Marlins Morning News: New ownership has told potential investors they intend to slash payroll

Marlins News

If you were among those (such as myself) fearing that a Jeter/Sherman ownership group might not be able to afford maintaining a respectable payroll (at least, not right off the bat), you may not want to click on this article by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Really, you should, because there’s a lot of good information in there, but if you don’t, then let me just tell you, in a nutshell, that a potential investor with the group was told that they’d likely be slashing payroll, anywhere from 25-50% from the present $115 million.

The Marlins fell yesterday to the Phillies 3-1 in extras, capping off an abysmal week that saw them go 1-6 (but amazingly stay within five games of the second Wild Card spot).

Among the interesting notes that Tim Healey had in his latest Sun Sentinel piece was news that Justin Bour began his rehab assignment with Double-A Jacksonville and that Chris O’Grady, thought to be potentially done for the season, may be able to contribute in the season’s final week by coming out of the pen.

In perhaps the most obvious news of the year, Giancarlo Stanton had taken NL MVP of the month honors home for August, which saw him blast 18 home runs, tying a record for most dingers in the penultimate month of the season, dating back to 1937(!)

Ichiro! set a major league record for pinch-hit appearances Sunday with 84 on the season, surpassing another Marlins legend Lenny Harris, who had 83 back in 2001.

Around the League

The good season continues for Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers as the All-Star smacked his 36th home run of the season yesterday, creating a new Dodgers rookie record.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are working hard to put everyone else in the NL Wild Card race in the rear-view mirror, having just won their 10th straight game after sweeping three straight series.

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez is undergoing cardiac ablation surgery to address an irregular heart beat and is done for the season. He has stated previously that he would be retiring at the end of the 2018 campaign, which his present contract takes him through.

Speaking of the Tigers, both Miguel Cabrera and Alex Wilson had their respective suspensions reduced by one game, leaving Miggy to sit out six games and Wilson, three. If you’ve been living under a rock, several Tigers and Yankees players and managers were suspended following a series of fisticuffs between the two teams back on August 24th.