MLB Free Agents 2012: Is Miami Marlins Big Spending Just Window Dressing?

There is no question that the Miami Marlins are doing everything they can to draw attention to their team as they begin a new era with a new ballpark and a new name.

They've already signed Jose Reyes and Heath Bell, while rumors have them trying to land C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujols as well. Those are easily two of the most coveted free agents this offseason and are a class of players the Marlins haven't usually touched in the past.

As perfectly outlined in this piece on CBSSports.com, the Marlins haven't spent like this since their World Series run in 1997, loading up on a ton of talent before their eventual fire sale a year later.

One can only wonder if the new-name Marlins might be up to their same old tricks.

Things have certainly changed since 1997, as the Marlins will be opening up their new stadium this season. It's being figured that around 30,000 fans per night will enable the Marlins to become a big-market team with a big payroll moving forward.

They just have to hope that all the money they're spending will attract interest for the long-term. Miami is not a small market in itself, but it's no secret that the Marlins themselves have had a ton of problems bringing in fans. That isn't likely to get much easier being that the economy in Florida itself is not doing so well. It might be a risky proposition to believe that Floridians will want to spend the money to come out to the new ballpark.

If the Marlins can land a Pujols and/or C.J. Wilson, their payroll will be almost astronomical. Last year, the Marlins were around $58 million, with Javy Vasquez's seven million being the biggest signing coming off the books.

If they were to sign Pujols along with Reyes and Heath Bell, you're looking at a payroll upwards of $100 million. That's figuring Pujols will get $25 million per year, which is only speculation, but what he could end up getting. Add C.J. Wilson at a conservative price of $15 million per year, and you are looking at a $115 million team at least.

That's a lot of money for a team who has lived like a small-market team in a big-market city for their entire existence.

So, the possibility that the Marlins don't draw the attendance they believe they can will leave the team's future in doubt. They might be spending all for naught and not realistically be able to have the funds to pay for it all.

It brings up the question: Are the Marlins only posturing with all this spending? Will they end up going back to the way things used to be and have a fire sale once they realize they overspent? Let's just hope this isn't a get rich quick scheme from owner Jeffrey Loria and that he wants to be a winner for years to come.

Another thing to worry about will be the current investigation going on into the new stadium for the Marlins. If it is discovered that Marlins ownership had shady dealings and/or had the money to finance this stadium instead of taxpayers, they may be forced to cough up more money for the stadium. That could spell financial disaster for ownership and, more importantly, the baseball team itself.

Only time and attendance will tell, but for now, we have to believe that Miami knows what they're doing financially. Let's just hope this isn't a Ponzi scheme like that of Bernie Madoff. That would end up being a disaster and a permanent black eye for Major League Baseball.