Dobbs sees a bright future for Marlins

MIAMI -- The way Greg Dobbs sees it, the overall record doesn't tell the story about the Marlins' future.

Although Miami is going to finish with the second worst record in the Majors and last in the National League, the 35-year-old envisions a bright future. That's why he sought a contract extension for next year, and it was actually reached months ago.

On Thursday, it was confirmed the Marlins have locked up Dobbs for 2014, but no official announcement has been made. The deal is worth $1.7 million, after he earned $1.5 million this season.

Dobbs' representatives came to terms in June with Miami owner Jeffrey Loria.

It was Dobbs' wish to keep the signing private, because the Marlins were off to a rough start, going 14-41 in the first two months.

"It's not like this just came about," the veteran left-handed hitter said. "This started a long time ago. It was a long process. A lot of stuff was going on at the time within the organization. I understood there wasn't a pressing need to get it done.

"I wanted them to know I wanted to be here, I wanted to be a part of turning this organization around."

Dobbs is primarily a pinch-hit specialist. And his 95 career pinch-hits are the most of any player in the Majors since he was a rookie in 2004.

Dobbs didn't want his signing to overshadow the team.

"It was my wish, at the time, to not have it announced," he said. "I didn't want that to get in the way of the focus of everyone here. I wanted the focus on us playing better baseball and trying to get out of the rut that we were in."

Talks about an extension began in the winter, and carried through Spring Training.

"It was mostly my wish that we table it," Dobbs said. "I didn't need a press conference. My focus was more, 'Let's just focus on the team.' I didn't want anything to distract from the team."