Turnin 2 SS 2b
07-06-2002, 01:36 AM
MIAMI -- Initially, Marlins manager Jeff Torborg dismissed trade speculation involving his players as rumors. Now, it's reaching the point where he thinks they are a disruption.
"It's starting to become a distraction," Torborg said Thursday. "Players are coming in and saying, 'did you read this in the paper?' I don't usually read the papers after a loss."
The Cubs toppled the Marlins 6-2 Wednesday night at Pro Player Stadium. Shortly after, reports started circulating that pitcher Ryan Dempster is on the trading block. Two South Florida newspapers and an ESPN report are linking the 25-year-old right-hander to the Expos.
Montreal may also have interest in Marlins right-fielder Cliff Floyd, earning $6.5 million in the final season of his contract. Floyd says he expects to be dealt if the Marlins fall more than 10 games back by the July 31 trade deadline.
Dempster (5-8, 4.79) took the loss Wednesday night.
Before the Marlins faced the Mets on Thursday, Dempster expressed his desire to stay. But he acknowledges trades are part of the business.
"Obviously, with the situation, anything can happen in this game," Dempster said. "I want to be right here. As far as I know I'm going to be right here until somebody tells me differently. I'm happy right where I am. I don't want to go anywhere."
Floyd discussed his situation after the Marlins held off the Mets 9-7 Thursday before 15,765 at Pro Player Stadium.
Asked if he would like to remain with the Marlins, Floyd replied: "Of course, I do. Will I be here? Probably not. But I'd love to be here."
One place Floyd has no intentions of playing is Montreal. "I'm not going to the Expos."
The Giants and Braves also are possibilities.
"The Giants," Floyd said. "I'd weigh that. But I'm here. I'm still wearing No. 30 for the Marlins."
Dempster, a British Columbia native, is the Marlins' all-time victory leader and has a career mark of 42-43.
In 2000, he was selected to the National League All-Star team. He finished 14-10 with a 3.66 ERA and had 209 strikeouts. Last season, he finished 15-12 (4.94). While his 15 wins are a personal high, his 112 walks led the NL.
Dempster said he didn't know his name was being batted around in possible trades until he read the newspaper Thursday.
"If all these rumors are flying around, they are flying around for a reason," Dempster said. "Whatever goes on, goes on. I'll keep getting ready. I've got a little bit of a break here. I don't pitch until after the All-Star break."
Since Spring Training, Torborg has kept the team closely knit, successfully downplaying off-field distractions. The manager and players rarely talk about low home attendance.
Torborg said he doesn't regularly discuss the "business side" with owner Jeffrey Loria. But he eventually is briefed on trade possibilities.
"We've worked so hard to put this team together in the spring," Torborg said. "I know it is part of the business. It's just not comfortable."
Torborg has said he is not ready to toss in the towel on the season. He has maintained once pitchers Brad Penny [right arm] and Josh Beckett [blister] come off the disabled list, the Marlins could make a move to challenge the Braves or at least the wild card.
Penny was activated Tuesday and Beckett is on schedule to be activated July 16 at the Mets.
"Any time you've got rumors flying around like that, it's a little bit of a distraction," Dempster said. "That's the nature of the game. There are all kinds of distractions. Good and bad. It is just part of the business aspect of the game of baseball. But once you walk out on that field, it all goes away. Regardless if it's something in the clubhouse or something at home, you've got to shut it out."
Penny's name reportedly is being mentioned in trade talks, possibly to the Expos if nothing with Dempster is worked out.
Since Floyd is eligible for free agency after the season, the right fielder is surprised he's still in Marlins' teal.
If the Marlins trade off a number of players, Floyd notes: "What this says is this, this team is not committed to winning in the near future."
Top pick ready to sign: First-round pick Jeremy Hermida, the 11th overall choice in the First-Year Player Draft, will officially sign with the Marlins on Friday. As a senior at Wheeler High in Marietta, Ga., he hit .485 with nine doubles, one triple, seven homers, 25 RBIs and nine stolen bases.
By signing with the Marlins, Hermida turned down a scholarship at Clemson. Marlins personnel evaluators compare the left-handed hitting Hermida's swing to retired Yankees star Paul O'Neill.
Fish bits: Alex Gonzalez's road to recovery hit a speed bump Thursday when the shortstop re-injured his left shoulder during a rehab assignment in Jupiter, Fla. Playing in a Gulf Coast Rookie League Game, Gonzalez broke scar tissue in his second at-bat. Dr. Dan Kanell examined the shoulder and recommended the shortstop resume a strengthening program with the team through the weekend. Gonzalez, who went on the 15-day disabled list May 21, will be re-evaluated early next week. ... Catcher Charles Johnson left Thursday's game with back spasms. He is day-to-day, but wasn't scheduled to catch Friday. ... After Vladimir Nunez struggled again Thursday, giving up two runs in the ninth, Torborg says he may consider other closing options Friday night. ...
