Miami Marlins Might Be The Best Team In Baseball Before They Sign Pujols And The Mets May Be The Worst Run Franchise Of All-Time

ESPN - The Miami Marlins and shortstop Jose Reyes agreed to terms on a six-year, $106 million deal Sunday, sources have told ESPN. The guarantee for the first six years totals $102 million, sources said. The deal includes a $22 million option for a seventh year, with a guaranteed $4 million. Reyes, 28, is coming off the best year in his career. He hit .337 for the New York Mets to win his first batting title. In nine years, all with the Mets, he has batted .292 with 370 steals and 740 runs scored. Earlier in the offseason, Miami offered Reyes a six-year, $90 million deal, which he rejected. Reyes' signing would mean the Marlins' All-Star shortstop, Hanley Ramirez, will have to change positions. Publicly, the Marlins are saying they haven't decided whether Ramirez would move to third base or center field. However, one source close to Ramirez told ESPN.com that Ramirez already has agreed to move to third base next spring.

I touched on this a little less than a month ago about how pathetic this would make the Mets look and somehow it's still surprising how bad they look right now. In return for losing Reyes, they get a 3rd round pick. That's absurd. How Sandy Alderson still has a job is mind boggling. I can't believe Bud Selig hasn't stepped in to take over the Mets franchise. It's almost like no one is running the team. Being friends with all Mets fans, it's sort of painful to watch this. Like I've said before, I could care less about the Mets and always find their mishaps absolutely hilarious - but this one takes it. I can't wrap my brain around it. A division rival just stole your franchise's best player and didn't even have to fight you for it. It's not even like they broke in middle of the night and stole him. They kind of just walked in, took his hand and walked out the door while staring you right in the face. Just mind boggling stuff. Miami is now trotting out a lineup with only 2 players who will be 30 years old on opening day (John Buck will be the oldest at 31). Two of the past three batting champions will now anchor the left side of the infield, and you have an absolute monster ace in Josh Johnson. As for the Marlins, they somehow always bounce back from the usual firesale of their roster with an unbelievably cheap, young cast of guys. Amazing way to run a franchise, maybe the Mets should take some notes....

Reyes Deal Imminent

Can't wait to be a part of the rebuilding process.

ESPN - Ken Rosenthal reports that the Marlins' offer to Reyes is for $90 million over six years. If that is indeed the starting point, then the Mets can forget about Reyes returning to Queens, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNew York.com. At that figure, the Mets would turn to Ruben Tejada as their starting shortstop for 2012. Amid all the speculation that Jose Reyes thoroughly enjoyed last week?s recruiting trip on South Beach, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson insists he has not dropped out of the sweepstakes for the free agent shortstop. Alderson tells Andy Martino of the NY Daily News he has remained in contact with Reyes' representatives since the shortstop began flirting with other teams, and he does not expect a fast resolution. Meanwhile, Brewers GM Doug Melvin revealed Monday that he has spoken to Reyes' camp once by phone but has not decided if he plans a full-court press for the shortstop. The Marlins apparently have made made Reyes a high priority and several reports suggest the two sides are close to a deal. Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post cautions, however, that there is no agreement. Joel Sherman chimed in Monday afternoon via Twitter to note that an executive he spoke to says Reyes will not sign for anything less than $100 million.

The Mets are so pathetic it makes me embarassed to be from NY. I don't even like the Mets but this bothers me, makes us look like a bunch of pussies. Why couldn't they move this shitty franchise out to California? Bring the Dodgers back to the BK - looks like both franchises could use a little change in scenery.

Marlins Close To Executing Power Move #1 - Kicking The Mets While They're Down After A Timeout Was Called Then Banging The Mets Mom And Sister

ESPN - ESPN Insider Buster Olney expects the Miami Marlins to sign Jose Reyes.

Money quote: "There is an expectation they will work something out with Reyes for something in the range of five years, $18-20M a year. They are seen as the team that's going to be most aggressive and he certainly fits the style that Ozzie Guillen loves to play. He loves to have a team that runs the bases aggressively, puts pressure on opposing defenses. Reyes would be a centerpiece for that with Hanley Ramirez moving to another position."

Mets fans, how do you feel about the prospect of seeing Reyes come back to Queens in a garish Miami uniform? Can a New York team ever justify losing a star player to a team from a smaller market, and what, if anything, should be done about it?

What a dick Buster Olney is. I'm not even a Mets fan and I feel like he just slapped me in the face. Hey Mets fans, how do you feel about this? How do you expect them to feel about this?? A pussy divisional team with no money is about to outwork you for your best player in free agency?? What kind of pussies do the Mets have in the front office? Seriously how does this happen? How does even the idea of him MAYBE signing with a divisional opponent or ANYONE ELSE for that matter even come up?? How have the Mets not made a substantial enough offer to retain it's only good player?? This is just wild to me, the Yankees might overpay for their guys, but they don't let them walk. No fucking way. That's how you win in this league, gotta be the bully - not the pussy. The Mets are absolutely the pussy in this situation if you didn't get that from this blog.

Marlins Making Absolute POWER Moves

ESPN - The franchise founded in 1993 as the Florida Marlins officially changed its name Friday night in a ceremony at the team's new ballpark. The Marlins also unveiled a new logo, new uniforms and new colors -- orange, blue, black and yellow. The changes emphasize the team's move from a suburban multipurpose stadium, where attendance was poor, to a cozier ballpark near downtown where crowds of more than 30,000 are expected for every game next season.

ESPN - A surprising visit by Albert Pujols sent a message: The Miami Marlins will be a much different franchise than the Florida Marlins. The notoriously thrifty franchise, suddenly in the mood for a spending spree, declined to disclose details of the contract proposal. Free agents Jose Reyes and left-hander Mark Buehrle also received offers after taking ballpark tours earlier this week. "We've never been penny-pinchers," owner Jeffrey Loria said. "We just haven't had the ability to do it in the old stadium. Now we're looking forward to a new era." The 31-year-old Pujols, a three-time NL MVP, is a free agent for the first time after spending his first 11 major league seasons with St. Louis. Pujols and the Cardinals didn't discuss a contract extension during the season, which ended with a World Series title, but he hasn't ruled out remaining in St. Louis. "We're just going to see where God takes us," Pujols said last week.

Wasn't it just the other day the Marlins were playing in front of 29 fans? Well looks like they're finally tired of being an absolute joke. How'd they get a new stadium by the way? I'm so confused by the Marlins - how'd they even convince Reyes and Pujols to visit Miami? I'll tell you what, if they pull a Miami Heat this will be fucking amazing. It will flip baseball on it's fucking head. Phillies sitting here thinking they made a splash signing a washed up dirtbag closer and thinking they got the division wrapped up again and here come the Marlins going all Latino in everyones face offering monster deals to the top free agents on the market. I love it, absolute monster power moves. These little Latino's mean business right now. Lost in all of this is how Reyes is no longer a New York Met and the team is officially back to rebuilding. Mets had a nice ride for about three years earlier this millennium when their fans actually believed they'd make the playoffs, now it's back to the drawing board - Hey Mets see you in 2030, maybe. Ahhh, being a Yankees fan is so easy.