2012 MLB Free Agents: Marlins Interested in Reyes, Buehrle
By Editorial Staff
The Miami Marlins have been one of the most active teams early in free agency, contacting the representatives of several of the market’s top players. The club has been connected with Yoennis Cespedes and C.J. Wilson, and now it’s being reported that the Marlins have interest in Jose Reyes and are planning to meet today with Mark Buehrle.
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald says that the Marlins are so intrigued by free agent shortstop Jose Reyes that they made contact with him minutes after players hit the open market on Thursday. Several Marlins’ front office members flew to New York last week to sit down with Reyes’ agent, Peter Greenberg.
With their new stadium, Miami was known to be willing to increases their payroll this winter, enabling the club to go after some of the best in the free agent class of 2012. Reyes would certainly qualify as one of these, as the 28-year-old is coming off of an NL batting title and plays the prime position of shortstop.
Speaking of shortstops, you may have heard of the Marlins’. If Miami would sign Reyes, they would have to move current All-Star Hanley Ramirez to another position, most likely third base. This is something that Ramirez has said he would do if the team is able to add Reyes, stating “it would be nice to play next to him”.
While the club is interested in adding impact position players, Miami is also in search of quality arms this winter. Already having expressed interest in left-hander C.J. Wilson, who most consider to be the top free agent starter available, Miami is scheduled to meet with southpaw Mark Buehrle today.
Buehrle pitched under new Marlins’ manager Ozzie Guillen for years in Chicago, where he became one of the most consistent starters in baseball. Buehrle has logged at least 200 innings and 30 starts since joining the White Sox rotation in 2001. Over his career, the 32-year-old has maintained an ERA of 3.83.
With the way Miami is aggressively pursuing players this early in the offseason, Spencer speculates that the club could increase their payroll beyond the projected $80 to $90 million range.
For more on the Marlins, be sure to check out Marlin Maniac.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.