Florida Marlins Making Full-Court Press for Jose Reyes, Among Others

The Marlins are making a max effort to erase their past and rumors have been rampant on the possible moves they might make soon.

According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins contacted the agents to Reyes at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 3 when free agency officially began. This tells you they are wasting no time in their pursuit for landing a big name.

Spencer was at the airport last week when he bumped into the contingent of high-ranking front office executives for the Marlins at Miami International Airport as they headed for New York, where Reyes's agent, Peter Greenberg, has his office. 

Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post speculated that the Marlins might be a possible suitor for Reyes's former teammate David Wright of the Mets. Wright would probably be a candidate for the Marlins to sign long term if the team includes Matt Dominguez along with Chris Volstad and Bryan Petersen in a package. 

As I mentioned earlier, the Marlins are among the favorites to land Yoenis Cespedes, a talented centerfield prospect who defected from Cuba in July. Jeffrey Loria and other high ranking team members will be on hand on Thursday, ahead of the Marlins big unveiling Friday in Miami. 

But the rumors and Hot Stove talk don't stop there for the Marlins, Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that newly hired manager Ozzie Guillen prefers Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols as the major offseason target. Heyman also mentions the ballclub as suitors for free agent closer Ryan Madson who was with the Phillies last season. 

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN tweeted that the team is also pursuing sluggers Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder perhaps as possible fallback plans if the top option Reyes does not work out.  

Among hearing the latest rumors, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports tweeted that the Marlins top priority is still adding a left handed starting pitcher and that Mark Buehrle and CJ Wilson are on their wish list. 

But the Marlins plan for now appears to be landing a bat to patch up the vacancies on the playing field before the moves signal a chain reaction that would allow the Marlins to deal Logan Morrison or Gaby Sanchez (if the Marlins signed Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols) or even Emilio Bonifacio (if Marlins signed Jose Reyes and Yoenis Cespedes) for a starting pitcher, their highest area of need. 

The Marlins targets in a trade for a starting pitcher figure to be local product Gio Gonzalez of the Oakland Athletics and the Rays James Shields. 

But whether these moves happen this week or not remains to be seen. The Marlins will still be in the news as they will have the MLB spotlight on Nov. 11 during their unveiling of the new team uniforms, logo, color scheme and apparel.