Miami Marlins: Does the Mark Buehrle Signing Make the Marlins a Contender?

The Miami Marlins have been breaking open their bank account this offseason. They already signed superstar shortstop Jose Reyes and closer Heath Bell, but yesterday they went out and signed one of the more in-demand arms on the market in Mark Buehrle for $58 million over four years.

Obviously, last season was not what the Marlins were looking for, so the question has to be asked as to whether or not this signing of Buehrle will be their final move that they believe can push them over the top.

I do believe that this will be the final major move that the Marlins will make unless something drastically changes with CJ Wilson. However, I'm not sure if even this final solidification in the rotation will be able to help them get over the hump.

They play in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves are already established as two of the best teams in baseball. The Washington Nationals also seem to be improving every year. The Mets are definitely in a rebuilding phase, but they are also making some positive moves.

I believe that a rotation with Buehrle and a healthy Josh Johnson leading the way can definitely do some damage. I believe that a lineup headlined by Reyes and Hanley Ramirez is going to score a lot of runs. However, what I'm not entirely convinced of yet is whether or not this team will be able to topple the power of their current hierarchy.

It is definitely a tall order, but whether or not they are able to climb the ladder, they are showing a dedication to improvement. Only time will tell how much improvement there will be.