Armando

Benitez

The Marlins aren’t going to attempt to come up with the money to re-sign Benitez. For now, the plan is to enter 2005 with Guillermo Mota as the closer. Maybe that will change if a cheap solution falls into their laps.

Benitez is believed to be looking for a three- or a four-year deal worth $6 million per season, so Percival might be the more attractive free agent right now. He’s willing to settle for two years.

Maybe $21 million is a little excessive, but this is a better signing than Troy Percival or the other potential closers would have been. Since the Giants have to stay around $80 million, Benitez’s addition could make it more likely that A.J. Pierzynski will be traded.

Howe desperately wants to keep Benitez in his usual role, but one more blown save could force his hand.

Benitez would make $5 million next year, and the $6 million option for 2006 would include a $1 million buyout. Benitez is still seeking a three- or a four-year deal, but with the Indians out of the market and the Giants appearing uninterested, he might not get it unless the Cubs step in. Returning to Florida could be a fallback option for him.

Mets’ GM Steve Phillips would not comment. The Yankees are looking for ways to replace Steve Karsay. Benitez would lose nearly all value in such a deal unless Mariano Rivera got hurt. If Benitez is traded and Scott Strickland has elbow surgery, the Mets could have a free-for-all for save opportunities among Mike Stanton, David Weathers, and even John Franco.

Benitez isn’t hurt -- he just didn’t throw or work out extensively during the winter, and the Marlins have tried to build up his arm strength the past two weeks with routine bullpen sessions. He remains an underrated closer with decent stats despite the bad press he got in New York.

This apparently is how far Benitez has fallen. We’re not sure whether it’s worse that he’s viewed as a weaker option than Beck or a similar option to Alfonseca.

Mike Powers, Benitez’s agent, said Tuesday evening he hasn’t spoken with Marlins GM Larry Beinfest in three days and believes the sides are too far apart to agree on a proposed one-year deal. If the Martlins can’t sign Benitez, they could make an attempt to re-sign Braden Looper prior to this weekend’s deadline.

He wasn’t needed in the Marlins’ 6-1 loss to Atlanta. He should be okay to return today. Chad Fox would be the likely candidate to pick up a save when Benitez gets a night off.