If you believe the reports out there at the moment, the Miami Marlins got robbed. Free agents Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson both signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this morning for a combined $333 million, but the Angels weren’t the highest bidder for either player. That’s right, the Marlins were.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins offered C.J. Wilson a six year deal and were willing to pay him $100 million; in the words of Wilson’s agent, they “would not let it go”. And Bob Nightengale from the USA Today is reporting that the Marlins had a 10 year, $275 million offer on the table to Albert Pujols, which Pujols turned down in favor of going to the Angels.
According to C.J. Wilson, "If it was about the money, I’d be a Florida Marlin."
Miami Marlins fans are likely shaking their heads in disbelief. Can you believe that? Did you ever think you would hear those words uttered about the Marlins? An unreal offseason just got a little bit more unbelievable.
In many ways, the Marlins are probably better off having missed on Pujols. For that price, he would have become a crippling force on their payroll by the end of his contract, and there’s no guarantee that the Marlins will be able to maintain a $100 million payroll for many years in the future.
Wilson, though? It’s a shame that the Marlins missed out on him. They were offering him a very fair contract ($16.7 million AAV), but Wilson chose to sign for a bargain in order to play at home in LA. That loss definitely stings.
To join in the conversation about this ongoing saga of an offseason, head over to SB Nation’s blog on the Marlins, Fish Stripes.