The Marlins are known to be looking for shortstop help and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic relays today that they are considering names such as Tim Anderson, Amed Rosario, Nick Ahmed and Adalberto Mondesí. Their interest in Mondesí was reported last week but the other three are new connections for the Fish.
That the club is looking for shortstop help is perfectly logical, as their internal options are not great. Joey Wendle got most of the playing time there last year, but he reached free agency and signed with the Mets this offseason. They still have Jon Berti, but he’s now 34 years old and best suited to a utility role. Jacob Amaya is a glove-first guy who still has an option and can be kept in the minors for regular at-bats. Xavier Edwards only played four games at short in the minors last year, spending far more time at second, third and center field. Like Amaya, he’s also optionable. Vidal Bruján has always hit well in the minors but just .157/.218/.221 in the majors. He’s out of options but probably shouldn’t be the club’s Plan A at such an important position.
But now we’re just about a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training with the position still looking like an area of the roster that obviously needs work. Part of that seems to be due to new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix taking his time in getting to know the organization. The club still hasn’t signed a free agent to a major league deal this winter, regardless of position, with their offseason work limited to a few small trades and minor league deals.
The lack of activity might also be attributed to the weak free agent class at the position. While past winters have featured superstar free agents like Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and others, the top names for the current offseason were those mentioned at the top of this post.
Anderson and Rosario are both coming off down years, with their respective markets surely impacted. Anderson hit just .245/.286/.296 on the year for a wRC+ of 60, the worst such mark of any qualified hitter last year. Rosario’s .263/.305/.378 line wasn’t quite as bad, 88 wRC+, but still well below league average. Both of them also saw their defensive metrics slide a bit, with Rosario largely kept at second base by the Dodgers after a deadline trade. Anderson, meanwhile, expressed a willingness to move across the bag if that’s necessary for his next club.
Both players could point to better results in previous seasons. Anderson hit .318/.347/.473 from 2019 to 2022 for a wRC+ of 123, with better defensive marks as well. Rosario’s slash for that same four-year period was .282/.315/.412, translating to a wRC+ of 101. If the Marlins were looking for reasons to expect a bounceback, perhaps Anderson’s knee injury could give them some hope. He went on the injured list in the second week of April due to a left knee sprain and perhaps was never himself, despite returning from the IL after only about three weeks. Last year’s 27.2 mph sprint speed was a big drop from 2022’s 28.3 mph, moving him from the 77th to the 45th percentile in the league. Rosario wouldn’t have any excuse like that, not going on the IL all year, but he did deal with some back soreness and knee soreness during the season and his offensive drop wasn’t nearly as steep.
Ahmed would be a different type of pursuit as he’s an excellent defender but has never really been a threat at the plate. He has 80 Defensive Runs Saved and 111 Outs Above Average in his career, but he’s hit just .234/.288/.376 for a wRC+ of 73. That was already subpar offensive production but his work at the plate slipped even farther in 2023, as he hit .212/.257/.303 and was released by the Diamondbacks in September.
If the Marlins decide that any of these players are worth a flier, they should be able to get something done. None of them should be able to command a massive deal, given their weak platform seasons. The fact that they remain unsigned this close to Spring Training probably doesn’t give them much leverage either. The club’s quiet offseason has left them with a projected payroll of $97MM, per Roster Resource, a decent drop from last year’s $110MM figure.
Rosario reportedly received interest from the Red Sox and Blue Jays this winter, though that was before the Sox added Vaughn Grissom and the Jays added Justin Turner. Anderson has been connected to the Angels while Ahmed’s market has been fairly quiet since his release.
Luzardo for Kim plus prospects
Doubt Padres want that. They’ll probably trade him for more cost controlled pieces with 4+ years of control.
Marlins don’t want or need a 1 year rental.
Yeah Kim doesn’t make sense for the marlins. They want a controlled guy, it would be Merrill or nobody.
At this point I don’t really see the padres making any moves that bring in guys that are going to cost more. Look for low budget and I mean low or trades for very low budget guys. Which I don’t see either since they will just play their prospects.
A Merrile for Luzardo deal of some sort could certainly make sense for both teams.
