The Marlins give Wes Helms a one-year extension

There goes all of that crazy Wes Helms speculation I was looking forward to at this year’s Winter Meetings:

The Florida Marlins have signed third baseman Wes Helms to a $1 million, one-year contract extension through the 2011 season. The Marlins generally don’t sign players to extensions during the season, but have been talking to Helms for several weeks about returning. Helms is hitting .225 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 178 at-bats in 91 games.

Wes Helms had 278 glorious plate appearances for the 2006 Marlins and has been one of the worst hitting third basemen in all of baseball since then. Yes, I realize he’s a backup, but there’s nothing that says your backup can’t hit a little. At this point I can only assume that his continued tenure with the Marlins is based on him being the nicest, most wonderful guy you’d ever want in a clubhouse. Or else the Florida brass thinks that the past four seasons are the exception and 2006 the rule.

According to the AP story, Helms is expected to become a coach or a manager after he’s done. I wonder if the Marlins realize that they can hire him in that capacity even if they don’ give him 250 trips to plate next year.