Money Never Sleeps

The Marlins have threatened to throw some money around. Now it is more than a mere threat … it is reality. But not at the guy you might think.

Miami has signed former Met Heath Bell to close out games for them to the tune of 3 years, $27 million, with the ever popular vesting option for a fourth year. Funny how people are thinking that this is a ridiculously expensive contract, yet when Omar Minaya signed Frankie Rodriguez at 3 years, $33.5 million with that dopey vesting option, people seemed to think it was a steal. We all know how that turned out.

But whatever the cost, you now have four closers in the division that are pretty good, while the Mets have Bobby Parnell. It puts a little more pressure on Sandy Alderson to “bring in the right closer“. We already know he isn’t going to bring in the wrong closer. Maybe Sandy should work on getting another bat so that the Mets don’t have to look at Bell, Papelbon, Kimbrel, or even Drew Storen.

But the other question is, should the Mets be seriously worried about Jose Reyes now? Maybe Bell’s hefty contract means the Marlins have nothing left. But maybe Ed Norton has a suitcase on the desk with more crisp $100 bills in it. Does this mean the Marlins aren’t bluffing? Are they calling Reyes right now and asking him if he still thinks these offers are smoke and mirrors? The Mets are throwing around a five-year $80 million deal for Reyes, and as it’s only the Mets and the Marlins right now, this shakes out to be very good news. I certainly thought the Mets would come with a nice if not strong offer, and five years and $80 million is that nice offer. Question is: do the Mets have another level left? Do the Marlins have one too?

Time to resort to the cliché: Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Jose Reyes in an orange, aquamarine, and yellow uniform is definitely the worst.