It's unclear whether the road trip will influence the front office's strategy going into Tuesday's non-waiver trading deadline.
One baseball source said the Marlins are telling teams that catcher Miguel Olivo, right-hander Rick Vanden Hurk and relief pitcher Armando Benitez are available. The team does not plan to trade Dontrelle Willis, the source said.
Palm Beach PostAt first, I was shocked to see Miguel "The Catcher Who Can't Catch" Olivo on the list since that would leave them only with Treanor, who has a whopping 131 starts. The also do not have any catching prospects anywhere near ready for callup. So, I'm assuming they have an experienced catcher in mind.
Vanden Hurk is already getting his MLB experience, but is really about a year away. He has a very live 97 mph fastball, and the "Holland Hammer" - a 12-6 curve that looks like something from a Bug Bunny cartoon, and is getting numerous comparisons to Josh Beckett.
Benitez is worthless, and spend 35-40 pitches as the setup guy, and and occasionally even records an out, but never more outs than runs.
Olivo is strong as an ox, but as dumb as one, too (apologies to all the oxen out there). Today, Bonds popped one up in front of the plate. Olivo settled under it, watched it hit his mitt, and then watched it bounce out. He's extremely fast, and can check swing a ball out of the park, but has no plate discipline. Him playing "catcher" is a greater oxymoron than "Microsoft Works." At the very best, he's a serviceable backup.
Vanden Hurk is the bait, and Olivo the throw-in to get a real MLB catcher. Benitez should be released if nobody else wants him. Your average roadkill has more of an upside.
