Marlins Making Offseason Moves

It’s only a few days into the month of December, literally give or take a month since the season has ended, and the Marlins have already had quite the exciting off-season. It all began with the rumor that free agent and stand-out shortstop Jose Reyes could possibly be signed. If Hanley Ramirez can adjust his attitude, the Marlins will without a doubt have a very strong infield. With the potential of this deal slowly becoming more of a reality, the Marlins hired former White Sox manager (and professional loud-mouth) Ozzie Guillen to take the reigns as their new manager. Guillen struggled mightily in his last year in the Windy City, but he has what it takes to turn a ball club into a World Series-caliber team.

Yet the personnel of the team is not the only part of the ball club that received a makeover thus far, the organization changed its name and logo from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins. A new logo has been drawn out and certainly doesn’t lack any color. To accompany the logo is the new stadium that is expected to be ready for Opening Day in 2012.

Maybe this is what’s best for the Marlins, a new coach and a new logo symbolizes a new beginning. After winning the club’s second World Series in 2003, the Marlins proceeded to struggle through four losing seasons in the last eight years. It’s been a rough time down in the Sunshine State for Marlins fans (and by that I mean the average 19,007 fans that show up to support).

However, throughout all the talk of welcoming Ozzie Guillen, trying to bring in Jose Reyes, and the excitement of the Marlins own stadium and new appearance, the biggest bit of news that would certainly make the Marlins a force is that of Albert Pujols paying the front office a visit. No, you’re not imagining things; THE Albert Pujols has talked to the Marlins organization. Can you imagine? A man with two World Series rings, perhaps the most popular athlete in the game, and a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer heading down to join one of the MLB’s most suffering clubs. It’s hard to believe, but it just may happen. Miami doesn’t have it easy, though. They still have to beat out the rest of the league to win Pujols over and it surely won’t be as easy as saying “sign here.”

It must be something about the city of Miami. I’ve been there before and the city is definitely one of my favorites. Just the atmosphere and weather is enough reason to live there. Yet professional athletes seem to be attracted to that city more than any other. Should Albert Pujols join the Marlins, he would have to duke it out with DWade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James to see who the city’s most beloved athlete was. Gee, that sounds like an awful problem to have.

The city of Miami has certainly struggled in the sports world for the past few years with the exception of the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals last year. As of late, the city has not been able to offer a perennial contender. The Heat’s “Big 3” gave the city reason to believe that sports could somehow become a big deal down in Miami and the Marlins offseason goals have given the baseball fans that same reason to believe. “Rome wasn’t built in one day,” is a quote you may remember LeBron James using during last year’s season. But who’s to say, if the Marlins manage to acquire both Reyes and Pujols that Rome couldn’t be built in a season or two down in South Beach?