Are the Padres going to fill out the back half of that roster? I’m typically very supportive of patience but they have a lot of clear and obvious holes
@BrianStrowman. Good question! Kim, Tatis, Machado, Bogaerts, Campusano and Cronenworth are set of course. Leaving two OFs and a DH/1B type option still open. I have to believe there will be at least one trade or low-level FA signing. Interviews in past few days of Padre FO/manager suggests they will go into ST with an internal competition for several positions, including the OF positions. Azocar, Marsee, Merrill (if he were to play OF), Pauley, and others – Mecardo, Mitchell, Johnson. Same goes for the remaining 2-3 SP voids, they’re trying to work Vasquez and Brito into SPs, and have them compete with Avila, Waldron, Groome, and maybe Snelling and Iriarte for the rotation. In my opinion, if they truly want to compete and they can only afford one major acquisition this off season, it should be a front-line SP. Then hope for the best in the OF/DH. Until then, with the questions surrounding the health of Darvish and Musgrove, it’s hard to be too optimistic that this is a playoff team.
More major-league familiar free agent signings and less “controllable” cheapskate minor-league deals! Can I get an “Amen” over here?
Marlins don’t want Kim Ng back
Amaya deserves a shot
-an fairly disinterested observer
*a fairly disinterested observer
-The grammar police
Rosario please! 1 year 7 million should get it done.
Not even worth bringing in Ahmed or Mondesi. I don’t like TA because of his attitude.
The Marlins probably sign Rosario, although Tim is an option too, just see a higher chance for Rosario.
The Orioles still have a glut of infielders.
I would love to see a Brooks Lee-Jesus Luzardo trade here.
Brooks Lee would need to be packaged with other talent to get Luzardo. Probably have to add in a guy like Emmanuel Rodriguez and David Festa. It’d be a haul.
I like the idea of another Marlins Twins trade. Both teams should be happy from the last trade they made with each other. Garrett makes sense too. Lee, Gonzalez and Austin Martin for Garrett trade simulator likes that proposal.
Pretty sure the Marlins are going to want a pitching prospect back in a deal for Garrett or Luzardo.
The Marlins are stacked with pitching. Alcantara is out for 2024 but he will be back next year. They drafted 2 stud high school pitchers last year. What they really need is a shortstop and a catcher. And outfield help that is a couple years away like Gonzalez would make sense too.
Luzardo plus lower prospects for ML ready SS Merrill, C Brandon Valenzuela, OF Zavala. 2 MLB top 100 prospects and a stud C prospect
Valenzuela certainly would be a good fit for the Marlins. Yeah that deal makes sense. If Padres want 5 years of control instead of 3 Garrettt could make sense instead of Luzardo. Little less upside but good player.
Crawford incoming…
I would like Amaya to win the starting shortstop job for the Marlins, Berti backing him up and Ahmed signed to a minors contract. I think that would fit the Marlin’s budget.
You Marlins fans aim for the moon.
Cubs trade Nico Hoerner to Fish for Luzardo. Hoerner proved he could play SS at a high level before Dansby was signed.
Do know the going rate these days for young, cost-controlled pitching? It would take 5 Nico Hoerners to obtain Luzardo.
At this point, Marlins should float a $4 million offer with $2M in incentives and a CLUB option for 2025 to Rosario and Anderson, first one to take it, gets it. I don’t think either is going to beat that so they’re incented to sign.
And quite frankly, if I were the Marlins, given what they got out of Wendle last year, if TA and Rosario say no, I’d go with what they have internally. There’s a good chance one of them will still be hanging around in three weeks if you decide your internal options aren’t good enough.
The game of musical chairs is coming to a halt soon, and anyone without a seat is going to be left watching spring training from the outside. Most teams have already either finished their shopping or finished their spending.
Baez, Jung, Rogers and some good A ball pitchers for Arraez and Avisail Garcia.
Nobody wants Javy. And I’m a Cubs fan who used to be a BIG fan.
Nobody want Avisail either. At least Javy is drill good defensively with potential for offense…maybe
Baez is one of the worst contracts in baseball right now. Just to take Baez, the Tigers would have to give a team Skubal.and Torkleson for a PTBNL.
