2019-2020 Offseason Discussion

[fish16]

I forgot to post my prospect depth chart predictions so I’ll do that when I get home later but needless to say with the relief arm depth we have in aa and aaa we are going to be shuffling the shit out of our bullpen throughout the year. Tons of guys to evaluate.

On a side note- is steckenrider healthy and ready opening day? I feel like we never got definitive word on what his injury was last year and how long he’s gonna be out. If he’s not ready, who is our closer? Whoever we sign before the year starts or a guy already here? Hopefully not stanek cause he didn’t impress at all when we got him and from what I’ve read rays fans seemed to not like him at all

[lou]

Will Harris gets 3/$24, and baseball is insane now with over-valuing relief pitchers. That's basically the equivalent of a $25 million a year starting pitcher.

Will Harris, for his 35-37+ year old seasons.

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I forgot to post my prospect depth chart predictions so I’ll do that when I get home later but needless to say with the relief arm depth we have in aa and aaa we are going to be shuffling the shit out of our bullpen throughout the year. Tons of guys to evaluate.

On a side note- is steckenrider healthy and ready opening day? I feel like we never got definitive word on what his injury was last year and how long he’s gonna be out. If he’s not ready, who is our closer? Whoever we sign before the year starts or a guy already here? Hopefully not stanek cause he didn’t impress at all when we got him and from what I’ve read rays fans seemed to not like him at all

They are fine with relievers. Brigham has to be in AAA right now (Stanek, Steckenrider, Yimi, Brice, Sharp), so even if Steckenrider is put on the 60 day, they can just protect someone else a bit longer and Brigham is back up. This is assuming a triple lefty pen with Garcia, Conley, and Quijada.

I think they will play matchups with the closer spot and someone emerges by May. I'd assume Stanek, Yimi, and dare I say Conley for lefty matchups, are first up.

I've said it before, but Ryan Butcher on a 1 year deal is the move for me. His FIP wasn't great last year, but I'd bet on the guy whose never had an ERA over 3 on a cheap deal.

[Namaste]

I’ve about heard enough of Sixto and his injury risk. Dude went from a 60 FV to a 50 FV with no explanation.

[Lee Stone]

I’ve about heard enough of Sixto and his injury risk. Dude went from a 60 FV to a 50 FV with no explanation.

The explanation is that his fastball generates too few swings and misses apparently. He's viewed as too hittable. See fangraphs article on Marlins 2020 prospects. Personally, I'm a fan of his control. After watching all the bases on balls that the staff allowed last season, I'd be happy just to see strikes.

[lou]

The explanation is that his fastball generates too few swings and misses apparently. He's viewed as too hittable. See fangraphs article on Marlins 2020 prospects. Personally, I'm a fan of his control. After watching all the bases on balls that the staff allowed last season, I'd be happy just to see strikes.

Sure, but practically, I'm going to be happy if he is an above average major leaguer whether an ace, # 3 SP, or high end reliever. Of course him hitting his ceiling and becoming an ace is the most ideal situation, but if say this happens:

_______, Sandy (good 3), Cabrera (good 3), Rogers (solid 3, great 4), Pablo/Neidert/Garrett (bad 3, great 4)
Sixto, Guzman, Brigham, Vesia, Sharp/Hernandez/Dugger/Holloway/Roberson, Garcia/Quijada/Stewart, _____ and _____

They are in great shape.

That's spending money on an ace and secondary relievers, everyone else is cheap, you've likely traded Caleb/Urena/Yamamoto/some of Pablo/Neidert/Garrett in this situation which will presumably fill out other areas, AND you've probably taken a college SP # 3 overall in 2020 draft. Adding in some lower level depth (Mejia, Soriano, Fitterer, Encarnacion, Mokma), and they are pretty solid.

This is all good until we start seeing multiple arm blow outs or double failed performances at the MLB level. Sixto is still a better prospect than Sandy, Pablo, and Caleb, and they all took steps forward at later stages of development. You never know.

[fauowls44]

Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
Outfielder/pitcher Oscar Colás, one of the best prospects to emerge from Cuba in years, has defected and will seek a deal with a major league team, sources familiar with his plans tell ESPN. Colás, 21, played in Japan last year and hit .302/.350/.516. He’s a LHP up to 95, too.
1:00 PM · Jan 3, 2020·Echofon

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Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
While Colás could conceivably sign during this international signing period, it may make more sense for him to wait until this July when international bonus pools reset. Most teams have a majority of their money committed, but Colás should reap a significant bonus nonetheless.
1:00 PM · Jan 3, 2020·Echofon

The Marlins should be all over this.

