DBAHO

I know some ppl mite hav wanted him here, but he's gone to the fishies, MIAMI -- The Marlins settled their closer situation late Saturday night by signing free agent Armando Benitez to a one-year deal reportedly worth $3.5 million. Facing a midnight deadline to tender arbitration-eligible players, the World Series champions also signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a two-year contract worth a reported $6.2 million and right-handed pitcher A.J. Burnett to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. The Marlins tendered contracts to starters Brad Penny and Carl Pavano. The team will negotiate with both right-handers up until the Jan. 19 tender signing deadline, in hopes of avoiding arbitration hearings. And the team non-tendered relievers Braden Looper, Armando Almanza and Toby Borland. The series of moves that literally pushed the midnight deadline means the Marlins are now within their payroll budget, believed to be close to $60 million. "We are within our operating range," general manager Larry Beinfest said. "There are not big parts of this team to address." Looper, who led the team in saves with 28 in 34 opportunities, becomes a free agent, as do Almanza and Borland. In parting with Looper, the Marlins are welcoming the veteran Benitez, who spent time with three teams in 2003. The hard-throwing Benitez had 21 saves in 28 opportunities and was an All-Star with the Mets before being traded to the Yankees and then the Mariners. "Armando is excited about the opportunity," said Mike Powers, Benitez's agent. "We walked away on Thursday. Larry called and they moved enough [money] to get this done." Used primarily in a setup role in the American League, Benitez was 1-1 (1.93) in nine games with the Yankees. With Seattle, he appeared in 15 games and had an ERA of 3.14 without any decisions. Benitez's contract will be finalized after he takes his physical, which could come as early as Sunday. "We think this guy has a great arm," Beinfest said of the veteran closer who has 197 career saves. "We think Looper has a great arm too. But Armando is an established closer, and we think he can flourish with our club. We think he will re-establish himself as one of the top closers in the game." Benitez has 764 career strikeouts in 584 1/3 innings. Beinfest is confident the hard-throwing right-hander will excel in South Florida because the Marlins play in a pitcher's park and the team plays great defense. Looper was 6-4 (3.68) and appeared in a staff-high 74 games. The 29-year-old joined the Marlins in 1999 as part of the deal that sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to the Cardinals. Fifth-year arbitration eligible, Gonzalez had a career high 18 home runs and he added 77 RBIs. Gonzalez's most memorable hit of 2003 was his walk-off home run in the 12th inning to beat the Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series. The signing of Gonzalez through 2005 means the Marlins infield will remain intact at least a few more seasons. Beinfest says the double-play combination of Gonzalez and Gold Glove second baseman Luis Castillo ranks among the best in the game. Also with Juan Pierre in center field, few teams can match the Marlins' defense up the middle. Burnett, who was 0-2 (4.70), is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Marlins are hopeful he will return to the rotation before June. While Borland was not tendered a contract, Beinfest said talks with the veteran reliever are under way. The team hopes to sign the right-hander to a minor league contract.

Come on it ain't the world's greatest guitar alrite!

Glad I don't hav any PM's then.

Well the pool of FA starters is gettin thinner by the day. Guess that rules out any chance of Jose Valentin goin to Seattle as well. Gimme me Livan Hernandez and Damien Moss and I'll be happy though.

This is a great chance for the White Sox to rebuild there farm system. U think the Giants would hav signed Tucker if they knew he was offered arbitration? Oops!

That prob would hav been the smart thing to do.

Stop ruining my fun sox4lifinpa.

Could affect the Koch situation greatly, For the second time this week, the Mariners were rebuffed in an attempt to make a deal. Jeff Cirillo has exercised his limited no-trade clause, refusing to go to the Mets in a proposed deal for Roger Cedeno, the Seattle Times reported on Saturday. "We had a deal worked out with a club, but the player has contractual rights, and he exercised his rights," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi told the newspaper. "So he is still a Mariner, until told otherwise." "I'd rather sit on the bench in Seattle where my kids are," Cirillo told the newspaper, "than sit in New York without my family around me." Asked about Cirillo's decision to exercise his no-trade rights, his wife Nancy told the newspaper, "Didn't anyone know? No one asked before." Earlier in the week, the Mariners thought they had acquired veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel from the Indians. However, Vizquel failed his physical, putting that deal on hold. Cirillo agreed recently to cut the number of clubs in his no-trade clause. But both New York teams were believed to be on his shortened list, according to the paper. Mariners officials believed he would approve the trade because of his desire to get away from the Mariners. Asked if he saw a release coming, Cirillo told the paper, "It's a big check to write." Cirillo is still owed $15.125 million on his contract. "My intention is to go to camp and play the best I can for Seattle, but I can't see myself walking through the Mariners' door in spring training, and I told them that," he told the paper. "You're trying to win a championship and, especially with new guys on the team, you don't need the distraction. "I appreciate Bill being honest with me today, he seems like a great guy, but I wish someone from the Mariners had talked to me before. It's a bad situation. I've played so poorly it's come to this. I really wanted it to work in Seattle; maybe I wanted it too much." The Mariners signed Scott Spiezio to play third base. Last season, Cirillo played strong defense but continued to be a liability at the plate. A two-time All-Star when he played in Milwaukee and Colorado, Cirillo hit .205 in 87 games last year after hitting .249 in 146 games the year before. The Mets are trying to unload Cedeno, who also has a big contract and has been a disappointment after signing as a free agent before the 2002 season.