Overstating it big time, but I get your point. Bad contract (Baez) for bad contract (Garcia) and the Tigers are in a position to eat some cash to facilitate a trade. Problem with that us the Tigers have no replacement for Baez unless they promote unproven Eddys Leonard or make another trade.
Baez is too expensive for the Marlins, and the younger MR I has shown no willingness to eat money. And why would the Tigers trade their starting C? Colt Keith is pencilled into 2B due to his arm Injury, and Arraez is not a 3B. Just not one of your better proposals.
Keith is penciled in this year for 2B not penned in. Arraez can play 2B, Keith can get reps at 3B and some DH after Greene heals up. You just said this week they should move him back once he’s recovered (which I agree with if his gun of an arm is fine). Arraez is a huge upgrade to the lineup.
Rogers has had one decent year and i like him, but he is not and will never be Johnny Bench. Kelly is projected to have a better year with the stick overall. There’s a bunch of catchers on the Tigers top 30 prospects but I don’t see a clear future star/starter. Dingler looks like a backup, Briceno looks okay on offense, Alfonzo? I like the sound of the kid they drafted this year and signed for $400’000 (Cernowyk?). Go get a blocked future start like Parada or even Cartaya.
@Motor City Beach Bum
Good luck with Baez’s contract.
Oh it’s underwater big time. The only contract worse is Kris Bryant’s.
Willy Adames
Don’t forget Joey Wiemer. Package deal for some pitching.
I know he is a head case, bad fielder, injury prone, and coming off a brutal year, but I think some team might do well to give Tim Anderson a cheap flier. He hit .300 for 4 straight years prior to last. Maybe his best years are behind him, but I highly doubt he has nothing left. He’s a damn good hitter when he’s right, and would be good depth for some team if nothing else.
I agree with what you wrote Augustine but his defense at shortstop is poor. If the Marlins know they can improve his defense while hoping his bat comes back, I would agree that the Marlins should take a flyer on him.
Realistically he is always going to be a bad fielder, and only valuable if he is killing it at the plate. He’s had several 3-4 WAR seasons in spite of being basically bad in the field, so he has to hit well to be worth it. But when he hits well, it more than makes up for his fielding.
I disagree but I lean strong to my middle infielders needing to be good defensively. Hopefully they can hit, too.
A MiLB contract is fine… but a team aiming for the playoffs can’t rely on Anderson.
Luzardo for Thorpe (SD 6, MLB 85), SS/3B Eguy Rosario (SD 16) stud C Brandon Valenzuela (SD 10), highly regarded SS Rosman Verdugo (SD 21).
Merrill. The Padres don’t need him anyways.
Deal! J. Merrill and Valenzuela for Luz ( though I doubt Pads will actually trade Merrill or take on more salary in 2024). They seem to have the trade pieces to make the fish happy, but $ don’t add up.
Garrett makes league minimum. Merrill for Garrettt 1 for 1.
If I were SS-loving Preller (and I’m not) I like Garrett a lot but not as much as Merrill, Maybe Garrett for Valenzuela and Zavala?
Toss in a lifetime supply of albacore?
Garrett has 5 years of control left. Merrill might be good but he’s unproven Garrett is proving he’s at least a number 3 maybe a number 2. Include the catcher and Padres get something back perhaps an outfielder the Padres need a couple of those.
At least two OFs, send two
Edwards took a major step forward at AAA last season. Let the kid play.
He did and yes but the Marlins didn’t play him at shortstop when they brought him up last year.
While true, he does have minor league experience at the position. The free agent options are putrid and the Marlins have little prospect capital to trade, leaving them in a tough place. They might be better off bringing in a Merrifield or Solano at second and auditioning the others at second
*Auditioning the others at short, pardon me.
They have Arraez at second. Maybe go into the season with Edwards and Amaya sharing shortstop and one ends up taking it.
Totally forgot Burger is at third and Arraez is at second. I do believe they should go with their internal options. A weak farm and tight budget really limit their choices.
Pardon accepted, dankyank. 🙂 Not fighting with you or saying you’re wrong. Just trying to think how the Marlins will address shortstop in 2024 with their resources. 26 man rosters with half being pitchers and 9 in the line up only gives 4 bench players. Berti, Edwards and Bruján offer flexibility but then there’s the b/u catcher. I like Solano but I do not see how he would fit onto the roster.
