Stadium Deal In Place?

Seems the Marlins will have a new home in 2011.

The vagabond/transient franchise will finally have a place to lay its big ol' fish head: and it looks like it was the place where the Hurricanes and Dolphins abandoned.

The funding, detailed in a 94 page document, breaks down simply like this: the Miami Dade County contribution will be $347M dollars which is composed of $297M in tax dollars generated from tourism and another $155M contributed by the Florida Marlins.

The project will be centered in the Orange Bowl, where a demolition will take place and the new, 37,000 seat stadium will be erected. The new stadium is going to feature a retractable roof as well, which will obviously help the Marlins draw crowds to games during the rainy season in South Florida.

Some are skeptical about the Marlins new stadium and its supposed benefits. Still, the stadium proposal is a part of a larger, billion dollar project that looks to overhaul downtown Miami and redirect the flow of traffic.

Follow the discussion here.

Dallas McPherson Beefs up 3rd Base Depth

With Miguel Cabrera being traded away, the biggest obstacle for the Marlins in the immediate future is trying to recover some of his production. There seems to be a plan in place.

Part I was signing veteran free agents that are undervalued that the Marlins felt could make an immediate contribution. Jorge Cantu and Jose Castillo were signed to give the Marlins some solid options. Cantu, of course, has some upside and could even play 1B or 2B. Castillo has been putting together very good numbers in the Venezuelan League this fall.

Part II must have been to target a young player that is somewhat ready but undervalued. The Marlins found that player in the once highly-touted Dallas McPherson, a product of the Angels system.

Recovering from back surgery which cost him all of the 2007 season, McPherson is looking to catch on with the Marlins and get a fresh start. Players will report February 21st and McPherson expects to immediately contend for the starting 3B spot.

Read more about McPherson's climb back with the Marlins.

New Stadium One Step Closer for Marlins

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Marlins are crossing over crucial hurdles to get their stadium.

An agreement is in place that will see the new stadium built in Little Havana, and it is slated to seat about 37,000 and will have a retractable roof. The total cost for the stadium is about $525M, with the county paying $249M and maintaining ownership, the city will put in $121M while the Marlins will pay $155M up front. There is also a planned parking garage that the city would own.

The stadium is a part of a plan that will overhaul downtown Miami and the total cost of the project is being estimated at abotu $3 billion. The project includes a port-tunnel system to allow heavy trucks to bi-pass main traffic as well as a park and affordable housing and shops for the area. The Marlins proposed stadium would be set as a main draw for the area.

Cantu Signs

Can do Cantu...

Jorge Cantu just signed an agreement to play for the Marlins next season that will start at $500K and could pile on an extra 100K in incentives.

Source: FloridaMarlins.com
Confirmed: Sun-Sentinel.com

This is good news for the Marlins since they now have a 26 year old 2b/3b who has some promise if a team is willing to take a chance. Cantu, in 2005, had 28 home runs and 117 RBI. If he could replicate those numbers, he would greatly help the Marlins offense replace the departing Miguel Cabrera.

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