"The Marlins have made "substantial offers" to both Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and have also offered a contract to Mark Buehrle, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (both Twitter links). The team met with Pujols today, Reyes on Wednesday and Buehrle on Tuesday but apparently already felt comfortable enough to make contract offers, though Heyman reports there is "nothing close" to a deal with any of the three."

The Marlins aren't ****ing around.

Pretty sure the Marlins are more interested in looking like they're trying to spend big money than actually spending it.

That makes no sense. They just built a new stadium. They need to fill the seats.

Gaby Sanchez ****ing blows, and was almost completely worthless the last three months of the season. The Marlins definitely don't have an in-house solution at first.

Their pitching rotation is still abysmal and Hanley Ramirez is a huge question mark (and a cancer). It's much more likely that they sign Reyes, spin Ramirez off for help, and try and add a few mid-level pitchers.

Are the Marlins returning to their World Series formula? Will they sign big FA's for one year in hoping to win a World Series and then sell them off to the highest bidder? Not buying it, even Reyes, Buerle and Pujols don't make this last place team a competitor.

They'll spend money because they have to but they're not going to sign anyone to a contract that they can't get out from under in a couple years. It makes much more sense for them to go out and look like big time buyers and then when they settle for whatever more reasonably priced FAs they sign they can say "we tried, they weren't interested." Which plays a hell of a lot better than just ignoring Pujols, Reyes etc in their situation. Now Reyes it wouldn't surprise me if they do like Hamas said and sign him and flip Hanley.

don't forget they add the 2nd best (my opinion) pitcher in the NL back to the rotation, and Stanton is just coming into his prime, they could be a really good team if they add one or two pieces

"According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the Cardinals don't plan to sweeten the offer that they made to Albert Pujols before the start of spring training.
That number was said to be in the range of nine years and $210 million, or $23.3 million per season. Pujols' agent is likely hoping for a higher annual salary, but only the Marlins have expressed serious interest thus far and the Cardinals aren't going to up their contract offer for no reason. Still, the offseason is young. "

Cardinals pretty much showing Pujols the door.

Yeah, Pujols should be insulted at being offered "only" $210 million.

If he wants to stay in St. Louis, he'll stay.

He should be. The Cardinals arent even offering him Howard money.

They're offering him more. Per-year salary isn't everything. You think Ryan Howard is gonna get another 80+ million in salary once his deal is up and he's a 35 year old DH hitting .210?

Lets play that game then.

Pujols vs ARod. ARod = $275mil. Cards offer to Pujols = 210mil.

And A-Rod got the Yankee surcharge, and is going to earn about 25 cents on the dollar of that contract.

...

$252mil from Texas.

Guess what, the market changes.