Blue Jays Rumors: Marlins Consider Pursuing Adam Lind

The Miami Marlins are “likely to discuss” recently demoted Toronto Blue Jays slugger Adam Lind, reports Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel.  The Blue Jays demoted Lind to the minors this past week and it was announced yesterday that Toronto placed the 28-year-old on outright waivers yesterday.

If Lind is claimed during his time on waivers, the club that claims him would take over the balance of his current contract.  The Blue Jays would not be able to pull Lind back from waivers if the slugger is claimed.  However, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported last night there an American League executive told him that there’s “no chance” Lind gets claimed.

The largest reason for this, aside from his recent production, is Lind’s current contract.  Lind is making $5 million this year and next and his deal then includes three team options through the 2016 season.  Even if Lind were bought out from his trio of options, it would cost his team another $3.5 million.

Because of the power Lind displayed earlier in his career, teams could be intrigued enough to kick the tires on the first baseman.  Lind hit 84 home runs and 94 doubles from 2009-11.

Juan C. Rodriguez expects the Marlins to be one of the teams that discuss Lind.  Still, Rodriguez doesn’t expect Miami to aggressively pursue Lind due to his recently plummeting performance.  Rodriguez noted that, since the start of the 2011 season, Lind has only mustered a line of .238/.291/.415 with a 22.2% strikeout rate.

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