If you are visiting this website then chances are that you are a fan of the Florida Marlins. If you’re a fan of another team then stop snooping, unless of course what you see will persuade you to switch teams! Anyway a lot of people love the Marlins but the question is how much do you really know about them and their history? Sometimes knowing the back story means your feelings for the team can be that extra bit deep. What follows is information that will hopefully be both interesting and informative for you.

The Marlins have won the World Series twice in both 1997 and 2003. These were the only two times they made it post season and this is what they achieved. If you don’t know the World Series is the annual championship of Major League Baseball, so winning this is a big deal. It is like winning the main event playing poker in the World Series of Poker. It means you are the best, so this is something for Marlin fans to be proud of. They are the only team who has won the championship every time they qualified.

The Florida Marlins were established in 1993. Their home games are played at the Sun Life Stadium. This is also were the Miami Dolphins play and the University of Miami football team. The team however really want a new stadium. You may be aware that it has been agreed to a deal Miami-Dade County commissioners and the city of Miami to build a $515 million ballpark on the site where the legendary Miami Orange Bowl once stood. Their part of the deal is changing their name to the Miami Marlins. This of course may be rather hard for fans to come to terms with. For years they have been known as something else and it can be hard making a name change. Marlins comes from the fish species, which explains why the team’s nickname is The Fish.

It’s been a busy few days for the Florida Marlins as they have agreed to new contracts with five different players. We blogged earlier today that Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida had agreed too new contracts and now you can add Cody Ross, Ricky Nolasco and Alfredo Amezaga to that list.

Ross will be earning $2.25 million , Nolasco $2.4 million while terms about Amezaga’s contract were not disclosed.

The one player that the Marlins were unable to get signed was Dan Uggla. Uggla and Marlins will now head to salary arbitration in February to decide his 2009 salary.

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The Florida Marlins have signed Jeremy Hermida and Jorge Cantu for the 2009 season as the team and both players avoided salary arbitration. Cantu’s deal is for $3.5 million, and it comes after he made $600,000, including $100,000 in incentives, last year. Hermida’s deal is for $2.25 million with a chance to earn another $50,000 in incentives.

A very nice raise for Cantu and Hermida for $2.25 is pretty good as well. Hopefully both players can stay healthy for an entire season.

The Marlins now have four arbitration-eligible players still unsigned — Dan Uggla, Ricky Nolasco, Cody Ross and Alfredo Amezaga.

Over the holiday week while most of us were enjoying some time off of work the Florida Marlins were hard at work as they signed reliever Scott Proctor to a one year deal. The contract will pay Proctor $750,000 but he can earn another $250,000 with incentives.

Proctor appeared in 41 games with the Dodgers last year, compiling 38 2/3 innings to go along with a 2-0 record and a 6.05 ERA.

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Another trade has happened for the Florida Marlins as they have sent relief pitcher Kevin Gregg to the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Jose Ceda. A lot of Marlins fans out there are happy tp see Gregg off the team as he struggled in 2008 with nine blown saves and 7-8 record.

Ceda is a pretty good prospect that was ranked #4 in the Cubs minor leagues by Baseball America. The Marlins dumped Gregg and saved cash while picking up a guy that could very well be a lot better then Gregg in 2009.

Are the fish done trading players? Keep on checking back at Marlinshomeplate.com

The Florida Marlins worked out a trade with the Washington Nationals on Monday as they sent Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham up north to Washington D.C. In return, the Marlins will be getting three young players as they look to add even more youth to their roster.

The Marlins will be getting second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: second baseman Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean in the five player trade.

I know a lot of Marlins fans are thinking why did the Marlins make this trade? Well both Willingham and Olsen are entering their first year of salary arbitration. Basically it is a paycut on the team salary.

What do you think of the trade Marlins fans?

The Florida Marlins shipped first basemen Mike Jacobs off to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Leo Nunez on Thursdsay. To be honest I don’t really like this trade one bit. Nunez is basically a setup man with the possibility to fill in at close but I think Jacobs would have had more value for the team.

Jacobs did hit .299 with 32 home runs hile Nunez has thrown 92 innings over the last two years. Nunez has had a 3.42 ERA with a 63/25 K/BB ratio over the last two years.

Do you agree with the trade Marlins fans?

Marlins Transactions

The Florida Marlins broke their four game losing streak on Wednesday night as they beat the Washington Nationals. It was nice to see the fish finally win another game even if it was just against the pesky Nationals.

Josh Johnson improved to 6-1 on the year as he tossed six innings. Johnson allowed six hits and two runs in the game as he pitched his final game of the year. I expect Johnson to have a great season next year as he did wonderfully for the Marlins this year.

Ryan Tucker gave up three hits and two runs as he made things interesting late in the game but the fish were able to hold on for the win.

Hanley Ramirez and Josh Willingham both hit solo home runs in the game. They were not the team leaders in the rbi column however as Jeremy Hermida and Matt Treanor both finished with two rbi each. Jorge Cantu and Gaby Sanchez had the other rbi’s for the Marlins in the game.

Good win for the Marlins and they can even up the four game series with a win against the Nationals on Thursday.

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The Florida Marlins and Cincinnati Reds played a make up game on Monday afternoon and the Marlins played great except for one inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Marlins gave up six runs and the Reds came from behind to beat the Marlins by the score of 7-5. Tough loss for the Marlins as it was a game that they should have won.

Ricky Nolasco was the starting pitcher for the fish and he ended up with a no decision. Nolasco threw six innings and gave up six hits and three runs. He did strike out five batters but also gave up a solo home run.

Andrew Miller was the lossing pitcher as he was charged with two runs while not recording an out. He is now 6-10 on the season. Logan Kensing and Arthur Rhodes both gave up one run in relief as well.

Four different Marlins players had one rbi each. Jeremy Hermida and Josh Willingham both hit solo home runs while Cameron Maybin and Matt Treanor both helped out with one run as well. The other two runs that the Marlins scored were un-earned as they scored on an error and a wild pitch.

Now the team will board a plane and fly to Washington D.C. where they will begin a three game series with the Nationals on Tuesday night.

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It was all about the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night as they blew out the Houston Astros by the score of 14-2. I think the Marlins are playing the Astros as the right time as they battle through Hurrican Ike and everything that did in Houston.

Ricky Nolasco improved to 14-7 as he tossed seven innings. Nolasco only gave up five hits and two runs in the game. Both of the runs came off the bat of Hunter Pence who hit two solo home runs off of Nolasco. Logan Kensing and Jesus Delgado both threw one inning of relief and did a good job as well.

Jorge Cantu and Alfredo Amezaga both led the Marlins at the plate with four rbi each. Cantu’s rbi’s came via  a grand slam while Amezaga had a three run double and rbi single in the game. Hanley Ramirez also had a great game as he hit two solo home runs to finish with two rbi. Mike Jacobs also had two rbi in the game as he had a two-run single. Cameron Maybin and Cory Ross finished up the scoring with one rbi each.

It was a great night for the Marlins and theyw ill go for another win on Thursday against the Astros. Marlins Blog