Sorry Miami fans, there was no stay of completion granted in baseball’s best interests or yours. The 12-player deal between the Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays is official.
Commissioner Bud Selig signed off on the controversial trade Monday, meaning shortstop Jose Reyes, right-hander Josh Johnson, left-hander Mark Buehrle, outfielder/infielder Emilio Bonifacio and catcher John Buck are now Blue Jays.
In return, the Marlins get seven mostly young and inexperienced players. But some would also say they have upside.
The trade going through also means fans’ anger aimed at Marlins ownership for breaking up the team — a last-place team, but a high-profiled one — just a year after opening a new publicly funded ballpark will fester through the offseason and probably much longer.
Fans certainly have a right to be upset, but from strictly a baseball perspective, what’s done is done. It’s all about the future.
“This was a tough thing to do — there’s no doubt about it, it’s very tough on everybody,” president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said of the trade.
“I know our fans have spoken out in the last week and they’re not happy. But again, we had convictions we weren’t constituted the way we needed to be, not only on the 25-man or 40-man roster but also in our minor leagues.”
Marlins fans aren’t the only ones seething. Young star Giancarlo Stanton, whose tape-measure shots joined the Clevelander dancers as the best sights at Marlins Park last season, is the type of talent upon whom other teams wish they could build.
“Alright, I'm pissed off!!! Plain & Simple,” the right fielder Tweeted after learning about the trade.
Radio shows and social media already have seen their share of comments predicting Stanton will be traded too or ultimately will sign a free-agent deal with the New York Yankees or another big-market team.
Beinfest said Monday he had not spoken to the slugger yet, preferring to “let the dust settle a little bit.”
“I know he had a relationship with these guys and I don’t know if I have an appreciation for it,” Beinfest said. “These guys live together, dress together, play together under the spotlight every night and they built a different kind of bond, so I’m sure it’s been tough for him.”
New Marlins manager Mike Redmond, who managed in the Blue Jays system the last two years, is familiar with the youngsters acquired from Toronto.
Four of the newcomers are expected to be on the 2013 opening day roster:
• Third baseman Yunel Escobar and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria will form the new left side of the infield. Escobar, 30, played mostly short in Toronto. He was suspended briefly last season after displaying a gay slur on his eye black. He later apologized.
Hechavarria, 23, has a glove that can compensate for some offensive weaknesses. But can he hit .250?
• Right-hander Henderson Alvarez, 22, whom Beinfest said “will be in our rotation” next season. • Veteran catcher Jeff Mathis, 29, is expected to back up young catcher Rob Brantly.
Beinfest also said Miami grabbed some of baseball’s top prospects in outfielder Jake Marisnick, 21 and considered a five-tool player who needs time to develop; right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, 22; and left-hander Justin Nicolino, who turns 21 on Thanksgiving and owns an excellent change-up.
Unlike in Toronto, where the trade will be evaluated rather quickly, Miami’s part of the deal will need more time to be assessed fairly.
“In terms of the major league players coming back, you don’t have to have a long waiting period to make your assessment, although some of them had very limited major-league time,” Beinfest said. “As far as the minor league guys, they have to get here before you can say, 'Well, they’re here.'" Besides Stanton and the young players acquired from Toronto, Beinfest was optimistic Miami’s future will include recent first-round draft picks left-hander Andrew Heaney (2012), right-hander Jose Fernandez (2011) and first baseman Christian Yelich (2010).
Still, a large part of the Marlins fan base remains skeptical, at best. Not even bringing back popular veteran Juan Pierre to play left and bat lead off can even begin to soothe the hurt feelings. “The fans have every right to be concerned,” Beinfest said. “I think they can be disappointed in the way we played. And I think that they can be hopeful that we’ve done our job and that we’re going to get better.”
