The Toronto Blue Jays and other baseball teams are out on the market looking to improve their teams, but no one is making a splash like Miami, as the new-look Marlins are ready to splash some cash. They’ve lured one star to South Beach and now, they’ve at least driven up the asking price of the biggest fish on the free-agent market.
Shortstop Jose Reyes left the National League East rival New York Mets to head south, signing a six-year, $106 million deal and he instantly boosts the Marlins’ chance among those who purchase bookie software. When he is healthy and motivated, Reyes is the game’s best base-stealer, an excellent hitter and a Gold Glove candidate, but he’ll probably force out Hanley Ramirez, who doesn’t want to move to third base.
Albert Pujols is still mulling over a ten-year offer from the Marlins that some say would pay him over $200 million and there are post-playing provisions in the contract as well. Pujols has been in St. Louis for his entire career and will end up in the Hall of Fame, but the Marlins are aggressive courting Pujols, who, like Reyes, would help the Marlins capitalize on the large Latin population in Miami.
Miami is also in the hunt for pitchers C.J. Wilson (Texas) and Mark Buerhle (Chicago White Sox), and after years of being frugal, a new stadium has energized the franchise and they’re now willing to spend. They’ve claimed Reyes, and they’ll get at least one more star to come to Miami, who should be on your sports betting online radar.
