July 2021 Game Thread

[Nick]

this front office has really done well at the deadline for a number of years in a row now. Obviously they have had bigger moves but the de la cruz addition seems like another good addition and the perfect encapsulation of why you deal relievers who are upcomng free agents when you fall out of it. Yimi was going to be gone this offseason, the season's done, and we got what looks to be a nice 4th OF with some upside for him. Not sure where de la cruz fits in long term given the OF depth, but if nothing else it gives another guy to add to a potential trade in a 4 for 1 or 5 for 2 deal.

I'd like to see if De La Cruz can handle CF, he's looked great in RF defensively, but to be a 4th OF I'd say you gotta be able to play all three, and I think he should be able to, I'd just like to see it.

[fish16]

just looking through his minor league numbers and cabrera's k totals for the year are absurd. 86 in 58 innings. 13.50 per 9 innings. gotta think he sees some time up here to end the year but if they are worried about service time and getting the extra year down the road, as much as it sucks i really cant blame them.

Speaking of service time, it hasnt been mentioned at all this year but by optioning sixto to start the year and then having him get injured in the minors they got an entire extra year of him in the future. Not what you wanted to see injury wise but at least there is a silver lining. would have been a complete disaster if this counted against his service time being injured all year.

[fish16]

I'd like to see if De La Cruz can handle CF, he's looked great in RF defensively, but to be a 4th OF I'd say you gotta be able to play all three, and I think he should be able to, I'd just like to see it.

agreed but there must be a reason he's only played 139 innings there in his career. If anything i hope they realize him and brinson make sierra completely expendable.

[lou]

the more i look at our organization and the depth in the OF and SP both in the majors and in the upper minors the more it is clear they have a 4 for 1 or 5 for 2 trade to make. there just is no way around it, at some point we have to turn the great job of building organizational depth into a trade for legitimate impact hitters.

Also, as the sample size gets bigger Brinson seems to keep getting better. Since may 1, 118 ab's now, 5% walk rate, .960 OPS, wrc+ of 158 and the most impressive thing to me is the .282 average. I know average is not a great way to judge guys anymore but the fact that his average is that high to me just shows the improvement in the consistency. Its not just a high ops being inflated because he is hitting bombs with the power we all know he has. He's just flat out getting on base and having great ab's.

As for luzardo, the results have not been spectacular thus far but i like the move for a few reasons. One, we didnt need more depth so i like the way they identified a player they liked and went after a 1 for 1 deal instead of getting 2-3 prospects for marte. Two, they paid marte's salary as a way of getting a better return which is a good sign and new for this team. Three, they bought super low on Luzardo and hoped Stottlemeyer can get him back on track. The guy was literally a top 20 prospect in the entire sport just over a year ago. Buying low on a talent like that for a free agent to be is just good process. You cant teach what the guy brings to the table as a lefty pumping 95 easily, so i love the move and the trust in stottlemeyer to get him back on track.

They have depth to trade one premium right hander (Pablo, Sandy, Sixto, Cabrera, Meyer) and one secondary right hander (Hernandez, Thompson, Neidert, Poteet, Nicolas, McCambley, etc.). But that's really it. They can't blow out 4-5 guys as then it'll swing back to them getting a few injuries (you know, like Hernandez, Sixto, Pablo, Cabrera, and even Thompson and Poteet missing time) and will start creating big depth problems. They are pretty good on the 40 man right now so that's a huge issue, although the last 3-4 spots are going to be fierce among the Guenthers and Pops and Guzmans of the world.

I'll keep saying, they have PLENTY of money even for a low payroll situation so they don't need to mortgage arms for bats. They can use them to get 1-2 young guys, presumably a longterm 2B/SS or CF (as no one is trading them a top 3 catcher prospect) and sign 2+ others as upgrades.

[lou]

Dax Fulton, Antonio Velez and Will Stewart all lefties. Wish they had kept Vesia and not made that Floro trade.

I think most organizations would kill to have four lefties the caliber of Rogers, Eder, Luzardo and Fulton, so I'm not sure I quite agree we're super low on lefties. Lefty relievers maybe, but I would say we don't have many guys that look promising simply as relievers period, left or right. It'll be a matter of converting a lot of these starters to relievers starting next year.

