With the Miami Marlins 2012 revenues falling well short of expectations, the team has decided once again to dump salary.
Marlins-Blue Jays trade: Toronto excited while Miami feels duped
Marlins and Blue Jays writers and players react to the blockbuster trade the two clubs completed on Tuesday.
Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE
According to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post, the team drew 2,219,444 fans in its first year at Marlins Park, which ranked 18th in the league and represented the smallest first-year attendance for a ballpark since 2001.
After the Marlins' tough season last year, it would be assumed the attendance numbers would plummet in 2013. By trading Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck, the Marlins not only let down their fans, but also their remaining players.
Marlins star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton tweeted, “Alright, I’m pissed off!!!! Plain & Simple.” Ricky Nolasco, the highest-paid Marlin, added, “Huh?.....”.
Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald tweeted, “When Redmond was named manager, Beinfest told us he was given a spending plan by Loria. Now we know what it is: Dump $$.” He also suggested that the 2013 marketing slogan be “Hasta La Vista, baby.”
Dan Le Batard tweeted, “Not that it’ll quiet anyone but Marlins spin will be attendance was bad, so we traded expensive last-place players for Toronto farm system.”
The feeling around the Blue Jays is that they are ready to take the next step, with Blue Jay broadcaster Mike Wilner saying, "This appears to be about the biggest trade #Bluejays have ever made. The splash all y'all wanted last week. Instant contenders." Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com tweeted, "Once this trade goes through (important to note it's still not official), #BlueJays suddenly have very few glaring holes on the roster."
The Marlins got some good prospects from Toronto that their new manager, Mike Redmond, is very familiar with as he managed Toronto's Class-A team last season. However, the overwhelming response is that the Marlins duped the fans and taxpayers of Miami and that the Blue Jays have finally taken the next step to compete in the A.L. East.
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