Free Agency Rapid Reaction: What Miami should consider doing if..
by
, 12-05-2011 at 02:16 PM (6971 Views)
Miami was expected to be a big player in free agency, being in a new city, a new park, and having a new name, logo, and the whole nine yards. Tragic Maryland-like uniform fail aside, Miami has so far taken the reigns this off season. They're expected to sign closer Heath Bell and shortstop Jose Reyes. The immediate results are stability at closer and a dynamo hitting up at the top of the order. Now we all know they're still rumored to be in play for the big bats at 1B and possible pitchers like Buerhle. But if nothing else really happens for them...
Despite solid back to back seasons by Gaby Sanchez, it's obvious that Florida is wanting more power at 1B. You can't bank on signing Fielder or Pujols. So use what you already have sitting on your roster, assuming he's not bumped to AAA for a simple, honest tweet. The experts suggest it, and why not, just move Logan Morrison to 1B. I can't imagine Ozzie Guillen is going to enjoy watching him try to wade through the outfield. It's going to be an off season of transition, which Hanley Ramirez going to third, so let's add on shall we? Slide LoMo to to first, trade Sanchez for other areas of need. The outfield can be Stanton, Bonifacio, and Coghlan when healthy. Omar Infante can be the 2B, while Buck remains the catcher. You have a lot of speed and power blended throughout the lineup. And the defense won't be so bad and has potential to be good, depending on how Manley Ram adjusts. Heath Bell in theory, will stabilize the pen. The pen will be mostly young guns again. A veteran helps. Meanwhile Leo Nunez, or is his name Bob Smith now? Is well... we don't know. Here's my question: even if they signed Pujols, for example, what's happening with the rotation?
You're not making the playoffs with Clay Hensley and Chris Volstad as your 3 and 4. If they brought Vazquez back, which Vazquez would they even get? And don't get me started on Ricky Nolasco. Barring an unprecedented medical miracle where they clone Anibal Sanchez an additional 4 times, they're not going to catch the Phillies. And maybe not even the Braves.