The Marlins have released outfielder Justin Maxwell and infielder Don Kelly, as MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports (Twitter links). Both were in camp on minor league deals.
Mawell had exercised an opt-out clause, and obviously Miami was not willing to add him to the 40-man. His deal would have paid him $1.1MM at the major league level. The 32-year-old had an early-season renaissance with the Giants last year, but ultimately produced at just a .209/.275/.341 clip in his 274 plate appearances on the season.
Kelly, meanwhile, was an Article XX(B) free agent and thus would’ve been due a $100K roster bonus had he been kept in the minors. Now 36, Kelly took just one major league plate appearance last year, though he did make a big league showing for the seventh consecutive season. The glove-first infielder also only managed to suit up for a dozen minor league games with the Miami organization in 2015.
Tigers need Kelly
Would much rather have him than Mike Aviles. Come back home Don! If he retires hopefully he Tigers offer him a job. Minor league bench coach maybe? Leyland always said he’d be a good manager.
Please calm down. Don Kelly unlike wine and antiques, will not become more valuable with age, I always thought that his presence with the Tigers was due to being a favorite of the manager.