[fish16]

Idk anything about him so if he’s a very good prospect I’d always be good adding talent, but I think we should be good on adding just normal veteran types for the lineup for the offseason. We have too many guys in the evaluate time add another veteran type guy to take more abs. It’s entirely possible that Sierra and brinson continue to suck, but I’d at.least like to give them the first month or two in center as a pure lefty righty platoon one last time. Put Dickerson in one corner outfield and then Anderson or villar in the opposite, platoon those guys and then give guys like Ramirez random starts and keep berti as a super utility infielder. Our lineup might not be good but we have a lot of options to evaluate and I’d rather not add another veteran to that mix

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Starlin gets two years 12 millions from nationals.

[Nick]

Honestly I don't want to see Brinson get one more AB in a Marlins uniform. His time has passed, maybe a change of scenery would help him, but it's just not happening here.

[fauowls44]

Jon Morosi
@jonmorosi
Source: Pat Venditte has signed a minor league contract with the #Marlins that includes an invitation to
@MLB
spring training. Great timing, too: Venditte, the sport’s eminent switch pitcher, is a man for the era of the 3-batter minimum.
@MLBNetwork
7:19 PM · Jan 3, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

Had good AAA numbers...never much success in the Majors though.

[fish16]

we got lou's lefty..... and righty.

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venditte has always intrigue me but i think he just has AAAA type stuff from both sides. Especially with the new rule changes he would be so valuable out of a bullpen if he was an mlb reliever.

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So for relievers, I have the following to start the year

MLB- Stanek, Jarlin, Elieser, Brice, Conley, Yimi, and Sharp
AAA- Lee, Eveld, Quijada, Stevens, Brigham, Castano, Venditte
AA- Vesia, CJ Carter, Hock, Mills

Rotations I have:

MLB- Smith, Lopez, Alcantara, Yamamoto, Urena
AAA- Sixto, Neidert, Dugger, Guzman, Poteet
AA- Garrett, Rogers, Cabrera, Holloway
A+- Stewart, Mejia, Puckett, Soriano, Walters

I know they said cabrera will start in AAA but ill believe that when i see it. Dont see the need to do that, just move him up in may if he dominates to start.

Personally, i'd sign one more veteran insurance starter who can eat some innings given the injury risk of lopez, smith, and urena to an extent, but i guess i cant really fault them for thinking they can just call up neidert or dugger or even just stretch Elieser out as a starter.

[Namaste]

Love the flier on Venditte

Can’t wait for Castro to have an OPS north of .850 against us in 2020

[Nick]

I saw Venditte pitch a lot in college since he played for Creighton, and I'm from Omaha originally so I follow their baseball team. Honestly didn't know he was still around, he's been around awhile and it seems like he's a great AAA pitcher, but not a very good major league pitcher, but worth a flier. I'll be rooting for him, he's fun to watch.

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we got lou's lefty..... and righty.
So for relievers, I have the following to start the year

MLB- Stanek, Jarlin, Elieser, Brice, Conley, Yimi, and Sharp
AAA- Lee, Eveld, Quijada, Stevens, Brigham, Castano, Venditte
AA- Vesia, CJ Carter, Hock, Mills

Rotations I have:

MLB- Smith, Lopez, Alcantara, Yamamoto, Urena
AAA- Sixto, Neidert, Dugger, Guzman, Poteet
AA- Garrett, Rogers, Cabrera, Holloway
A+- Stewart, Mejia, Puckett, Soriano, Walters

I know they said cabrera will start in AAA but ill believe that when i see it. Dont see the need to do that, just move him up in may if he dominates to start.

Personally, i'd sign one more veteran insurance starter who can eat some innings given the injury risk of lopez, smith, and urena to an extent, but i guess i cant really fault them for thinking they can just call up neidert or dugger or even just stretch Elieser out as a starter.

Just a hunch, but I think Vesia starts the year in AAA, the way he pitched in his short stint in AA last year and the way he pitched in the Fall League, I think they're going to be aggressive with him.

I wonder if Cabrera possibly starting the year in AAA has anything to do with them wanting to keep him and Sixto together. I'd read that they were roommates and became good friends when Cabrera was called up to Jacksonville last year. I don't have a problem either way, with whatever they decide to do.

[fish16]

starlin is a great example of why everyone's first sport growing up should be baseball. With this contract he will surpass 70 million in career earnings.

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I saw Venditte pitch a lot in college since he played for Creighton, and I'm from Omaha originally so I follow their baseball team. Honestly didn't know he was still around, he's been around awhile and it seems like he's a great AAA pitcher, but not a very good major league pitcher, but worth a flier. I'll be rooting for him, he's fun to watch.

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Just a hunch, but I think Vesia starts the year in AAA, the way he pitched in his short stint in AA last year and the way he pitched in the Fall League, I think they're going to be aggressive with him.

I wonder if Cabrera possibly starting the year in AAA has anything to do with them wanting to keep him and Sixto together. I'd read that they were roommates and became good friends when Cabrera was called up to Jacksonville last year. I don't have a problem either way, with whatever they decide to do.