"It's starting to become a distraction," Torborg said Thursday. "Players are coming in and saying, 'did you read this in the paper?' I don't usually read the papers after a loss."
The Cubs toppled the Marlins 6-2 Wednesday night at Pro Player Stadium. Shortly after, reports started circulating that pitcher Ryan Dempster is on the trading block. Two South Florida newspapers and an ESPN report are linking the 25-year-old right-hander to the Expos.
Montreal may also have interest in Marlins right-fielder Cliff Floyd, earning $6.5 million in the final season of his contract. Floyd says he expects to be dealt if the Marlins fall more than 10 games back by the July 31 trade deadline.
Dempster (5-8, 4.79) took the loss Wednesday night.
Before the Marlins faced the Mets on Thursday, Dempster expressed his desire to stay. But he acknowledges trades are part of the business.
"Obviously, with the situation, anything can happen in this game," Dempster said. "I want to be right here. As far as I know I'm going to be right here until somebody tells me differently. I'm happy right where I am. I don't want to go anywhere."
Floyd discussed his situation after the Marlins held off the Mets 9-7 Thursday before 15,765 at Pro Player Stadium.
Asked if he would like to remain with the Marlins, Floyd replied: "Of course, I do. Will I be here? Probably not. But I'd love to be here."
One place Floyd has no intentions of playing is Montreal. "I'm not going to the Expos."
The Giants and Braves also are possibilities.
"The Giants," Floyd said. "I'd weigh that. But I'm here. I'm still wearing No. 30 for the Marlins."
Dempster, a British Columbia native, is the Marlins' all-time victory leader and has a career mark of 42-43.
In 2000, he was selected to the National League All-Star team. He finished 14-10 with a 3.66 ERA and had 209 strikeouts. Last season, he finished 15-12 (4.94). While his 15 wins are a personal high, his 112 walks led the NL.
Dempster said he didn't know his name was being batted around in possible trades until he read the newspaper Thursday.
"If all these rumors are flying around, they are flying around for a reason," Dempster said. "Whatever goes on, goes on. I'll keep getting ready. I've got a little bit of a break here. I don't pitch until after the All-Star break."
Since Spring Training, Torborg has kept the team closely knit, successfully downplaying off-field distractions. The manager and players rarely talk about low home attendance.
Torborg said he doesn't regularly discuss the "business side" with owner Jeffrey Loria. But he eventually is briefed on trade possibilities.
"We've worked so hard to put this team together in the spring," Torborg said. "I know it is part of the business. It's just not comfortable."
Torborg has said he is not ready to toss in the towel on the season. He has maintained once pitchers Brad Penny [right arm] and Josh Beckett [blister] come off the disabled list, the Marlins could make a move to challenge the Braves or at least the wild card.
Penny was activated Tuesday and Beckett is on schedule to be activated July 16 at the Mets.
"Any time you've got rumors flying around like that, it's a little bit of a distraction," Dempster said. "That's the nature of the game. There are all kinds of distractions. Good and bad. It is just part of the business aspect of the game of baseball. But once you walk out on that field, it all goes away. Regardless if it's something in the clubhouse or something at home, you've got to shut it out."
Penny's name reportedly is being mentioned in trade talks, possibly to the Expos if nothing with Dempster is worked out.
Since Floyd is eligible for free agency after the season, the right fielder is surprised he's still in Marlins' teal.
If the Marlins trade off a number of players, Floyd notes: "What this says is this, this team is not committed to winning in the near future."
Top pick ready to sign: First-round pick Jeremy Hermida, the 11th overall choice in the First-Year Player Draft, will officially sign with the Marlins on Friday. As a senior at Wheeler High in Marietta, Ga., he hit .485 with nine doubles, one triple, seven homers, 25 RBIs and nine stolen bases.
By signing with the Marlins, Hermida turned down a scholarship at Clemson. Marlins personnel evaluators compare the left-handed hitting Hermida's swing to retired Yankees star Paul O'Neill.
Fish bits: Alex Gonzalez's road to recovery hit a speed bump Thursday when the shortstop re-injured his left shoulder during a rehab assignment in Jupiter, Fla. Playing in a Gulf Coast Rookie League Game, Gonzalez broke scar tissue in his second at-bat. Dr. Dan Kanell examined the shoulder and recommended the shortstop resume a strengthening program with the team through the weekend. Gonzalez, who went on the 15-day disabled list May 21, will be re-evaluated early next week. ... Catcher Charles Johnson left Thursday's game with back spasms. He is day-to-day, but wasn't scheduled to catch Friday. ... After Vladimir Nunez struggled again Thursday, giving up two runs in the ninth, Torborg says he may consider other closing options Friday night. ...