The Marlins announced that left-hander Ross Detwiler has been designated for assignment. The move opens up space for Eddy Alvarez to join Miami’s roster for the first time this season, as the infielder’s contract has been selected from Triple-A Jacksonville.
After working as a low-strikeout, groundball specialist for his first 12 Major League seasons, Detwiler flipped the script in 2021 after inking a one-year deal with Miami last winter. Detwiler’s increased use of a slider has elevated his strikeout rate to 28% over 45 1/3 frames for the Marlins, exactly double the 14% strikeout rate he carried over the rest of his career. Detwiler’s grounder rate has also dropped to 39.7% (from 47% prior to 2020).
Unfortunately for Detwiler, he hasn’t had much luck this season. While he has a 3.38 SIERA and .299 xwOBA, his actual ERA (4.96) and wOBA (.328) are much less flattering. He has worked almost entirely as a relief pitcher this season while making five “starts” as an opener, and two of those outings were responsible for much of the damage to Detwiler’s ERA. If you subtract the 3 2/3 innings and 13 runs allowed over those two rough starts (July 7 against the Dodgers and July 19 against the Nationals), Detwiler has a 2.59 ERA over his remaining 41 2/3 innings of work.
Given this overall solid track record, it is a little surprising to see Detwiler hit the DFA wire, though the Marlins might simply want to give some opportunity to younger pitchers. It seems quite possible that another club (perhaps a contender looking for left-handed relief depth) will claim Detwiler away from Miami. Detwiler wouldn’t be eligible for postseason play since he would be joining a new team after August 31, though he could certainly help a team on the bubble get into the playoffs.
A waiver claim would mean absorbing the approximately $108K remaining on Detwiler’s original $850K salary for the season, but that is hardly a hefty sum to add to a payroll, unless a team is in a major luxury tax crunch. If Detwiler isn’t claimed, he has the right to reject an outright assignment from the Marlins and choose free agency.
Alvarez made his MLB debut last season, appearing in 12 games with his hometown Marlins and hitting .189/.268/.216 over 41 plate appearances. Perhaps best known for his two-sport exploits, Alvarez was an accomplished speed skater who won a silver medal as part of the U.S. 5000m relay team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Alvarez compounded that success by winning a silver medal as a member of the American baseball team at this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo, making him just the sixth athlete in history to capture medals in different sports at both the Winter and Summer Games.
birdsfan415
let’s go Eddy!
DarkSide830
Eddy Alvarez, he who is now a dual Olympic medalist
Bob333
The Phillies should pick up Detwiller they can not do anything to this guy who actually is not very good but they could put him in the minors so they don’t need to face him at the end of the season.
tstats
Not deven???
Monkey’s Uncle
Detwiler was “Deven Marrero’ed” instead.
tstats
Speaking of which… Detwiler has been Deven Marreroed
MarlinsFanBase
Deven was DFA’d earlier for Williams. So, Deven Marrero was already Deven Marrero’ed.
Monkey’s Uncle
I’m convinced that Detwiler is 106 years old. He’s been around so long that I wouldn’t be surprised if Babe Ruth hit a homer off of him.
GONEcarlo
Heck ya Eddy!
Canosucks
Hope the Met’s grab Detwiler; btw where is “Marlins Fan Base” does he only post on Met’s threads and not his beloved Marlins?
marcfrombrooklyn
“Met’s”?????
tstats
Oh it’s a small autocorrect typo. Chill out
MarlinsFanBase
Look who’s back! Welcome back @Canosucks. Where are the rest of your fan base that bailed on the team once the Mets fell? @WhyNot? The rest of the fly-by-nighters that came out of the woodworks for the first few months this year?
bryan c
Brandon Nimmo stole my lunch money and mom said I can’t have anymore. He is at best a ninth outfielder. Also Jonathan Villar is cancer because he didn’t make the Marlins a champion . The Marlins and their fantastic 55 wins are so awesome and the bestest team ever especially compared to the Mets.
Because Marlins Fan Base never posts on threads about his/(probably)her team, I thought I would give a shot.
Canosucks
Thanks!! LMAO
MetsFan22
People are going to think you’re my 2nd account lol. #allfacts
tstats
Please don’t hashtag again, it’s just wrong
MarlinsFanBase
@MetsFan22
No, we know these guys are not you. For what it’s worth, unlike them, you actually stuck with your Mets when they team fell. These guys were among the many that were absent.
#FandomWhenWe’reInFirst
#TooBusyForFandomWhenWeFall
MarlinsFanBase
Serious stuff though Mets “fans”.
Is Anthony Bass your team MVP yet or does he still need to help your team win more games?
MarlinsFanBase
Welcome back @bryan c. We’ve been missing you Mets fans since you all bailed during the Mets fall. I guess recent play has made it comfortable for you all to start coming back. When will @WhyNot come back?
MarlinsFanBase
BTW, not every team can be as good as the 95 to 103 win Mets.
CluHaywood
If they just want a look at younger arms, holding on to him past Sept 1st is such a classless move by the Marlins FO. If he goes anywhere, it will be to a team in a division fight, and one likely expecting someone back around the playoffs. Dodgers haven’t claimed anyone in a few days…
tstats
Just you wait… it’s time to lose some reliever… but he will be gone if/when Danny Duffy decides to pitch again
Dorothy_Mantooth
They are looking at younger arms by calling up a 31 year old middle infielder? LOL. Happy for Eddy though.
MarlinsFanBase
That’s just because he’s a local guy, so it’s sort of a parade for his Olympic achievements while at the ballpark. We’re not going anywhere and it seems that Jon Berti is done for the year, so it doesn’t hurt us.
I personally would like Lewin Diaz in. Perhaps DFA Panik for that move. I’d like to see if Lewin is ready or if we’re going to need another 1B/DH bat for next year.
FletcherFan66
Dangit Detweiler was my Cy Young pick
MarlinsFanBase
Anthony Bass is still here. He’s my vote for MVP. He’s helped more teams win games than any other reliever. Of course, among the many teams he’s helped win games this year, none of those teams are the Marlins.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Detweiler to the Red Sox. They could use him in their upcoming series against the White Sox and Mariners. These two series could very well determine Boston’s playoff fate. It’s not looking good for them right now.
MarlinsFanBase
Marlins DFA’d the wrong reliever. I know that Detwiler is gone after this year anyway, and that Anthony Bass has a contract for next year, but everyone knows that Anthony Bass is the one who should’ve been DFA’d. Who cares about the money. He’s the type of guy you pay to go away.