Fulton is multiple years away, Velez may be an option in a year but he'd old for his level so who knows what is happening there, Stewart is probably nothing. None of that likely impacts next 2 years.

And yes, lefty relievers is what I mean, and that's assuming they get two longterm starters out of Rogers, Luzardo, Eder, and Garrett (a solid bet today). They need some high end options and some general depth for sure.

[Nick]

Fulton is multiple years away, Velez may be an option in a year but he'd old for his level so who knows what is happening there, Stewart is probably nothing. None of that likely impacts next 2 years.

And yes, lefty relievers is what I mean, and that's assuming they get two longterm starters out of Rogers, Luzardo, Eder, and Garrett (a solid bet today). They need some high end options and some general depth for sure.

Velez is old for the level, but this is his first year of professional ball because of Covid, so I think it's a little unfair to use that against him. In a normal year he'd be a 6th round pick who was available because he's a Senior, and has kicked ass since he's been in the minors. Instead of an undrafted free agent since there was only 5 rounds.

[Lee Stone]

I cried all over these pages when Vesia was dealt, having had the gall to put him in my top ten list of Marlin prospects! Dodgers picked our pocket.

Real trade proposals get fans angry and riled. So, Alcantara and Burdick or Bleday for catching prospect/phenom Gabriel Moreno (with Jays). Toronto may have entertained that prior to the deadline.

Pablo and the other of Bleday or Burdick for CJ Abrams.

[Nick]

I'd try to keep Sandy at all costs. His durability might be his biggest asset. Without him, you're going into 2022 with a lot of guys who have not proven they can handle even close to a full season of innings.

[fish16]

I'd try to keep Sandy at all costs. His durability might be his biggest asset. Without him, you're going into 2022 with a lot of guys who have not proven they can handle even close to a full season of innings.

same. Sandy is an extension guy, not a trade guy under almost any circumstances. The innings eating is something we cant count on from any one else.

[lou]

Velez is old for the level, but this is his first year of professional ball because of Covid, so I think it's a little unfair to use that against him. In a normal year he'd be a 6th round pick who was available because he's a Senior, and has kicked ass since he's been in the minors. Instead of an undrafted free agent since there was only 5 rounds.

fair, but we'll see. I think they need 2-3 more upper level lefties, and at least "1" premium draft pick (top 3 picks) or top free agent signing (absent breakout performers, etc.)

[lou]

I cried all over these pages when Vesia was dealt, having had the gall to put him in my top ten list of Marlin prospects! Dodgers picked our pocket.

Real trade proposals get fans angry and riled. So, Alcantara and Burdick or Bleday for catching prospect/phenom Gabriel Moreno (with Jays). Toronto may have entertained that prior to the deadline.

Pablo and the other of Bleday or Burdick for CJ Abrams.

I think I'd rather have Vesia too, but Floro has been a 1 WAR reliever, and Vesia .2. Granted, Floro has double the innings and has more experience, but Floro is really good. Saying they picked our pocket is a big stretch. Floro has been excellent for the Marlins.

Oh and that's insane to trade Sandy and Pablo. They do need at least one of them. One of them they can live without (likely Pablo), and certainly a non-Bleday and Sanchez (and dare I say Brinson?) outfielder can be included.

[Nick]

fair, but we'll see. I think they need 2-3 more upper level lefties, and at least "1" premium draft pick (top 3 picks) or top free agent signing (absent breakout performers, etc.)

I don't know, you could have a situation as early as next year where both Eder and Luzardo are ready and you send 1 of the 2 to the pen as a backend guy. Have 2 lefties in the rotation and maybe you trade for another Bleier type at the deadline and you're set.

[rmc523]

I'd try to keep Sandy at all costs. His durability might be his biggest asset. Without him, you're going into 2022 with a lot of guys who have not proven they can handle even close to a full season of innings.

I have to agree. That’s why I wanted to sign a vet arm in the off-season for innings and injury protection after a short season

[Namaste]

Braxton Garrett stinks

[Namaste]

I feel like the Marlins really bombed their 1st selection of the 2016 draft -or was his velocity like 4-5 mph faster?-