The Marlins have signed former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
The 31-year-old Gibbons, who was involved in baseball's steroids scandal, has not played in the majors since August, 2007, and was released by the Orioles last March even though he was still owed $12 million for the two remaining years of his contract.
"I'm excited and appreciative for the opportunity," Gibbons told the Baltimore Sun newspaper on Monday.
Gibbons spent seven seasons with the Orioles, ones in which he was often injured. He had his best year in 2003 when he hit .277 with 23 home runs and 100 RBI. http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gibboja01.shtml
But after being named in the Mitchell Report in December, 2007, and then cut by the Orioles, he ended up playing with the independent Long Island Ducks before signing a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and playing with their Double A and Triple A outfits.
Clark, does this one move mean the Marlins will continue to sign guys from the outside meaning from other teams first before focusing on their arbitration-elgible guys?
What other moves do you know of that will follow as far as the Marlins adding someone to their roster as well as subtracting a guy from their roster?
Any info on this matter or any others would be greatly apperciated by me.
Posted by: paolo | January 12, 2009 at 08:24 PM
who????????
Posted by: Singer | January 13, 2009 at 08:52 AM
paolo-They offered contracts to 9 out of 10 of their arbitration eligible players. The only one they let go was Nelson. I do not remember their names, however several have signed. Kensing, Johnson, signed for sure.
Posted by: oaktree | January 13, 2009 at 10:01 AM
They signed W. Helms, J.J, Kensing, and Nolasco. They offered contracts to Uggla, Hermida, Amezaga, McPherson, Cantu, Ross. They didn't sign LoDuca, Rhodes, Hendrickson, Gonzalez, Treanor, Nelson, Gregg. Everyone else is still on the team other than the trades we have made. The team seems to be finding the new veterans that are going to contribute next year. Next year the everyday players are going to be the same except for the ones that are already gone. The supporting cast will be the biggest difference.
Posted by: oaktree | January 13, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Other players that are already gone are: Olsen, Jacobs, Willingham, Mitre, Miller, Waechter.
Posted by: oaktree | January 13, 2009 at 10:45 AM