The Marlins are among the teams pursuing free agent outfielder Avisail Garcia, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). But they’re only one of “many” interested organizations, per Heyman.
In our top 50 free agent ranking, we predicted that Garcia would end up with the Miami organization. But we didn’t see an exceptionally strong market developing for his services. While Garcia has some real positives working in his favor, he has some limitations and there aren’t all that many teams with obvious need in the corner outfield.
The real question is whether multiple teams will dream on Garcia’s skillset. Over the past three years, he’s a .288/.337/.473 hitter over 1,476 plate appearances. That’s substantially above average. Garcia graded as a high-quality performer in the field and has exceptional speed — not that you’d necessarily know it from his work on the bases. (Fangraphs grades him a -3.5 run runner.)
You can also focus on the negatives if you prefer. Garcia doesn’t hit a lot of home runs and doesn’t walk much. Instead, he’s highly reliant on his hard contact finding gaps. He sported a .392 BABIP in his productive 2017 season but dipped to .271 in a down 2018 effort.
As Heyman notes, some teams may well see greater value in Garcia than the other top right-handed-hitting corner options. Marcell Ozuna and Nicholas Castellanos will presumably seek a fair bit more money, but neither is overwhelmingly better than Garcia. Yasiel Puig is also an option, but some organizations may not have interest in his hijinks. (The Marlins seem like a great fit for Puig but for his rocky history with manager Don Mattingly.)
Marlins also interested in Cole and Stras.
And Madbum and Wheeler and Rendon
And Jeter and Rivera and Pasada
It gets old…
I’ll believe it when it happens. It would have to be a huge overpay since this team is horrible. No decent player who wants to play for a winning club is going to play for Jeter’s penny pinching Marlins. Their should be a couple teams eliminated from MLB to make competition better and this is one of them.
2 World Series wins since 97.
The Marlins got -3.3 WAR from the LF position last season, so most any free agent will offer improvement.
It’s going to be interesting to see what bat the Marlins add this offseason.
I wonder, if the corner OF market is empty, and Puig is the last one standing, would the Marlins and Mattingly be willing to do it if he can be had for a very low price for his skill-set?
With the large Cuban influence on the White Sox, and quality vets like Abreu and Yas, if I’m Puig’s agent I beg the Sox to take a 1yr flyer on him and see how he responds. Yas bet on himself last year. He made a killing.
I like it – one year Puig with the good guys
Imagine if the Marlins brought back Ozuna, lol.
Not impossible. He enjoyed playing for Miami. But his price will be too high for the Marlins liking (5 years 100 million plus I think is what Ozuna gets).
not happen the market is 4 years 45 million . team are only offering 3 years
I like puig to miami. His hijinks might be the only thing talked about next year.
me no right now . unless he play some firs base
He would be an excellent fit for Miami. Good speed, good hitter, and wouldn’t be a major overpay. Could see him wanting to come because he moved to TB Rays to be closer to family in Miami.
3 years, 40 million guaranteed for Avisail with the 3rd year being a player option. Gives him the option to opt out again at a relatively young age, in the case he builds on what he’s done on last year, and wouldn’t clog up payroll space.
Considering that he made $2.5 million last year, $40 million would be an insane overpay that will never happen.
I’d like Puig or Garcia. I’m skeptical of Castellanos because of his defense. Yes Garcia’s defense isn’t so great either, but I’d assume Garcia could be had for 1-3 years, and Castellanos would take probably 4 years minimum.
Castellanos is a better defender than Garcia – if for no other reason, he actually will run after a ball and attempt a catch.
Fair. But Garcia could be flipped at the deadline this year or the year after. Can’t flip Castellanos if he signs long term. He’s probably going to end up at 1st base. And I’m not sure if they’d want that if Cooper is there. Cooper could always regress, or can simply be traded though
Can’t wait for Monte Harrison and Jesus Sanchez to come up. Austin Dean probably cracks the roster as a 5th OF. Magneuris Sierra is probably opening day CF, but could be bumped to the 4th OF role once Harrison is promoted. The same can be true about Harold Ramirez, once Sanchez is promoted. I would give Brinson once last shot, with everyday playing time. If he doesn’t show anything, release him with the promotion of either Harrison or Sanchez. Either way, I like the future outlook of the Marlins OF.
Lets not forget about the biggest jewel of Bleday and, to lesser extent but just as intriguing, Misner.
I would like to see Avisail Garcia return to the Chicago White Sox. He would have been helpful as the White Sox Rightfielder in 2019. I know the White Sox would prefer to add a left handed hitteri n right field.
I would have been helpful for the White Sox in 2019.
return to rays
Prince Fielder’s wife was heavily reliant on Garcia’s hard contactvrate as well.
I never heard about that. Just looked it up. Pretty wild…
Probably trying to fill RF hole with Garcia. Think that Kole Calhoun could also be an option and probably a cheaper one.
Garcia was filling the hole left by Prince Fielder….
I think you have your teams mixed up. Fielder retired from the Rangers. Avisail García never played for TEX.
I think you are mistaken.
Fielder retired from the Rangers and Garcia has never played for TEX
still dont know why Victor Victor Mesa not being call up?
Mesa’s speed and defense are big-league ready right now. He’s a well above-average runner with the savvy to steal bases and he chases down balls from gap to gap in center field. Few players at his position can match his arm strength, which earns double-plus grades from some evaluators.
marlins need is one starting pitching and infield first
Avisail Garcia, like to have