Report: Marlins Offer Pujols Less Than $200 Million
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – It appears the first reports of the contract offer by the Miami Marlins to free agent first baseman Albert Pujols were exaggerated.
Early Wednesday morning, Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown reported the Marlins contract offer was for nine years at $225 million.
But, by Wednesday afternoon, CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald's Clark Spencer reported the offer was for less than $200 million.
Based on Brown's numbers, that would mean the Marlins would pay Pujols $25 million per season, obviously the richest contract the team has ever offered.
The problem that the Marlins could run into quickly is that if their offers are all low for free agents and the Fish come up empty-handed in their pursuit of big name free agents.
In addition to Pujols' contract offer, the team has reportedly offered free agent shortstop Jose Reyes a six-year, $90 million contract, according to Fox Sports.
The Marlins biggest weakness, pitching, may be boosted by another free agent, Mark Buehrle.
The former Chicago White Sox southpaw also has reportedly been offered a contract, but the details have not been made public.
Spencer also reported Wednesday afternoon that the Marlins also have "definite interest" in left-handed starting pitcher C.J. Wilson.
Wilson spent much of his early career in the bullpen for the Texas Rangers. But in the last two seasons he has 31 wins to just 15 losses since he was moved into the starting rotation.
Wilson finished last season with a 16-7 record and a 2.94 ERA in 223.1 innings pitched for the Rangers. He finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting and was also a 2011 All-Star.
