2014-2015 Marlins Offseason Rumors

[nny]

We have the best defensive OF in baseball with Heyward out of Atlanta, don't we?

KC has to be better, especially with Gordon/Dyson/Cain out there.

[HUGG]

UZR/150 says
Yelich 14.1
Ozuna 0.8
Stanton 1.6

Gordon 22.6
Dyson 36.6
Cain 24.5

DRS says
Yelich 13
Ozuna 10
Stanton 7

Gordon 27
Dyson 14
Cain 10


uh yeah lol

[nny]

Never watched him, how good/bad did DeSclafani actually look?

He had a great K/BB and good overall peripherals in his time in the majors (5.20 K/BB, 3.77 FIP, 3.80 xFIP). He done very well in the minors for his career, which includes last year, and he's currently doing great in the AFL (6 K/BB, just 1 HR, 2.67 ERA/2.29 FIP).

However, he had a bad BABIP and terrible LOB% so his ERA was shit. He's also a FB pitcher and the FO generally does not like them (which is silly in our park but whatever).

Does he have the stuff to be a starter?

I guess I'm just scared of us signing someone like Kyle Kendrick as our "FA Starter" when I don't see the problem with Heaney #5, DeSclafani #6, and Urena and Nicolino waiting in the wings. No one wants to see Brad Hand or Brian Flynn start another game, but they're not that much worse than the back of the rotation guys you find on the FA market. James Shields-level would be all kinds of cool, but what's the chances of that actually happening. And I'd probably rather spend that money if it was available in the IF anyway

[Bobbob1313]

I definitely think they have *enough* pitching, if you ever can.

[HUGG]

I still want some kind of explanation of why Andrew Heaney was averaging 90mph on his fastball when he was in the majors.

Because if majors Heaney is who he is, I'm not thrilled.

[Bobbob1313]

91.1 in June, 89.4 in July, 92.3 in September.

Hopefully July is the outlier.

[xeysz]

Never watched him, how good/bad did DeSclafani actually look?

He had a great K/BB and good overall peripherals in his time in the majors (5.20 K/BB, 3.77 FIP, 3.80 xFIP). He done very well in the minors for his career, which includes last year, and he's currently doing great in the AFL (6 K/BB, just 1 HR, 2.67 ERA/2.29 FIP).

However, he had a bad BABIP and terrible LOB% so his ERA was shit. He's also a FB pitcher and the FO generally does not like them (which is silly in our park but whatever).

Does he have the stuff to be a starter?

I guess I'm just scared of us signing someone like Kyle Kendrick as our "FA Starter" when I don't see the problem with Heaney #5, DeSclafani #6, and Urena and Nicolino waiting in the wings. No one wants to see Brad Hand or Brian Flynn start another game, but they're not that much worse than the back of the rotation guys you find on the FA market. James Shields-level would be all kinds of cool, but what's the chances of that actually happening. And I'd probably rather spend that money if it was available in the IF anyway

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...le-desclafani/

That's a good article on DeSclafani. Looks like he'll be taking this offseason very seriously. The main thing is he started throwing a curveball and had some success with it in the AFL, and he's optimistic about using it next year. The AFL is already over btw, the championship was on Saturday and he was the starter. He was pitching well until he gave up three solo HRs in the 4th or 5th inning. In his last two starts before that he gave up no runs in 10 IP, striking out 7 and walking 1, and was named Pitcher of the Week. It's looking like he'll develop enough to solidify the rotation until Jose returns.

[Big Z]

@JonHeymanCBS: Marlins still trying to sign hechavarria, yelich to multiyears. Ozuna long-term chance up in air, fernandez real long shot

Twitter

[Mainge]

We're going to ruin today by giving Hech the Andrus contract

[HUGG]

12yr/$350m for Hech. And minority ownership when he retires

[emkayseven]

12yr/$350m for Hech. And minority ownership when he retires

Hispanics will be a majority by that time so it will actually just be regular ownership

#stretchofajoke

[Fritz]

Booooooooooooooooo

[Big Z]

@Dodgers: The Dodgers today acquired OF/1B Kyle Jensen from @Marlins in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.

Twitter

.. Confused

Maybe opening a spot on the 40-man roster?

