don't care about the Marlins and thus do not attend games.

When you post TV ratings as large as the Marlins' are in as small a baseball market as South Florida is, then the indication is that there is some mitigating factor preventing higher stadium attendance--say, the weather. And if you believe it's just heat, then you clearly have never been here, and you may kindly shut your trap regarding topics you are ignorant of. Note that Dolphin Stadium fills up for Dolphins games in the autumn and winter.

8-04-2008 @ 4:19PM

nerditry said...

@Desides : Co-sign 100%. The only thing hotter than Joe Robbie are the arepas coming off the grill.

Anyone who feels like the Marlins screwed up here, please feel free to detail the number of other teams that won a title in their first decade after expansion, another less than 7 years after than and routinely fleece other clubs in trades.

The Marlins are almost always the one sending out a single big name for a great deal of minor league prospects and cash. If they were going to take a serious gamble on a player no one can predict, why not ask for the world? The Fish are fine and will be in the hunt for a World Series in 1-2 pitchers from now.

8-04-2008 @ 4:40PM

KJR said...

Miami is one of the worst places in the country. Your governor has a pinhead. Cubans bellow when they talk. Your most famous citizen is Donato the Fisherman. How about an early bird dinner of black beans and rice with a blue drink with a swordfish swizzle stick? There are more South American criminals in Miami than Bogota. Miami airport is like a refugee camp. That Harris woman looks like the Joker. The whole state is one big hanging chad.

8-04-2008 @ 5:41PM

carmelo said...

who cares? yankees come out ahead!

8-04-2008 @ 9:46PM

Oscar Perez said...

I can't believe you guys are say this is Florida being Florida. Have u seen the ball games played in their stadium. The stadium is half empty everytime. And this is for a team that has won two World Series Championships in its short existence. There is no money to pay a Manny type contract. Go to the game and support, then u can complain that ur team doesn't pay to win.

8-04-2008 @ 10:01PM

O said...

Must be embarrassing to get your high-priced teams' butt kicked by a team with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, huh? May I remind all you Red Sox fans they have won two World Series titles in their 16 years of existence. And must I remind you that in 2003 they beat the "mighty" Yankees who had the highest payroll in baseball. How does that make you feel? And for all you Mets fans, need I remind you they lead you in the standings right now, ony 2.5 games out of first place? Who needs the distraction of the boorish Ramirez? So go ahead and criticize. Meanwhile, we Marlins fans will just sit back and be amused by your ignorance.

8-04-2008 @ 11:15PM

Bill Maguire said...

The Marlins unloaded a 24 year old Cabrerra why would they pick up a similar type hitter in his mid to late thirties for 20 mil a year ? the marlins are NOT spenders.

8-04-2008 @ 10:59PM

ken said...

It would have been interesting seeing Manny in Miami, too bad the Butt Pirates screwed it up. Florida maybe a messed up state but you have to live somewhere and the weather is usally pretty nice. In CA they are bunch of Liberal Pinheads that think they are better then everyone else while half their state is burning. It is amazing we have 2 world series and no staduim, and we lose all the good players. Maybe the currupt politicians can work out a feasable stadium deal.

8-04-2008 @ 11:43PM

phil said...

Why add a self absorbed cancer to a close knit bunch of kids like the ones who are playing their hearts out for the Marlins.

8-05-2008 @ 12:04AM

DodgerFan2008 said...

Dear Boston,

Thank you for the free player Manny Ramirez, but it is only fair we send you one in exchange, Andruww Jones is coming in on a red-eye. We will send his bats later as soon as we find them.

8-05-2008 @ 9:57AM

Brooklynjoe1@aol.com said...

Ridiculous. Baseball players are way overpaid and I am so happy that the Marlins can win without overpaying their employees. Manny should kiss the feet of every attendee that watches him play in gratitude for the life he's been given hees in the United States. I now despise the Dodgers.

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