Agree with you on that statement, dankyank. 🙂
Edwards is not a SS. He’s a second baseman
Edwards plays multiple positions. Milb.com, mlb.com and baseball reference all list him as at least shortstop.
True but stretch123 is correct. Shortstop has not been his primary position coming up. Not saying he cannot play it but to thrust him into it as his primary position in the major leagues would be asking a lot.
I agree. I also think they should give him at least a short run. They could start him in a timeshare with Berti. From what I understand, the concern is arm strength, not range or glove work.
If they wanted an upgrade via trade, Ramon Urias is probably the only option within their budget, at least judging by the rest of their off-season acquisitions.
Based on what I think the Marlin’s resources are, I would have no problem if they went into 2024 with an Amaya, Berti, Edwards timeshare at shortstop. I would like to see Amaya perform well and be the primary of the three.
Of all of them, Ahmed’s the only one I trust to reliably man shortstop.
Why are they discounting Brujan? The lack of options is the only reason they present, but if he holds his own with the bat, the option would be irrelevant. What current option from outside the team is likely to be unavailable if Brujan disappoints? I don’t see a line forming for any of these guys.
/used car voice
Alright Marlins, what do I have to do to get you into a Jorge Mateo?
Pump them up with a lot of halucigens? 🙂
Get it’s (his) bat to purr like an Alfa Romeo.
I don’t want the O’s to move Mateo. He’s a perfect bench player for the O’s in October.
Nobody you’d want more to swipe a bag or come play good D off the bench. Ortiz could’ve been great (but wasted) in that role but we obviously cashed that in for much more.
I used to think that way of Mateo (IE untouchable) until watching Henderson get more and more comfortable playing SS in 23. I think he’s ready for the grind and moving Jorge gives Birds opportunity to get reps for that young core of talent around the infield grass when resting Gunnar at DH or during straight off time.
does adames and wiemer or quero get luzardo?
I do not think so but not a disagreeable foundation to build on if both teams are interested.
Nope.
I think Marlins and Twins should work out s trade. Luzardo or Garrett could really get us where we need to be…
The Tigers can give you all of their infielders, save 1st baseman, and a centerfielder for ?
Crawford for year until something opens up next year
Oh how Javy Baez’ light has faded!
Willy Adames would put butts in the seats. His stock is as low as it’s gonna get right now. He’s due for a bounce back season.
The only team that hasn’t done squat all off season.
Bichette (2 years of control) for Lizards 3 years plus $ to cover Bo’s greater salary. Perfect stop gap until Francos issues settle in DR. TB needs pitching and will move him or Caminero (mlb 6th ranked prospect.) I suspect Bendix is going to make a few big deals soon. Avi remains a HUGE problem. Sigh….
Yeah, no. But Santiago Espinal could be had.
Think they should sign Anderson one year deal see if he bounces back. If he does flip him at the trade deadline for prospects and give the prospects a chance. This teams going nowhere this year with this roster.
Excuse me Mr Cashman, I know You’re a very busy man but can you please pick up the damn phone
Oswald Peraza plus Some low minor high upside prospects Might get us to the promised land if Jesus
O’s put the floor in on what that might look like:
Peraza is somewhere close to Joey Ortiz in value. You’d need a Drew Thorpe type to equal DL Hall plus value equivalent to the #34 draft choice. At least for years of Luzardo’s control.
DamanCash
I will see you Oswald Peraza as your everyday SS but I will add onto this trade one “Michael” GianCarlo Stanton with a $35 mill check attached to bring his salary down and one top pitching prospect in Will Warren for Jesus Lazardo and a low minor league level but high upside prospect.
The Marlins need to increase there salary payroll and they need to improve their offense. They will need a DH and bringing back a home favorite who is in the best shape he’s been since he’s been a Yankee makes allot of sense for a team who wants to contend and could maybe get more out of Stanton.
Call the Os on Mateo.
“Meanwhile” cannot come in the middle of sentence, set off by commas—it has to START the sentence.