[Big Z]

Can someone post Bowden's article on ESPN Insider? I believe the title is "what's next for the Marlins front office".

Thanks

[emkayseven]

The Miami Marlins just agreed to terms with their star slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, for 13 years and $325 million, but that doesn't mean they're done spending money.

They're looking at contract extensions for their top young players, another top-of-rotation type starting pitcher and more offensive punch from some of their infield positions. Here's my quick breakdown of what's next for the Marlins:

Contract extensions

The Marlins would like to sign Jose Fernandez to a long-term contract next, but based on initial negotiations with his agent Scott Boras, it's highly unlikely something gets done anytime soon. That's better for the club anyway since they don't know how well he'll bounce back from Tommy John surgery. But it's a different story for outfielder Christian Yelich and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, both of whom would be interested in signing long-term at the right price.

Yelich, 22, just won his first Gold Glove award for his stellar play in left field and made great progress at the plate, as shown by his .284/.362/.402 slash line, with 30 doubles, six triples, 94 runs and 21 steals. Hechavarria, 25, would probably be celebrating a Gold Glove award as well if it weren't for the amazing defensive play of the Braves' Andrelton Simmons. Hechavarria had a solid year offensively as well and continues to improve with the bat. The Marlins would be smart to sign both players before they take their games to another level.

Center fielder Marcell Ozuna is another possibility to be signed to a long-term deal, though waiting another year in his case might be the right move so he can better define the type of offensive player he's going to be long term.

The Marlins under president of baseball operations Mike Hill and GM Dan Jennings are moving away from their predecessor Larry Beinfest's philosophy of not signing young players to long-term contracts. Rather than going through the arbitration process and then trading away their young talent before they become free agents, the team is moving to lock them up now. This method is a much better avenue to take in building a winner, and it's only a matter of time until Yelich and Hechavarria join Stanton with long-term commitments, perhaps even before spring training.

Signing or trading for a top-of-rotation starter

The Marlins are committed to adding another top starting pitcher and are said to be already involved in negotiations with free-agent pitcher James Shields , who just helped lead the Royals to their first World Series in 29 years. It's doubtful the Marlins will make a play on Max Scherzer or Jon Lester, instead saving those dollars for Fernandez. However, they could surprise and make a run at Cole Hamels of the Phillies, considering he still has four years left on his contract, and the Marlins' farm system is deep enough for them to make a competitive offer. Other trade possibilities for the Marlins to improve their starting pitching include: Mat Latos and Mike Leake of the Reds, Jeff Samardzija of the Athletics and Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner of the Padres.

Improving infield offensive production

The Marlins have one of the best young outfields in baseball with Stanton, Ozuna and Yelich, but they have some work to do on their infield to get the team playoff-ready. They lack true power on the corners, where first baseman Garrett Jones hit just 15 home runs and had just 53 RBIs in 547 plate appearances in 2014 and third baseman Casey McGehee hit just four homers in 691 plate appearances (though he did play well enough to win the NL Comeback Player of the Year award). It's unlikely they replace both, but McGehee could always move to first base if they were to land a third baseman. The Marlins also could use an upgrade at second base over Donovan Solano and Enrique Hernandez.

There are several possibilities, beginning with free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, who has been a top-three defender in the NL at first base over the past three seasons while averaging 26 home runs and 85 RBIs. A two- or three-year deal in the $12 million annual-salary range probably would get it done and give the Marlins more power and protection for Stanton. This would also allow McGehee to stay at third base, and the Marlins could then use Jones to back up first base and the corner outfield positions and give them a much-needed bat off the bench.

The Marlins could look to improve second base with free agent Jed Lowrie, who probably needs to move off shortstop anyway. The switch hitter would give the Marlins a more balanced lineup, as well as more power from the second base position. They also could work a trade with the Rays for Ben Zobrist, the Mariners for Chris Taylor or maybe even the Mets for Daniel Murphy. The Marlins have a strong farm system loaded with arms, which they can deal to improve, and they'll be a fascinating team to watch the rest of the offseason.

Stanton is now signed, sealed and delivered, but that doesn't make the team any better for 2015; he was already slated to be there. Now it's time to improve the team to play meaningful baseball come next October, and the organization seems ready to do it.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-...ost/_/id/10477