Marlins Beef Up Bullpen
The Florida Marlins bolstered their bullpen Monday by acquiring reliever Dan Miceli from the San Diego Padres for starter Brian Meadows.
The deal was part of the Padres' effort to slash their payroll of $48 million last season. Miceli made $1.1 million in 1999 and is to earn $1.5 million in 2000. Meadows made $250,000 last year and is not yet eligible for salary arbitration.
Meadows, 24, led the Marlins in wins the past two seasons but wasn't expected to be part of their rotation in 2000. Miceli, 29, gives Florida an experienced setup man for closer Antonio Alfonseca.
"Miceli is the type of pitcher we've been wanting to add to our staff," Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "He's a veteran who can bring stability to our bullpen."
Miceli went 4-5 with a 4.46 ERA this year. He was 10-5 with a 3.22 ERA for the Padres in 1998, when they won the National League pennant. The right-hander has also been with the Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Detroit organizations.
Meadows, also a right-hander, went 11-15 with a 5.60 ERA in 31 starts this year. He was 11-13 with a 5.41 ERA in 1998.
The Padres, who lowered their payroll from $53.1 million in 1998 to $46.5 million this year, have cut $7.4 million in salary for 2000 with two trades in less than a week. The bulk of it, $5.9 million, came when they traded ace Andy Ashby to the Philadelphia Phillies for three pitchers last Wednesday.
With the trades of Ashby and Miceli, they're committed for $39.9 million in salary to just 12 players for next season. Still on the trading block are outfielder Reggie Sanders, who's due $3.7 million, and second baseman-leadoff hitter Quilvio Veras, who made $2 million last year and is eligible for arbitration.
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