Loria negotiates Dobbs’ 2014 return

A source confirmed Marlins’ utility man Greg Dobbs earlier this season agreed to one- year, $ 1.7 million contract to remain with the club in 2014. A member of the Marlins since 2011, Dobbs would have qualified for free agency at season’s end.

If you don’t like the deal, don’t blame President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfestor General Manager Mike Hill as neither had anything to do with it. Owner Jeffrey Loria, the source said, negotiated the pact unbeknownst to his top baseball officials.

This latest example offers further proof of the Marlins’ front office dysfunction. Beinfest and Hill are under contract through 2015, but Loria pulling the endaround to sign a role player doesn’t bode well for their long- or short- term futures in the organization.

Dobbs has appeared in 112 games and is hitting .229 ( 54 for 236) with two homers and 22 RBI. As a pinch- hitter, he is 10 for 47 (. 213) with six walks and seven RBI. The active major league leader with 95 pinch hits, Dobbs since joining the Marlins owns a .270/. 321/. 357 slash line in that role.

In addition to Dobbs, Jeff Mathis ($ 1.5 million) and Jacob Turner ($ 1 million) are signed for 2014.

The majority of the roster ( including Jose Fernandez, Henderson Alvarez, Nathan Eovaldi, A. J. Ramos, Tom Koehler, Brad Hand, Dan Jennings, Rob Brantly, Ed Lucas, Donovan Solano and Adeiny Hechavarria) is prearbitration eligible under club control.

The players who at season’s end will possess enough service time to qualify for arbitration: Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Ruggiano, Chris Coghlan, Logan Morrison, Koyie Hill, Ryan Webb, Kevin Slowey, Mike Dunn and Steve Cishek ( Super 2).

Best buds reunite

“He’s my brother,” said Brantly, asked about his relationship with Tigers’ outfielder and Archbishop Mc

Carthy product Nick Castellanos.

TheTigers in 2010 drafted Castellanos and Brantly in the supplemental first and third rounds, respectively. They were teammates throughout the Tigers’ system until the Marlins acquired Brantly last season as part of the Anibal Sanchez/

Omar Infante trade. When the Marlins promoted Brantly to the majors in 2012 he stayed with the Castellanos family in Davie and resided with them again while in the majors this season.

Castellanos, 21, spent most of the season at Triple- A Toledo and was promoted earlier this month when rosters expanded. He made his major league debut on Sept. 1 and logged his first hit six days later.

Friday, the Marlins are honoring Archbishop McCarthy for its run of four consecutive state baseball titles. In addition to Castellanos, Tigers’ catcher Alex

Avila also is an alumnus. McCarthy assistant coach andex- Marlin Alex Fernandez will be on hand aswell.