Ivan Rodriguez should have Marlins fans excited for the 2003 season. (LM Otero/AP)

MIAMI -- Signing free-agent catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to a one-year contract immediately gives the Marlins some needed star power.
"That's huge," Marlins first baseman Derrek Lee said from his offseason home in California upon learning the news. "He's probably the best defensive catcher ever. He's a future Hall of Famer and a superstar."

Word spread quickly late Wednesday afternoon that the Marlins had landed their biggest signing since Jeffrey Loria purchased the team last February.

Initial player reaction was shock.

"It came out of the blue," said Marlins infielder Andy Fox. "If fans can't get excited about this pickup, what can they get excited about? What this shows the community is this team is making a statement."

Added Lee when informed of the news: "I thought it was a joke. We got Pudge Rodriguez? Fans should definitely come out to see a superstar like Pudge Rodriguez."

Fox, who used to play in the American League, witnessed first hand Rodriguez's impact on a game.

"Number one, he shuts down your running game," Fox said.

Big catch for the Fish

• Marlins introduce Pudge Rodriguez
• Marlins sign Pudge Rodriguez
• Rangers react to Pudge's signing
• Marlins excited about Pudge
• Pitchers anxious for Pudge arrival
• Bauman: Rare fishing trip for Marlins
• Browne: NL East keeps getting hotter
• O's edged out in Pudge sweepstakes
• Fantasy analysis
• Marlins conference call
• The Fantasy 411 on Pudge

Rodriguez, a 10-time Gold Glove winner with the Rangers, gives the Marlins another star catcher, replacing former All-Star Charles Johnson, who was traded in November to the Rockies.
"If you thought that Charles Johnson had a strong arm, wait to you see this guy," Fox said. "Any time as a player, when you walk into a clubhouse and see a guy with the credentials that he has, it gives your team credibility."

The signing has the Marlins believing they have a shot to win the highly competitive National League East.

"You have got to put us there in the mix," Fox said. "I thought we would be OK without him. I know you have to go out and play, but at least on paper, we look pretty good."

One player who saw the signing coming is Marlins pitcher Brad Penny. Like Rodriguez, Penny is represented by agent Jeff Moorad.

When Penny agreed to a one-year deal last Friday, he heard that the Marlins already had the wheels in motion to bump up payroll to acquire Rodriguez.

"This move shows the team wants to win," Penny said. "He's probably the best fielding catcher ever. We've helped our team. We've added a big bat to the middle of the lineup."

Marlins manager Jeff Torborg, a former catcher, plans on batting Rodriguez third in the lineup. The 31-year-old catcher says he is healthy and ready to re-establish himself as a premier player.

Last season, Rodriguez played in 108 games because of injuries and hit .314 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs. In the previous five years, he belted at least 20 home runs, including a career-high 35 in 1999.

"I give Jeffrey [Loria] and the front office so much credit because they've been taking a beating at times, saying they haven't been trying to be a winner," Torborg said. "We've been trying since last year, and this is a big, big piece."

The Marlins this offseason stressed building a team around pitching, defense and speed, ingredients the team believes works well in spacious Pro Player Stadium.

With Rodriguez behind the plate, Torborg says the Marlins have arguably the best fielding team in the National League.

Rodriguez, who was in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, looks forward to working with a young, hard-throwing pitching staff that includes A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett.

Foremost, he claims he is healthy after being hampered by back and knee problems last season.

It's been a hectic, uncertain winter for Rodriguez, an offseason Miami resident who had spent his entire career with the Rangers.

Prior to signing with the Marlins, he entertained an offer from the Orioles.

"It wasn't the one I wanted," Rodriguez said. "They offered me a three-year deal, but I felt a little uncomfortable with it. I decided to go with the Marlins for a year.

"This is the first time in my career, I was in the free agency market. Unfortunately, it was in the wrong time, in the wrong year. But I look forward to put that behind me, and now I'm going to be playing with the Marlins for this year, and I look forward to another good season, and help the Marlins win a lot of games."

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.