| | Associated Press
MIAMI -- The Florida Marlins spent three days in first place this week, and now there's talk about breaking up the team again.
With the outlook bleak for a new ballpark, the Marlins could begin trading away players for financial reasons before next season, owner John Henry said.
Because several players will be eligible for salary arbitration after this season, the Marlins could lose $20 million next year if they keep their current roster intact, Henry told the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale.
"It used to be that you couldn't compete well without a ballpark," Henry said. "In the year 2000, you can't even afford to go to arbitration in the situation we're in, much less try to build a competitive team or look for free agents."
Henry's predecessor, H. Wayne Huizenga, dismantled the Marlins after they won the 1997 World Series. They finished with the worst record in the major leagues the past two years, but this season their young team is off to a good start.
The Marlins had hoped to open a $400 million ballpark in downtown Miami in 2003, but their proposal to use cruise taxes failed because of opposition from Gov. Jeb Bush. Team officials say they have no other plan to pay for a new ballpark, which they consider a necessity if the franchise is attract enough revenue to finance a competitive team.
"You've seen a lot of teams spend years and years trying to solve their ballpark situation," Henry said. "If we're going to take that approach, we have to continually start over rebuilding this team. For us, patience means a number of years of non-competitive baseball."
The Marlins' opening-day payroll of $20.1 million was 29th, ahead of only Minnesota ($16.5 million). Players who could be eligible for arbitration after this season include second baseman Luis Castillo, closer Antonio Alfonseca and right fielder Mark Kotsay.
Ace Alex Fernandez is considered potential trade bait because he's the Marlins' highest-paid player at $7 million per year through 2001.
On Saturday the Marlins placed Castillo on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 16 and recalled infielder Pablo Ozuna from Double-A Portland. Castillo has a lower back strain. | |
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