A lot has happened in Major League Baseball since the last Hanging Curve, including an injury to a future Hall of Famer (Mariano Rivera), the benching of another (Albert Pujols) and a career-week for a slugger (Josh Hamilton) on a path that could lead to Cooperstown.
If the Jays front office thinks they can form a starting rotation worthy of contending in the East in the next couple seasons, there is no reason to believe that they will not make a run at Prince Fielder.
Ryan Braun and Troy Tulowitzki talked to RealGM about LeBron James and starting their own big three.
RealGM Search
Suddenly flush with cash, the Miami Marlins are throwing around millions of dollars like batting practice baseballs this offseason. After spending a little over $56 million on their roster in 2011, they have already spent a total of $133 million on two players since changing their name and adopting a Miami Vice design scheme.
A relatively small amount of that money will go to closer Heath Bell, who was the first significant free agent to reach a contract agreement when he landed a three-year, $27 million deal well before the winter meetings began in Dallas this week.
The Marlins made their biggest splash yet when they added shortstop Jose Reyes on Sunday night, locking him up with a six-year deal worth a guaranteed $102 million. If they so choose, Miami can exercise a team option for a seventh season (2018) worth $22 million ($4 million buyout).
The emerging contender is also flirting with Albert Pujols, meaning the addition of Reyes could soon be overshadowed. Regardless, the former the Met certainly deserves his own acknowledgement.
Reyes, 28, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2011. He hit .337 for New York and won his first National League batting title in the process. Over his nine-year career, he has hit .292 with 740 runs scored. He has one 200-hit season to his credit (2008) and would have certainty had one in both 2006 and 2011 had he not missed time with injuries.
Detractors will point to that as the main knock on the native of the Dominican Republic, but his issues remaining on the field have been a bit overblown. He only played 36 games in 2009 and missed a total of 65 games over the last two seasons, but played in at least 153 games over a four-year stretch from 2005 to 2008.
In 2005 and 2008, he led baseball in plate appearances and has never let an injury hurt his production when in the lineup. Over the last six years, Reyes has an on-base percentage of .354 with a total of 278 stolen bases, which has helped set the table for those behind him in the lineup.
Known for his speed and not his slugging (career .441), he can still give you a well-timed home run every now and then. He has averaged just over 11 homers per season and has led baseball in triples four times in the last seven years.
The five-time All-Star has received NL MVP votes in the same number of seasons and his value has only risen in his prime. He ranked eighth in the NL in Wins Above Replacement in 2011, fifth in WAR in terms of position players and third in Offensive WAR. Only Matt Kemp and Ryan Braun had a higher Offensive WAR. He ranked ahead of Pujols on all three WAR lists.
The signing of Reyes ushers in a new era for the Marlins, who paid just $7 million to their highest-paid player (Javier Vazquez) last year. Regardless of whether or not the SEC is looking into how they got the funding for their $634 million facility (80% came from the public), the organization is spending like big markets rivals New York and Philadelphia.
It brings to mind Washington's signing of Jayson Werth last winter, but the on-field outcome will be much more successful. The Nationals gave Werth a seven-year, $126 million deal and he had arguably the worst season of his career given the expectations and cost. Reyes will make a tad bit less (even if Miami exercises the seventh year) and is a much safer bet than Werth.
So where does Reyes fit with the Marlins?
Assuming Hanley Ramirez eventually settles into the role of third baseman or outfielder (a rather large assumption), Miami will be an elite power hitter (perhaps Pujols) away from a very good NL lineup. The top of their order will feature Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio and perhaps Omar Infante as well. Bonifacio had a .360 on-base percentage in 2011 and stole 40 bases (second in the NL).
As the roster currently stands, Logan Morrison and Hanley Ramirez will be charged with hitting Reyes and Bonifacio home when they get on base. Morrison hit 23 home runs and had 25 doubles in just 123 games in his second professional season. The concern there is his jump in power. Those 23 homers came in 462 at-bats. In 2010, Morrison clubbed just two home runs in 244 at-bats. That's a jump from a 0.81% HR rate to 4.97% in one season.
When healthy and motivated, Ramirez has very good power numbers. Over a five-year period from 2006 to 2010, he averaged 25 home runs and his career slugging percentage is .506.
In many ways, Reyes is ideal for the new-look Marlins. He appeals to the Latin community, is in his prime, brings star power as the team opens their new ballpark and his game lends itself to the improved production of those around him.
Grade for the Marlins: B
Did the Marlins overpay a bit for Reyes? Probably. They originally offered him a six-year, $90 million deal, but increased their offer by $12 million to ensure an early agreement. Without a history of big-time signings, the move was a shrewd one. This contract would be ideal for Miami if it were for four or five years instead of six or seven. Reyes is only 28, but he has already played in 1,050 regular-season games. Also, if he misses a good chunk of time over a significant amount of the contract, the money spent will be wasted.
Grade for Reyes: A-
Reyes had career-year in 2011 with the Mets despite a weak supporting cast. David Wright played only 102 games and injuries hampered his play when he was in the lineup. Carlos Beltran was his most dangerous partner in the lineup and he hit significantly better once he was traded to the Giants. He also has the opportunity to be part of something special in Miami.
