The Marlins selected the contracts of Anthony Maldonado and Victor Mesa Jr. ahead of the Rule 5 deadline, the team announced to reporters (including Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald). These moves leave the team with three open spots remaining on the 40-man roster.
Maldonado, 25, could pitch for Miami at some point next season. The right-handed reliever had a strong year at Triple-A in 2023, pitching 46 innings with a 1.76 ERA, nine saves, and a 39.4% strikeout rate. Those are promising numbers indeed, although it’s much harder to miss bats in the majors than it is at Triple-A, so Maldonado still has his work cut out for him to prove that he’s ready for a bigger role. Nonetheless, the Marlins clearly like what they have seen enough to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Mesa, 22, isn’t as close to being ready for the majors, but with his quick legs and strong defense in center field, another club certainly could’ve picked him up and stashed him on their active roster in 2024. Miami’s No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, his glove and contact skills give him a high floor, while his power potential gives him a high ceiling, especially if he can stick in center field as he ages.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Marlins chose not to protect Troy Johnston. The 26-year-old lefty batter had a phenomenal season in 2023, batting .307 and slugging 26 home runs in 134 games between Double- and Triple-A. However, given his age and position – he is a first baseman who can cover an outfield corner in a pinch – Johnston really needs to hit in order to stick on a major league roster. That’s precisely what he did last season, but he has yet to prove he can do so consistently at the highest level. Moreover, the Marlins already have Josh Bell plugged in at first base, and they’re hoping to bring back Jorge Soler at DH. Evidently, they decided they did not have room for Johnston on the major league roster.