1
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:26,160
Speaker 1: Happy holidays.

2
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,200
Speaker 2: Thanks for taking a breather from all the seasonal events

3
00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,040
Speaker 2: and other stuff to listen to some Miami Marlins talk

4
00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,000
Speaker 2: with me. Or if you're sitting around friends and family

5
00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,000
Speaker 2: right now and playing the podcast on speaker for them, Hey,

6
00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,760
Speaker 2: that's awesome. Tell Auntie Lisette I said, what's up. This

7
00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,199
Speaker 2: is Eli Susman, managing editor of fish Stripes with a

8
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,400
Speaker 2: new fish Bites podcast. Subscribe to us on your preferred

9
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,960
Speaker 2: pod platform, or catch up on everything at fish stripes

10
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:57,320
Speaker 2: dot com. The Marlins officially signed ten free agentsies past week,

11
00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,680
Speaker 2: the only major league one of those. He is a

12
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,000
Speaker 2: twenty nine year old Dominican right hander Jimmy Garcia, mostly

13
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,400
Speaker 2: known for pitching for the Dodgers at the major league

14
00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,959
Speaker 2: level in the past handful of years. He gets a

15
00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,760
Speaker 2: one point one million dollar guarantee from the Marlins, with

16
00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,720
Speaker 2: another two hundred thousand dollars available in performance bonuses based

17
00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,480
Speaker 2: on how many games he pitched, so max is out

18
00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,640
Speaker 2: at potentially one point three million dollars, and it is

19
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,080
Speaker 2: the first major league off season free agent signing for

20
00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,720
Speaker 2: the Marlins so far. From that standpoint, it is a

21
00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,240
Speaker 2: significant step, even if it is just a one ending

22
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,840
Speaker 2: at a time reliever who's had some issues with the

23
00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,319
Speaker 2: long ball in the past. Garcia is someone that rates

24
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,199
Speaker 2: extremely well if you look at stat cast and other

25
00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,400
Speaker 2: next level stats. The conventional stats are pretty good, but

26
00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,520
Speaker 2: if you look at his above average fastball velocity, his

27
00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,440
Speaker 2: way above average fastball spin rate, as well as what

28
00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,000
Speaker 2: he does with his slider to create swings and misses,

29
00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,280
Speaker 2: and the fact that he is so precise with his

30
00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,360
Speaker 2: command or not always precisely is precise as a strike thrower,

31
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,080
Speaker 2: a very consistent strike thrower with good control. So I

32
00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,359
Speaker 2: should distinguish between the control and the command, and it's

33
00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,800
Speaker 2: really the latter that is the big question moving forward.

34
00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,920
Speaker 2: Can he keep his pitches out in the middle of

35
00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,280
Speaker 2: the plate. Can you work around the edges while still

36
00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,560
Speaker 2: getting ahead in the count reliably? All that is waing

37
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,320
Speaker 2: to be seen if Marlins like what they get with him.

38
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,280
Speaker 2: He is arbitration eligible for the twenty twenty one season

39
00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,800
Speaker 2: as well. Just relatively low risk signing, but one that

40
00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,840
Speaker 2: is very dearly needed for the Marlins considering how poor

41
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,760
Speaker 2: their bullpen was, especially towards the end of the twenty

42
00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,040
Speaker 2: nineteen season. But this first big segment of this podcast

43
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,320
Speaker 2: episode is going to focus on the other guys, the

44
00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,160
Speaker 2: nine other minor league free agents that they signed. They

45
00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:53,119
Speaker 2: were what you would call non roster invitees to Major

46
00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,280
Speaker 2: league spring training. All those were announced just a few

47
00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,320
Speaker 2: days ago, addressing a handful of different positions. Those guys

48
00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:05,480
Speaker 2: receive a very very modest signing bonus, and those haven't

49
00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,520
Speaker 2: been reported yet, But these minor league deals, I think

50
00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,880
Speaker 2: I'm with very modest bonuses for these guys, considering you

51
00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,840
Speaker 2: don't get a set salary during spring training and all that.

52
00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,760
Speaker 2: These guys really have to prove themselves in spring training

53
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,760
Speaker 2: every year. I did feel they were worth discussing though,

54
00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,079
Speaker 2: because if you look at the success that the Marlins

55
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,240
Speaker 2: had last year with their non roster invitees, two of

56
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:31,200
Speaker 2: those being John Birdie and Harold Ramirez. And Harold especially

57
00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,080
Speaker 2: during that first third first half of the season, and

58
00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,560
Speaker 2: then John Birdie especially during the second half of the season.

