Heard an announcer on a local sportstalk station mention rumors that the cash-starved team has deals in the bag to trade Cliff Floyd to ATLANTA and Ryan Dempster to MONTREAL! No other details were given.

Besides the very unusual circumstance of them both being trades in the division, the only rationaile (in light of Colon et al) would be that the Marlins would then move to the #1 spot on the contraction bubble - comments?

Let's not rule out the possibility that Cliff Floyd could wind up a Yankee; they always seem to get whomever they want. Since MLB took over the Expos, they seem to be making some smart moves. Maybe the Expos WON'T be contracted--only moved, after all.

~Adam

ESPN.com is now reporting that Floyd AND Dempster could end up in Montreal! Expos GM is petitioning MLB to waive the rule prohibiting the Expos from taking on any additional payroll. Florida could wind up with a three pitching prospects, plus Graeham Lloyd and Carl Pavano to help balance out the salary discrepancy. Go 'Spos!!!

Blockbuster Trade???

Apparently the Marlins and Expos could not match players that would not increase the Expos payroll (the attempt to send both Floyd & Dempster to Montreal), so there are two trades: Floyd to the Expos and Dempster to the Reds

Ft. Lauderdale Scum-Sentinel Story

Local radio was emphasizing that the Marlins' motivation was primarily to "dump" future higher salaries for the traded players - the 2002 Mullet payroll actually increases, including a $2 Million payout of some kind to Lloyd.

Also adding that the radio host (Hank Goldberg) and his panel noted that one of the very first things Dave Dombrowski did when taking over in Detroit was to ship Encarnacion tothe Reds.....

Edited for detail and typo

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Wurm ]

A better deal for Montreal than for Miami. Too bad that the Expos are now 10 1/2 games behind Los Bravos, who happened to beat 'em 8-5 tonight!Go Braves

The Expos are going for the wild card, not the division.