Fish Bites: Bud Selig, MLB Find Way To Punish Miami Marlins

You had to know it was coming eventually.

Following the Miami Marlins' November salary dump-related trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig made it clear that he, like many fans, was angry. He explained that he would "keep an eye" on the Marlins, because he didn't want baseball to become obsolete in South Florida.

After the Marlins didn't get a stadium in the late 1990s, Selig was so bothered that he refused to even discuss bringing All-Star lineups to Miami. Now, despite the fact that the Marlins have a stadium worth over $600 million, Selig couldn't prevent Marlins Park from hosting an All-Star game because the building is not new, secure, or fan-friendly. Owner Jeffery Loria, though, gave him another reason to do it.

"We're going to submit a bid for the 2015 All-Star Game," president David Samson said while Marlins Park was still being built. "We firmly expect it to be awarded because our bid will be so persuasive, given what's going on in Miami, given what's going on in this new ballpark. The Marlins had a game taken away and it's time to get it back."

Ever since their Sun Life Stadium days, the Marlins were vying to host an All-Star game. Because they traded several key players that had just been signed to lengthy contracts, that won't happen any time soon.

It was announced this week that the 2015 All-Star game, which, like all others, the Marlins were hoping would be hosted at Marlins Park, will be held in Cincinnati at Great American Ballpark.

Newer ballparks are expected to be hosting the annual event sooner and more frequently than older ones. Citi Field and Target Field will both be hosting the All-Star game in the coming years.

Selig fought to get the Marlins the financial assistance needed to build the new facility. After one season, Selig couldn't have expected that Loria was going to have a "fire sale". Nobody could have.

But now, Selig feels like he wasted his time, and rightfully so. There are many ways Selig could punish the Marlins. Taking the 2015 All-Star festivities away from Miami was just one of them.

-Former Marlins manager Jeff Torborg, who managed both Mike Redmond and Ozzie Guillen, feels that Redmond is the right man to lead the youthful Marlins. "Mike Redmond is special. I really love him," said Jeff Torborg."If Ozzie had to go, I was delighted to see Red get the job. He'll be an excellent manager for years to come."

-Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Pat White received a minor league offer with an invitation to spring training from the Marlins, according to a source. White acknowledged that he received the offer but has not yet accepted it, partially because he still wants to pursue an opportunity in the NFL, if presented with one. Baseball America named White, a left-handed hitting and throwing outfielder, a second-team high school All-American after he hit .487 with 28 steals as a senior.

-Miami will have to wait until 2017, at the earliest, to host an All-Star game. The Marlins did submit a bid to host the 2015 event, which will be held in Cincinnati.

-The Marlins are hopeful that Giancarlo Stanton's frustration with the front office after the trade with Toronto will not effect the way he plays, and hope that the frustration will disappear by the time spring training begins. "The status of Giancarlo is, he's our right fielder," President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said. "We have him under control for four more years. As far as the contract goes, that's something we will continue to evaluate"

-Derek Dietrich, who the Marlins acquired in the Yunel Escobar trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, is ranked eighth on the list of second-base prospects heading into 2013. Dietrich is regarded as "offensive minded", though many say that he can become even more competitive with improved plate discipline.

-According to several sources, the Marlins have signed pitcher Chad Qualls to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Qualls spent 2012 with the Pirates, throwing 52 1/3 innings in 60 games while posting a 2-1 record with a 5.33 ERA. He also brings 51 career saves into camp.

-Pitcher Steve Cishek, who several weeks ago accepted an invitation to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, is looking forward to representing the United States in the annual Classic. "To have USA on the front of your jersey and have your name on the back is just incredible," Cishek said. "It's something I look forward to seeing. Just being able to play for your country -- it's something a lot of players always wanted to do."

Around The League

-Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, who has missed time because of injuries over the last several seasons, is looking forward to a healthy and more involved season. "I think I'll probably do more catching," Mauer said at TwinsFest. "A lot of the reason I went over to first base, especially early in the season, is we really didn't know what [Justin] Morneau's situation was. That's the way I've been preparing for the season, to be the everyday catcher."

-Washington pitcher Drew Storen is excited about the team's depth in the bullpen, specifically because injured arms led to a struggling bullpen towards the end of last season. "It kind of caught me off guard, but there is no doubt that he will make the team better. You can't argue with that," Storen said. "Our bullpen is night and day better than anybody else. We have a lot of depth down there. We will be able to piggy back those starters."

-Phillies outfielder John Mayberry feels the new additions to the team will make the Phillies competitive in 2013. "I think we've got a great group of guys," Mayberry said. "We're a bunch of guys that can go in there every night and give you good at-bats. I think we definitely improved the strength of our team by getting [Young and Revere]."

-The Atlanta Braves acquired Justin Upton from the Diamondbacks last week, improving an outfield that will already include B.J. Upton and Jason Heyward.

At Fish Stripes

-Check out "Tales of A Fire Sale Survivor" Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.

-Who has the better prospects, the Marlins or the Washington Nationals?

-The MLBPA will pursue the Marlins for their payroll. Find out why here.

-Jeffery Loria told Jose Reyes that he wouldn't be traded, but then was. How will the fact that Miami doesn't give no-trade clauses effect the organization in the future?

-Bobby Abreu and Freddy Garcia have expressed interest in joining the Marlins.

-Could the Tampa Bay Rays be a possible suitor to trade for Giancarlo Stanton?