Florida Marlins < Alex Rodriguez

In terms of monetary worth, at least. Alex Rodriguez is making more this year than the entire Florida Marlins opening day roster, 33% more.

Boosted by his new deal with the New York Yankees, A-Rod tops the major league baseball salary list at $28 million, according to a study of contract terms by The Associated Press. The 33 players on the Marlins’ opening-day roster and disabled list total $21.8 million.

The Marlins also don’t have a single player making league average. This clinches it. The Florida Marlins are the best run franchise in the entirety of sports. Perhaps old-school baseball fans disdain them. They don’t hold on to their recognizable names. Their line-up shifts drastically from season to season. They’re rarely competing for the division. But, damnit, when they compete, they win championships. They are the sporting manifestation of buy-low and sell-high. Many point to the downside of their recent Miguel Cabrera trade. Sure, they traded away one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball. But in return, they got the crown jewels of the Tiger’s farm system: Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. These were the two most highly regarded prospects in the system that recently produced Justin Verlander and Curtis Granderson. I’m inclined to believe that it’ll work out like the Beckett trade did with Hanley Ramirez. Oakland has built an entire baseball cult-of-personality based on the fact that they’re contenders with a low payroll, though the Marlins have actually won championships. There should be teams trying to copy the Marlins plan of attack. And yet, there isn’t. They’re ignored by their own potential fans and treated as a joke throughout the rest of baseball. No more. I say to you, the Marlins are the best franchise in baseball, and will most likely be World Series champs in 2010.