The Miami Marlins are changing their look in 2013 as rumors have them interested in veteran infielders. Placido Polanco, Miguel Tejada and Brandon Inge are the latest names on the Marlins shopping list.
Their third base options are open and the market was not supplying a lot of free agents, so the Marlins might be turning to acquire these experienced players as possible reinforcements at third base.
Polanco was released by the Philadelphia Phillies after they failed to pick up his $5.5 million option for 2013. You can't blame them however, Polanco only hit .257 in 2012 and he's already 37-years-old.
One guy who will definitely come cheaply would be Tejada who didn't even play in the majors in 2012. He was last seen in action in a San Francisco Giants uniform in 2011. That season, he hit .239 with four home runs and 26 RBI in 322 plate appearances. Tejada will be turning 39 in the middle of the 2013 season.
The last option, Inge, had the best numbers of these veterans. Maybe not the best batting average, but Inge had 12 home runs and 56 RBI as he split the season with the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics. He batted .218 in the season and 11 of his 12 homers came with the A's in 74 games played, meaning, if healthy, Inge can probably get somewhere around 20 homers in a season. Not bad for a soon-to-be 36 year old.
The only infielders most Marlins fans might know in this organization's active roster are Greg Dobbs and Donovan Solano. They are hoping Adeiny Hechevarria can be there future third baseman, but it looks like they might want to give the 23-year-old Cuban some more time to develop.
Not that it's a reason to jump for joy, but at least having Inge, Polanco or Tejada will give fans a familiar face they'd recognize as all three have had extended playing time in the majors and are former All-Stars.