59
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,600
Speaker 2: Those guys were two of the most important players on

60
00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,480
Speaker 2: the major league team when we got to certain points

61
00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,080
Speaker 2: of the season, and both of them figured to fit

62
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,640
Speaker 2: prominently into the team's plans moving forward. So now that

63
00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,760
Speaker 2: there's a new wave coming in and this is just

64
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,360
Speaker 2: the first wave of twenty twenty. You should expect some

65
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,280
Speaker 2: more minor league signings later in the offseason as we

66
00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,680
Speaker 2: get closer, just to make sure that you have solid

67
00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,120
Speaker 2: depth at every single position. But these first nine guys

68
00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,720
Speaker 2: that we're about to go through one by one, considering

69
00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:11,920
Speaker 2: that the expectations for each individual should be relatively low,

70
00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,800
Speaker 2: but as a group, these are guys that do have

71
00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,360
Speaker 2: a realistic shot, well a few of them do have

72
00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,400
Speaker 2: realistic shots of actually impacting the Marlins at the major

73
00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,320
Speaker 2: league level both in twenty twenty, and if they are

74
00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,000
Speaker 2: able to do that, then they could figure into the

75
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,840
Speaker 2: long term plans as well. After introducing each of these

76
00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,360
Speaker 2: nine guys, I will give you my updated Marlins opening

77
00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,080
Speaker 2: day roster projection. Now we know pretty reliably that the

78
00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,120
Speaker 2: team is still calling around looking to make a couple

79
00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,760
Speaker 2: additions more to the roster outside of these signings, and

80
00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:45,800
Speaker 2: that the roster isn't yet complete, and that's going to

81
00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,000
Speaker 2: be baked into my projection as well. Remember that rosters

82
00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:51,960
Speaker 2: for the active rosters expand from twenty five guys to

83
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,159
Speaker 2: twenty six this coming season, and I'll do my best

84
00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,640
Speaker 2: to approximate what those twenty six names will be on

85
00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,080
Speaker 2: opening Day, including a few guys that aren't yet with

86
00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,440
Speaker 2: the organization, but that I believe I have a strong

87
00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,080
Speaker 2: hunch that they are targets for the team right now,

88
00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,800
Speaker 2: and so that's gonna be the final segment of this

89
00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:11,880
Speaker 2: episode to have a lot of fun with, and I'll

90
00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,680
Speaker 2: certainly invite everybody else to give me their own opening

91
00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:21,560
Speaker 2: day roster projections as we head into the holidays. So

92
00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:26,200
Speaker 2: going through the non roster invitees in alphabetical order based

93
00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,640
Speaker 2: on last name, we begin with catcher Santiago Chavez twenty

94
00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,839
Speaker 2: four years old, so he is going to be the

95
00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:37,000
Speaker 2: youngest of these group of non roster invitees and for

96
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,880
Speaker 2: his minor league career, you're gonna want to be sitting.

97
00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:40,080
Speaker 1: Down for this.

98
00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,359
Speaker 2: He is a one ninety four career hitter with a

99
00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,320
Speaker 2: two forty seven career on base percentage a two forty

100
00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,760
Speaker 2: three career slugging percentage, So that's a career ops under

101
00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,560
Speaker 2: five hundred using weighted runs created plus, you know, which

102
00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,680
Speaker 2: adjusts for the league average being one hundred. It puts

103
00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,320
Speaker 2: everything in that scale. He has a forty one career

104
00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:09,040
Speaker 2: weighted rams created plus and even by catchers, a catcher perspective,

105
00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,000
Speaker 2: which is the weakest hitting of all the position players.

106
00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,520
Speaker 2: He is the third worst hitting catcher that I could

107
00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,080
Speaker 2: find in minor league baseball over the last decade. He

108
00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,880
Speaker 2: does have a career forty seven percent caught stealing rate.

109
00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,040
Speaker 2: So if he wondered how a guy that is such

110
00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,479
Speaker 2: a liability at the plate it could remain a professional

111
00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,880
Speaker 2: player in affiliated ball for a handful of years, it's

112
00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,880
Speaker 2: because they believe he has a lot of value defensively.

113
00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,920
Speaker 2: This past season, he was a primary catcher for Double

114
00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,440
Speaker 2: A Jacksonville, And if you've been following the podcast, you

115
00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,000
Speaker 2: know that the Marlins had some great pitching performances in

116
00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,400
Speaker 2: Jacksonville with the Jumbo Shrimp last year, So I imagine

117
00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,120
Speaker 2: that Chavez had a lot to do with that, with

118
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,839
Speaker 2: building chemistry with these guys on the mound and in

119
00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,720
Speaker 2: the clubhouse and whatnot. I just can't get around how

120
00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,320
Speaker 2: poorly he's done as a hitter throughout his professional career.

121
00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,640
Speaker 2: And I just looking at the track record of other

122
00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,440
Speaker 2: players that hit this poorly in the minors and had

123
00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,400
Speaker 2: any substantial major league career, I don't think there are

124
00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,000
Speaker 2: any that really had a stable job in the majors.

