Let the salary dumping begin as the Marlins have sent 29-year old righty reliever Matt Lindstrom to the Astros for 20-year old righty starting pitcher Robert Bono, 19-year old righty swinging shortstop Luis Bryan and the Astros’ #1 pick in the Rule 5 Draft. Lindstrom went into last season as the closer for the Marlins but he blew it. He pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last season and he was 2-1 with 15 saves, a 5.89 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. In his three years with the Marlins, Lindstrom pitched in 191 games (0 starts) in which he was 8-8 with 20 saves, a 3.88 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Robert Bono pitched in 25 games (all starts) in A-ball last season and he was 10-8 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Bono has now pitched three years in the minors working in 51 games (48 starts) in which he is 10-16 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He is not much of a strikeout pitcher so it’s hard to say how much of a ceiling that he has. Luis Bryan played in 31 games in Rookie Ball last season and he was 36 for 106 (.340 avg, .836 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 2 homers, 19 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The shocking thing about Bryan last season is that he didn’t walk one time. In his two years in the minors, Bryan has played in 75 games in which he is 60 for 262 (.229 avg, .580 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 2 homers, 27 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Bryan will need to start showing some discipline in the minors or he just won’t ever move up in the Marlins’ system. The most valuable player the Marlins are likely to get in this deal will come in the Rule 5 Draft. Making this trade was all about saving payroll because that is the only way it makes any sense at all.

UPDATE: The Marlins have acquired 25-year old lefty swinging 3B Jorge Jimenez from the Astros to complete this trade. Jimenez was selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Astros out of the Red Sox system so the Marlins have to keep him on the 25-man roster all year long or they have to offer him back to Boston. Jimenez played in 133 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 144 for 498 (.289 avg, .787 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 13 homers and 87 RBIs. Jimenez has now played in 367 games in his four years in the minors and he has played in 367 games in which he is 402 for 1,350 (.298 avg, .800 OPS) with 190 runs scored, 24 homers, 204 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Marlins will give Jimenez a shot to make the team out of spring training and I think he could win a job on the bench.

Teams will likely be all over the Marlins at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis this week. That’s because the Marlins are trying to move Dan Uggla, Matt Lindstrom and Reynel Pinto to save some cash. They will also likely listen to offers for Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Ronny Paulino, Jorge Cantu, Cody Ross and Alfredo Amezaga. That doesn’t mean the Marlins will trade any of them however. Uggla will likely be traded soon to a team that really could use him with the Giants and Twins being the most likely destinations. Lindstrom will likely be gone as early as today as a few teams are currently bidding on him. It’s a shame that the Marlins are still working on the cheap with a new stadium coming in 2012.

The Marlins have signed 29-year old infielder Hector Luna to a minor league deal. Luna played in 94 games in Rookie+AAA-ball last season and he was 112 for 321 (.349 avg, 1.020 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 17 homers, 63 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He last played in the majors during the 2008 season with the Blue Jays. Luna has now played in 284 games in five years in the majors and he is 190 for 703 (.270 avg, .713 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 11 homers, 82 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Luna will have a decent shot of making the Marlins out of spring training due to his versatility.

The Marlins have signed 29-year old righty swinging 1B Vinny Rottino to a minor league deal. Rottino played in 129 games in AA-ball last season and he was 108 for 414 (.261 avg, .688 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 4 homers, 55 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He last played in the majors during the 2008 season with the Brewers. Rottino has now played 3 years in the majors and he is 5 for 24 (.208 avg, .532 OPS) with 1 run scored and 4 RBIs. The Marlins might give Rottino a chance at some point in 2010 if they suffer some injuries.

The Marlins have signed 29-year old righty starting pitcher Jesse Foppert to a minor league deal. Foppert pitched in 10 games (8 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 0-3 with a 6.27 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He walked 27 batters in only 33 innings last season so he has to do a lot of work on improving his control. Foppert last pitched in the majors during the 2005 season with the Giants. Foppert has pitched in 27 games (23 starts) in his three years in the majors and he is 8-9 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Foppert used to be one of the brightest prospects in all of baseball just a few years ago but injuries have derailed him. It was worth it to take a flyer on Foppert.

UPDATE: (4/1/2010) The Marlins have released Jesse Foppert.