Nice guitar BEGOOD.

That it did, Gashwound's takin a break for a while.

A lot of good startin pitchers r still available, and Redman is one of them. He was Florida's most consistent starter throughout the season, he just didn't hav a good playoffs. But I wouldn't mind pickin him up at all, I still want Livan Hernandez though.

Hmmm if it takes Carlos Lee to get Miller and Jackson then let's do it. I'm sure if we even do this, tradin Maggs is still a possibility to free up more money but I'd think only Boston or Baltimore if they don't get Vlad are the options there. I'm not too sure bout a Perez and Mota for Lee deal, I think we should definitely try to get at least one top prospect from the Dodgers.

I tend to disagree with most of u and pick the first trade scenario. However, I know there are lots and lots of people round here who luv Mota heaps, but there is the risk of him comin to Chicago and not livin up to our hefty expectations. He may not put up his LA numbers in a different ballpark. The first scenario sees us gettin Gutierrez and then we can trade Joe Borchard while his value is still high for some more pitchin.

I'm pretty sure the Dodgers offered him arbitration therefore we would hav to giv up picks to get him. I'm all for havin 6 picks I think in the first 2 rounds and rebuildin the farm system with pitchin and some infield prospects with speed and mayb a catcher.

Well Heather at least 1 guy in ur siggy in definitely stayin, we all hope Cotts does as well.

It will be if there's a lockout, that's for sure. There's way too many teams in da league rite now, and there doesn'r seem to be many rivalries now as well.

I'd doubt Boston would go for that. If they're not gettin A-Rod, they still want the 2nd best SS in da league.

Congrats Cheat. I always enjoy seein ur funny pics and that little pokemon dude with spots. I'll second ur thoughts on Natalie Portman as well, it's too bad she was up against Keira Knightley in the Hot Chick Contest.

Said on WhiteSox.com that they were very close to resignin Kelly. He was lights out at the start of the season bf he got injured, and we need all the bullpen guys we can get at the moment.

Thanks Heather, those translations of urs really help.

I heard from an article that KW thought he could resign Lee at 4 years for 20 million. Not sure about 2 years at 15 million, that's a lot for an outfielder who only really had 1 good year last year, but I'm all for keeping Carlos. He was our most consistent AB last year whether it was at the #2 or #5 spot.

That's good for me. I hav a white 1989 Honda Prelude, and I've been drivin it for bout 3 months now.

Depends what type of milkshake it is.

I'd think so too. I could see him goin to LA possibly if they lose Perez and need another starter, but sum1 will still guarantee him a deal. Maybe Detroit who really, really needs pitchin. They could overpay for him.

There goes another starter, The Dodgers signed a free agent Thursday, but not the answer to their offensive problems. Wilson Alvarez's return to the club was made official. He signed a one-year contract with a $1.5 million base and incentives worth another $1 million based on innings and games started. Alvarez, who revived his career with the Dodgers in 2003 after five injured years in Tampa Bay, is a likely member of the starting rotation, especially if the Dodgers wind up trading a pitcher for a hitter. That remains a probability, even though the preferred acquisition of Nomar Garciaparra appears to be dying, if not dead. Garciaparra was rumored headed to the Dodgers for Odalis Perez if Boston had been able to acquire Alex Rodriguez from Texas for Manny Ramirez, a trade that appeared to collapse Thursday. So, who's next for the Dodgers? Chicago White Sox slugger Magglio Ordonez? Probably not. Although Ordonez would be an ideal solution for the cleanup spot, the king's ransom that the White Sox are demanding in return is far from ideal for the Dodgers. Chicago reportedly wants Guillermo Mota. And one of the best prospects in the organization, Edwin Jackson or Greg Miller. And Perez. And probably a few other items. With Ordonez eligible for free agency after the 2004 season, that trade doesn't make sense for the Dodgers either long- or short-term. Without addressing Garciaparra directly, general manager Dan Evans said he's proceeding on many other tracks. "The last 10 days we've talked to many clubs and agents about many players, so there is life without that occurring," he said. "You never take the approach where you have all your eggs in one basket. We have not been sitting back waiting for one deal." Evans hasn't made things any easier on himself by refusing to trade either of the organization's two best prospects -- pitchers Edwin Jackson and Greg Miller -- who also are considered by many scouts as the two best pitching prospects on any club. With a projected payroll similar to last year's $116 million, the Dodgers would be in the running for Vladimir Guerrero only if he would accept a contract not longer than five years, which is not likely. Catchers Ivan Rodriguez and Javy Lopez are not headed to Los Angeles. The pool of free agent hitters is pretty well picked over, but among those available that might interest the Dodgers is Rafael Palmeiro They had preliminary talks with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Aubrey Huff, but Tampa Bay also wants at least one of the top prospects. They might wind up with another club's problem contracts, for example Houston's Richard Hidalgo. If the Dodgers take the trade route instead of free agency to fill their offensive holes and Perez is the bait, Alvarez surely will be in the starting rotation after the way he finished the season, going 6-2 with a 2.37 ERA while the team was 9-3 in his 12 starts. Alvarez said this week that he had other offers, but preferred to return to the Dodgers once Evans assured him the team is committed to winning. "I'm happy he felt good about coming back," said Evans, who worked with the White Sox when Alvarez was the ace of that staff. "It's a tribute to Wilson that he was able to come back from his injuries and get his career back on track."