Miami Marlins 2016 Offseason Discussion Thread

[sports24/7]

If the Marlins are banking on holding on to Ramos to deal him at the deadline A) that's a pretty dumb decision because of the uncertainty that comes with that, and B) I fully expect Ramos to suck and kill his value because that's how it goes for Miami.

[tjfla]

Crazy prices is why u trade something-AJ or even another arm.

•The Mets checked in with the Rays on closer Alex Colome, though talks didn’t go far because Tampa Bay asked for either outfielder Michael Conforto or elite shortstop prospect Amed Rosario as a starting point, per Peter Gammons (via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times).

[emkayseven]

The Miami Marlins pivoted quickly after losing out on the two most prominent free-agent relievers, Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, signing Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler to augment their core of setup men. For now, the Marlins’ bullpen could look like something like this:Closer: A.J. Ramos. Last year he had 40 saves and a 2.81 ERA, with 73 strikeouts in 64 innings.
Setup: Kyle Barraclough, who is among the most underrated relievers in baseball. He had 113 strikeouts in 72⅔ innings last season.
Setup: Ziegler, who is a ground ball machine.
Setup: Tazawa, whose effectiveness has always seemed tied directly to whether he can get a day of rest between appearances.
Setup: David Phelps, who had a 2.39 ERA in 59 games as a reliever last season.
The Marlins should have a pretty good bullpen behind a suspect rotation, and Miami has been able to do this without assuming one of the biggest closer salaries ever -– a big risk for a team that typically has one of the lowest payrolls. As mentioned here the other day, there are probably folks within the Marlins’ baseball operations department greatly relieved that Miami owner Jeffrey Loria was unsuccessful in the pursuit of Chapman and Jansen.
Ziegler is a freak, writes Dave Cameron. Boston's acquisition of Ziegler last season might have been Dave Dombrowski’s best trade with the Red Sox.
Michael Hill says he’s excited about the Marlins’ bullpen.

http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olne.../post?id=15444

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the Cameron post linked in that blurb is fantastic

[dim]

I hadn't even thought about the fact that Mike Dunn got more total money than Ziegler. Lefties get paid.

I love Ziegler's side arm delivery. You don't get enough variety in pitching motion these days. The downward movement on the changeup in that video was sweet. Looks like a middle away strike and just drops in the dirt.

Article is very well-written. It is interesting how a mix of his age and inability to throw fast is what keeps him from getting big money. It's very similar to the reasons the Oakland A's were able to get three successful, cheap years from Chad Bradford during their Moneyball run.

[HUGG]

Miami Marlins 2016 Offseason Discussion Thread

I hadn't even thought about the fact that Mike Dunn got more total money than Ziegler. Lefties get paid.

Also, Dunn isn't 37. I wouldn't really say getting 3/19 at 31 is more impressive than 2/16 at 37

[Erick]

Also, Dunn isn't 37. I wouldn't really say getting 3/19 at 31 is more impressive than 2/16 at 37

Despite the age difference, I feel like it's a little ridiculous that Dunn got more. Especially considering it was the Rockies who paid him. I thought the Rockies would be more interested in a guy like Ziegler honestly because of Coors Field, but guess not.

[lou]

Do any of these right handers have plus LHP splits? I mean that article doesn't mention McGowan who is a lock.

I still can't imagine they don't trade some relievers before the year.

[Erick]

Do any of these right handers have plus LHP splits? I mean that article doesn't mention McGowan who is a lock.

I still can't imagine they don't trade some relievers before the year.

Except for McGowan, all of them can get lefties out.

[lou]

Ok, so if they can live with 1 LHP specialist assuming everyone else is good enough at getting lefties out, they could trot out Ramos, Ziegler, Barraclough, Tazawa, Phelps, McGowan, and ______, and have Wittgren, Ellington, and Cervanka in reserve. (I am hoping they get a better lefty than Cervanka to fill it out.)

I just checked 2014-2016, the Marlins #8+ RP in innings pitched over a season basically throw 140-160 combined innings per year. Assuming that trend continues, and Wittgren, Ellington, and Cervanka are RP #8-10, you're looking at probably very few garbage innings as those 3 can probably eat most of those given that's not a huge workload over 3 guys. That's a ridiculously deep bullpen when I'd be happy going into the year with them being the backend of the opening day pen.

I still think the depth is crazy compared to the lack of SP upside, both short and longterm, and no real LHP reliever, but if the idea is that keeping all those guys in AAA will be plug and play for injuries, I sort of get it. I suppose they can hope for big years from Castillo, Garret, Garcia, Kolek, Brice, etc. and hope that turns into realistic trade chip for a top of the rotation starter in July.

[tjfla]

Ok, so if they can live with 1 LHP specialist assuming everyone else is good enough at getting lefties out, they could trot out Ramos, Ziegler, Barraclough, Tazawa, Phelps, McGowan, and ______, and have Wittgren, Ellington, and Cervanka in reserve. (I am hoping they get a better lefty than Cervanka to fill it out.)

I just checked 2014-2016, the Marlins #8+ RP in innings pitched over a season basically throw 140-160 combined innings per year. Assuming that trend continues, and Wittgren, Ellington, and Cervanka are RP #8-10, you're looking at probably very few garbage innings as those 3 can probably eat most of those given that's not a huge workload over 3 guys. That's a ridiculously deep bullpen when I'd be happy going into the year with them being the backend of the opening day pen.

I still think the depth is crazy compared to the lack of SP upside, both short and longterm, and no real LHP reliever, but if the idea is that keeping all those guys in AAA will be plug and play for injuries, I sort of get it. I suppose they can hope for big years from Castillo, Garret, Garcia, Kolek, Brice, etc. and hope that turns into realistic trade chip for a top of the rotation starter in July.

Add in Steckenrider,Guerrero,Guerra(If he stays),Lobstein in AAA too

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They are gonna likely use pairings as well. Say Bearclaw/Ziegler OR Phelps/Tazawa-they want hitters to see different speeds,angles not just 97+ for 3 innings. Imagine seeing Bearclaw or Ellington at 98 and then Ziegler at 80

Tazawa looks great when he gets days off and not run out there daily

[Erick]

Add in Steckenrider,Guerrero,Guerra(If he stays),Lobstein in AAA too

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They are gonna likely use pairings as well. Say Bearclaw/Ziegler OR Phelps/Tazawa-they want hitters to see different speeds,angles not just 97+ for 3 innings. Imagine seeing Bearclaw or Ellington at 98 and then Ziegler at 80

Tazawa looks great when he gets days off and not run out there daily

Has there ever been a study done on changing speeds and how it affects hitters? Logically, you would think it does have an impact, but I wonder if there has been data put out to support it.

[rmc523]

Has there ever been a study done on changing speeds and how it affects hitters? Logically, you would think it does have an impact, but I wonder if there has been data put out to support it.

That's probably the next field to be explored if it hasn't been already.

[rmc523]

Could we sign Boone Logan as a lefty?

[AdamRavs]

Could we sign Boone Logan as a lefty?

He signed with the Cubs i believe

[lou]

Not sure it matters switching RP speeds when they don't go through lineup multiple times