That would seem like a super short sighted reason to start him off at AAA. I'd give him april and may and move him up once he masters the level. I also didnt see a spot for him unless they wanted to go to a 6 man rotation in Wichita. Sixto, Neidert, Dugger, Guzman, and Poteet to me seem like locks for a rotation spot barring injury.

As for vesia, one thing i'd be interested in finding out is what weight the front office puts on getting potential closers at the big league level save opportunities at the minor league level. Cause that AAA bullpen looks pretty electric if you're a huge prospect nerd such as myself. Lots of guys with MLB potential, and its why i say we're gonna be shuffling through a ton of reliever options at times this year to evaluate guys for the future. Lee has potential, Eveld has potential, as does quijada, tyler stevens, brigham, maybe castano, even brett graves on top of the newly added venditte. Plus poteet is a likely long term bullpen guy who has had success as a starter at every level after initial struggles.

Then, you still have vesia and a few other guys in AA. I actually hadnt realized just how unhittable vesia was in limited time in AA last year so maybe you're right, but i could also see them wanting him to get some more closing experience in AA.

[Nick]

Combined stats for Vesia between AA and AFL

26.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 12 Hits, 3 BBs, 41 Ks, 0.56 WHIP

[tjfla]

Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
Outfielder/pitcher Oscar Colás, one of the best prospects to emerge from Cuba in years, has defected and will seek a deal with a major league team, sources familiar with his plans tell ESPN. Colás, 21, played in Japan last year and hit .302/.350/.516. He’s a LHP up to 95, too.
1:00 PM · Jan 3, 2020·Echofon

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Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
While Colás could conceivably sign during this international signing period, it may make more sense for him to wait until this July when international bonus pools reset. Most teams have a majority of their money committed, but Colás should reap a significant bonus nonetheless.
1:00 PM · Jan 3, 2020·Echofon

The Marlins should be all over this.

Dont have any cash for him RIGHT NOW. Very easy to get it especially if he waits till July 2 but we already have 4-5 million committed for 2020 so unless his people tell Miami he wants to be here I doubt we make a serious run at him.

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we got lou's lefty..... and righty.

- - - - - - - - - -

venditte has always intrigue me but i think he just has AAAA type stuff from both sides. Especially with the new rule changes he would be so valuable out of a bullpen if he was an mlb reliever.

- - - - - - - - - -

So for relievers, I have the following to start the year

MLB- Stanek, Jarlin, Elieser, Brice, Conley, Yimi, and Sharp
AAA- Lee, Eveld, Quijada, Stevens, Brigham, Castano, Venditte
AA- Vesia, CJ Carter, Hock, Mills

Rotations I have:

MLB- Smith, Lopez, Alcantara, Yamamoto, Urena
AAA- Sixto, Neidert, Dugger, Guzman, Poteet
AA- Garrett, Rogers, Cabrera, Holloway
A+- Stewart, Mejia, Puckett, Soriano, Walters

I know they said cabrera will start in AAA but ill believe that when i see it. Dont see the need to do that, just move him up in may if he dominates to start.

Personally, i'd sign one more veteran insurance starter who can eat some innings given the injury risk of lopez, smith, and urena to an extent, but i guess i cant really fault them for thinking they can just call up neidert or dugger or even just stretch Elieser out as a starter.

Rotations
ML-Caleb,Sandy,Pablo,Yamamoto,Urena
AAA-Sixto,Cabrera,Neidert,Dugger,Guzman,Josh Smith,Poteet,Beggs
AA-Garrett,Rogers,Holloway,Roberson,Remey Reed,Puckett(when healthy),Josh Roeder/Kolton Mahoney(SP depth thru majors)
Hi A-Will Stewart,Mejia,Soriano,Guerrero,Walters,Andrews
Lo A-Givin,Palacios,Andrew Miller,Hoeing,Zach King,Maldonado,GCL/DSL Guys

Roberson,Remey Reed,Puckett all should prolly be in Hi A but Denbo has been aggressive with ages and all 3 are AA age level

Pens
ML-Jarlin,Quijada,Yimi,Brice,Sharp,Stanek,Steck,Elies er,Brigham
AAA-Lee,Castano,Venditte,Moran,Stevens,Bugg,Northcraft ,Eveld,Graves
AA-Vesia,Guenther,Mills,Hock,CJ Carter,Mateo,Chad Smith,Braley,Sherrod,McKenna,Tyler Jones(SP?)
Hi A-Lindgren,Alcala,Alexander,Brito,Culbertson,Brabran d,Mitzel,Manny Rodriguez,Wolf,Few draft arms from LY
Lo A-Drafted Arms/GCL/DSL guys-LOTS of options


P depth is impressive!! Probably will sign few more MilB FA and of course they sign some young guys released from other systems/draft tons of arms too.

Something to watch is the GCL/DSL guys. About 20-25 guys ALL under the age of 20 with talent could be put anywhere from Hi A to GCL