Audio By Carbonatix
Advertising Can't Do It Alone
The challenges facing local news organizations are very real. That's why reader support matters more than ever. If you believe independent journalism matters, make a contribution today and help us reach our summer fundraising goal of $10,000 by August 9.
Yunel Escobar promised to be the strip-mined Miami Marlins’ most interesting player next year. The Cuban shortstop had loads of talent, plus an unmatched ability to act incredibly dumb — like last season, when he was suspended for writing the anti-gay slur “Tu Ere Maricon” on his eyeblack.
Well, Escobar’s Miami stay turned out to be even shorter than team president/evil midget David Samson. Escobar was shipped to Tampa Bay last night, and Miami now officially has the lowest payroll in the bigs. But don’t worry — Jeffrey Loria swears he’s going to “reinvest” all that stripped cash.
Escobar and his $5 million salary goes to the Rays in exchange for a minor league infielder, a move that brings the Marlins payroll down to $38 million — an eye-popping $151.5 million reduction from last year’s club.
That’s not a firesale, it’s a fire tornado.
Just to compare, the entire Miami Marlins roster now makes:
- Just $8 million more than hometown slugger Alex Rodriguez
- Less than half the New York Yankees infield alone, which cost $82 million last year
- Exactly the asking price of A-Rod’s Miami Beach bachelor pad
- Only $7 million more than Philly’s two aces — Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee
Here’s the best news: The salary dump still may not be finished. Both Giancarlo Stanton and Ricky Nolasco — in other words, the Marlins two remaining established major league players — have requested trades.
Any second-string high school second basemen in the greater Miami area may want to drop a resume off at (gleaming new, taxpayer-funded) Marlins Park — the Marlins may need your services next year.
Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.
