Yoenis Cespedes Signs with Oakland: Why the Miami Marlins Dodged a Bullet

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was headed to the Miami Marlins. Cespedes expressed his desire to play in Miami, and the Marlins reportedly made an offer close to $40 million.

Well, the Cespedes sweepstakes are now over, and the 26-year-old is not a Marlin. Cespedes signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Oakland Athletics on Monday. Miami reportedly didn't want to give him $9 million a year and offered him six years and $36 million.

Don't fret though Fish fans; the Marlins may have dodged a bullet.

Cespedes could certainly develop into a great player, but is it worth the risk?

Miami opened up its checkbook this offseason for the first time since landing Carlos Delgado in the winter of 2004-05, inking Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Heath Bell to large deals. Given that 2012 will be the Marlins' first year in their new ballpark, the team wanted to open things up with a bang.

However, at some point, the Fish have to start being careful with their money. Not adding Cespedes to their offseason spending spree was a step in the right direction.

Now when I say being "careful," I don't mean being cheap. I mean investing their dough wisely, such as signing Mike Stanton to a contract extension.

Stanton, not Hanley Ramirez, is Miami's franchise player, and Jeffrey Loria and company would be wise to set some money aside to make sure he gets paid. Players like him do not come around very often, and when they do, you should lock them up as soon as possible.

Stanton also isn't the only player the Marlins need to take care of. Ramirez, Josh Johnson and Logan Morrison are all inching closer to free agency.

This isn't just about money, either. Emilio Bonifacio truly earned the starting center field job heading into 2012 with his performance last season.

Bonifacio was much-maligned in Miami after a rather awful first two seasons with the team, but he turned the corner this past season (.296 AVG, .360 OBP, 40 SBs). If he can repeat (or perhaps even improve upon) that performance this coming season, the Marlins' lineup will be in good shape.

I completely understand why the Fish were pursuing Cespedes. Talent and potential aside, he is Cuban, and Cubans have a significant presence in Miami.

When Livan Hernandez played for the Marlins, attendance was up whenever he pitched. You have to think Cespedes could have had the same effect, perhaps even larger since he would have been an everyday player.

That said, it's probably not worth the risk to bankroll a player who might not work out and lose a sizable chunk of money that you could be giving to guys like Stanton in the process.

Cespedes could go to Oakland and light the world on fire, or he could fall flat on his face and make A's GM Billy Beane look silly.

Either way, Miami made the right move by not doling out $9 million a year for his services. There is just too much on the line to take a risk like that.