The Miami Marlins initiated the third franchise-changing fire sale in the 20-year history of the team on Tuesday, reportedly sending Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes and others to the Toronto Blue Jays for Yunel Escobar and prospects. SBNation's Miami Marlins blog, Fish Stripes, takes stock of the franchise in the aftermath of the big deal. Many are upset.
Marlins-Blue Jays trade: ‘The team panicked,’ says Miami fans
There is just no getting used to watching your team get gutted.
Head writer Michael Jong thinks the Marlins’ brass panicked:
The worst part about this trade is that the Marlins did not need to perform this move. We had heard rumors that the Fish were going to sport an $80 million payroll next season. The team had two players in Reyes and Buehrle who were locked into long-term deals at reasonable rates given their projections following their 2012 season. Instead of taking a measured approach and trading a player like Johnson to slowly acquire parts, the team panicked, as it seems they did with their midseason moves, and got rid of all of the players who were making anything resembling a real salary.
He anticipates a strong backlash against Marlins’ owner Jeffrey Loria, who made many promises that the new ballpark in Miami would bring new enthusiasm and new success.
If Marlins fans were angry at Jeffrey Loria before, this heinous move will certainly spark a reaction far greater than the one Ozzie Guillen received for his early-season comments.
Marlins fans in the comments section are taking a less diplomatic approach:
Could we make a citizen's arrest...
For defrauding the fine taxpayers of Miami-Dade County, who thought they were financing a new ballpark that would be home to a major league team?
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." -- Rogers Hornsby
by Nationalpastime9 on Nov 13, 2012 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
This organization is such a joke. So embarrassing.
Go Heat and Dolphins
RIP Jim Mandich
by mikethedolphinsfan on Nov 13, 2012 10:28 PM EST reply actions
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This is the first fire sale not to follow (even belatedly) a World Series title.
I feel cheated.
The artist formerly known as marlinsfan315.
I now have Twitter. Hopefully I don't regret it. @jhulme80
by Jeremy Hulme on Nov 13, 2012 10:14 PM EST reply actions