Marlins’ Owner Has Grim Outlook

The Florida Marlins spent three days in first place this week, and now there’s talk about breaking up the team again.

With the outlook bleak for a new ballpark, the Marlins could begin trading away players for financial reasons before next season, owner John Henry said.

Because several players will be eligible for salary arbitration after this season, the Marlins could lose $20 million next year if they keep their current roster intact, Henry told the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale.

“It used to be that you couldn’t compete well without a ballpark,” Henry said. “In the year 2000, you can’t even afford to go to arbitration in the situation we’re in, much less try to build a competitive team or look for free agents.”

Henry’s predecessor, H. Wayne Huizenga, dismantled the Marlins after they won the 1997 World Series. They finished with the worst record in the major leagues the last two years, but this season their young team is off to an 11-8 start.

The Marlins had hoped to open a $400-million ballpark in downtown Miami in 2003, but their proposal to use cruise taxes failed because of opposition from Gov. Jeb Bush. Team officials say they have no other plan to pay for a new ballpark, which they consider a necessity if the franchise is to attract enough revenue to finance a competitive team.

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After putting No. 1 starter Jamie Moyer on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a strained muscle in his left shoulder, the Seattle Mariners put No. 2 starter Freddy Garcia on the 15-day DL Saturday. Garcia, John Mabry, Edgar Martinez and Mike Cameron were injured in the first three innings against Kansas City on Friday.

Garcia, a 17-game winner last season, probably has bursitis in his right leg, a condition he might have aggravated Friday night when he attempted to cover first in the third inning.

Garcia was taken to a hospital on Saturday to have X-rays to determine if he had a stress fracture in his right tibia, team medical director Dr. Larry Pedegana said. If he has a stress fracture, he will be sidelined at least four weeks.

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Umpire Randy Marsh was scratched with an ankle injury before the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Colorado Rockies. He suffered the injury Friday night. . . . The Houston Astros activated right-handed pitcher Scott Elarton from the disabled list and sent outfielder Glen Barker to triple-A New Orleans. Elarton, 24, has been on the DL since spring training after off-season surgery on his rotator cuff. Last season, he was 9-5 with a 3.48 ERA. . . . Detroit’s Brian Moehler was scratched from today’s scheduled start against the White Sox after an emergency appendectomy. Moehler (1-1) reported to Comiskey Park on Saturday for the Tigers’ game against Chicago, then was taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn for surgery. . . . Florida second baseman Luis Castillo was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a lower back strain.