Joe Borowski & Pokey Reese sign with Marlins

[Pierzynski 12]

MIAMI -- The youthful Marlins added a couple of veterans on Thursday to boost their infield and bullpen.

Gaining some experience to what may be the youngest team in the league, the Marlins signed reliever Joe Borowski and infielder Pokey Reese to one-year contracts.

 

After being acquired from the Cubs at midseason, Borowski, 34, was 1-5 with a 3.83 ERA for the Devil Rays. Appearing in 32 games, the right-hander threw 35 1/3 innings, striking out 16 while walking 11. He immediately is a setup candidate who has experience closing.

 

The revamped Marlins are thin on closing options. A primary candidate to close is hard-throwing Travis Bowyer, who boosts a 97 mph fastball. Bowyer was acquired in a trade that sent three-time All-Star Luis Castillo to the Twins.

 

In 2003, while with the Cubs, Borowski compiled 33 saves in 37 opportunities. The following season he had nine saves in 11 chances, but was 2-4 with an 8.02 ERA in 22 games with the Cubs.

 

Borowski broke in with the Orioles in 1995. He's also played for the Braves (1996-97) and the Yankees (1997-98) before joining the Cubs.

 

Reese, meanwhile, becomes a contender to start at second base, a spot vacated after Castillo was a standout for years.

 

A two-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman, Reese missed all of the 2005 season after undergoing surgery to his right shoulder.

 

In 2004, Reese was part of the Red Sox World Series title team. Appearing in 96 games with Boston that year, the slick fielder batted .321 with three homers and 29 RBIs.

 

Last season Reese was in the Mariners organization, but spend most of the year on the disabled list. The little bit of action he saw was at the Minor League levels where he appeared in a total of five games.

 

Reese enjoyed some productive years with the Reds, from 1997-2001. During part of that stretch he played for former Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who has retired as the team's manager but remains a special adviser to team owner Jeffrey Loria.

 

McKeon frequently praised Reese when discussing the best fielders in the league.

 

Reese fits into the second-base mix with Josh Wilson, Dan Uggla and Alfredo Amezaga.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...e2005&fext=.jsp

[WHarris1]

[Yoda]

The Marlins are going to suck so these signings aren’t that bad. Though Reese can’t hit for s***, he’ll play some decent defense and Borowski is a veteran who can be of some influence to all the youngins the Marlins have in that young roster of theirs.

[Ozzie Montana]

They will probably come back in a couple of years and be damn good like they were in 03. Haha...They win and then a couple of years later they got to move their players because of issues surrounding the organization.