Miami Marlins wise to extend Dee Gordon

Miami said it wanted to add starting pitching, and the organization has added a pair of arms and is still looking. Miami said it wanted to extend second baseman Dee Gordon. Now that is done too.

The Marlins have reportedly signed Gordon to a five-year, $50 million extension. Gordon is now under contract through 2020 as the Marlins attempt to ensure their core players remain in Miami for at least the next few seasons.

Since the end of the season, the Marlins have been seeking starting pitching. Over a week and a half, the Marlins added veterans Edwin Jackson and Wei-Yin Chen to their pitching staff, and they might not be done. Since the Winter Meetings, the Marlins have been trying to get Gordon signed to a long-term deal. Miami can now focus on what comes next.

Although it appeared the Marlins and Gordon had mutual interest in an extension, the fact a deal got done is still a plus for the Marlins. Miami was reportedly not going to give Gordon a deal that spanned more than five seasons. Gordon was hoping for a seven-year deal. With the vesting option, Gordon's contract can cover six years. The two sides met in the middle.

After the Marlins traded Dan Uggla to Atlanta, the organization has lacked stability at second base. Donovan Solano and Derek Dietrich were both considered. But Solano didn't produce offensively, and Dietrich struggled defensively. As a result, the Marlins acquired Dee Gordon from the Dodgers last off-season. They lost a top pitching prospect but received a productive infielder in return.

The Marlins were inconsistent since last May, but Gordon performed regularly. The National League batting champion and Gold Glove winner at second base batted .333/.359/.418 to complement four home runs and 46 RBIs. He also stole 58 bases in 2015, notable because the Marlins struggled to come close to that as a team the season before.

Miami might be paying Gordon more than he would receive through arbitration initially, but the deal will likely become more valuable for the club over the final few seasons. MLB Trade Rumors projected Gordon would have earned $5.9 million in 2016. MLBTR also projected his other arbitration seasons would be worth between $25-27 million.

Gordon will be paid $10 million annually for the first five years and $14 million if the option vests. The deal covers two or potentially three years of free agency. If Gordon even has a comparable amount of success in the coming seasons, the deal will be valuable and beneficial for the Marlins.

For an organization that has lacked stability in the past, the Marlins are slowly becoming stable. Gordon, Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton now have long-term deals. Jose Fernandez and Adeiny Hechavarria could be next.

The Marlins are locking up core players and adding depth and experience around them. That is what winning organizations do best.