MIAMI -- Outfielder Wil Cordero and the
Florida Marlins agreed to terms Monday on a $600,000, one-year contract.
Cordero, 32, must pass a physical for the deal to become final, which
could happen as early as Tuesday. He would be able to earn an additional
$200,000 in performance bonuses.
Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said last week the team wants
Cordero to provide veteran leadership off the bench and liked his
right-handed power.
He hit .278 in 130 games last season for Montreal with 16 home runs and
71 RBI. Over his 12-year major league career, Cordero is a .276 hitter
with 121 home runs and 558 RBI.
Cordero's acquisition would be another entry on a long list of offseason
moves by the World Series champions, who chose not to sign catcher Ivan
Rodriguez and closers Braden Looper and Ugueth Urbina, while trading
away first baseman Derrek Lee, left-handed starter Mark Redman and
outfielder Juan Encarnacion.
The Marlins got first baseman Hee Seop Choi in the deal that sent Lee to
the Cubs, and Cordero could provide an insurance policy if Choi does not
progress as Florida hopes. They also signed Armando Benitez to replace
Looper and Urbina, and also signed left-hander Darren Oliver to bolster
their rotation.
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