125
00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,720
Speaker 2: At some point, but as I knowed at the beginning,

126
00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,720
Speaker 2: he is relatively young for a non roster invitee. There

127
00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,680
Speaker 2: is certainly some room to get better, and the Marlins

128
00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,440
Speaker 2: have brought in a couple of coaches this year that

129
00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,160
Speaker 2: try to help with improving the offensive abilities of their players,

130
00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,840
Speaker 2: so maybe that has a positive effect on him overall,

131
00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,080
Speaker 2: though I think you can it's a fairly safe bet

132
00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,320
Speaker 2: that he won't be on the opening day roster. As

133
00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,320
Speaker 2: you'll find out, the Marlins have four catchers already invited

134
00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,200
Speaker 2: as non roster invitees. That's because they only have two

135
00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,360
Speaker 2: guys on the forty man roster that can catch those

136
00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,720
Speaker 2: being Jorge Alfaro and Chad Wallach. If anything happens to

137
00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,800
Speaker 2: one of those, then they need to add somebody else

138
00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,240
Speaker 2: to the roster to actually play meaningful games for them,

139
00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,560
Speaker 2: and Chavez is one of the candidates, but in my opinion,

140
00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,600
Speaker 2: not really the leading candidate. It's it's most likely that

141
00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,520
Speaker 2: he'll ends up staying in the Marlins organization during the

142
00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:09,200
Speaker 2: twenty twenty season, but at Jacksonville or maybe Tripa A

143
00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:14,400
Speaker 2: Wichita next up, twenty five year old infielder Gosuke Kato.

144
00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,880
Speaker 2: He comes over from a career in the Yankees organization,

145
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,080
Speaker 2: a former second round draft pick out of high school,

146
00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,680
Speaker 2: someone that was raised for a lot of his life

147
00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,480
Speaker 2: in the United States and drafted immediately out of high

148
00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,800
Speaker 2: school by the Yankees. First career in the minor leagues

149
00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,640
Speaker 2: two fifty one batting average, three point fifty four on

150
00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,760
Speaker 2: base percentage, three seventy four slugging percentage, that is a

151
00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,840
Speaker 2: one nine WRC plus, so firmly above average. And looking

152
00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,120
Speaker 2: at his career, I mean there's a handful thing so

153
00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,839
Speaker 2: that actually stuck out at about him. One was that

154
00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:52,680
Speaker 2: he idolized Ichiro Suzuki growing up, coming from a Japanese family,

155
00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,000
Speaker 2: and he got to meet Ichiro. Considering that Kato was

156
00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,520
Speaker 2: a high draft pick in the Yankees organization. They bring

157
00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,959
Speaker 2: those players around the major league team at certain points,

158
00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,600
Speaker 2: and each ro played for the Yankees a couple of years,

159
00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:06,720
Speaker 2: so he got to meet his idol, as he calls it.

160
00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,600
Speaker 2: The other one is statistically what jumps out is his

161
00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,120
Speaker 2: walk rate, a thirteen point three percent walk rate in

162
00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,240
Speaker 2: his career, so almost one out of every seven played

163
00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,240
Speaker 2: appearances he's drawn a walk as a pro. And if

164
00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,000
Speaker 2: you're wondering, I thought it was a lot of fun

165
00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,000
Speaker 2: to compare it with some notable big leaguers such as

166
00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,760
Speaker 2: Mookie Betts, the Red Sox superstar. He had a thirteen

167
00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,599
Speaker 2: point two percent walk rate in the miners. Johan Mancata,

168
00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:35,840
Speaker 2: who took a big leap forward for the White Sox

169
00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:40,120
Speaker 2: last year and was formerly Baseball's number one overall prospect,

170
00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,839
Speaker 2: he also had a thirteen point two percent walk rate

171
00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,400
Speaker 2: in the miners. So Kato is in their company in

172
00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,680
Speaker 2: that one specific category, certainly not the end all be all.

173
00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,040
Speaker 2: It doesn't make up for the fact that Kato is

174
00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,520
Speaker 2: relatively light hitter overall. Last year played with Double aed

175
00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,360
Speaker 2: Trenton with Triple A Scrach Wilkesberry, and he had eleven

176
00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,439
Speaker 2: home runs and that was his career high. If you've

177
00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,040
Speaker 2: been following minor league baseball, you will know that in

178
00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,760
Speaker 2: Triple A last year they changed the ball. They used

179
00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,760
Speaker 2: a ball that carries more, and that led to an

180
00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,680
Speaker 2: enormous spike in home runs in the minors. So when

181
00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:17,959
Speaker 2: you have a player like this, he's never really hit

182
00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,400
Speaker 2: for power, and then all of a sudden he has

183
00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,840
Speaker 2: what you think to be a respectable home runs total.

184
00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:24,920
Speaker 2: A lot of that has to do with the new

185
00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:26,880
Speaker 2: ball that he was using, a triple A that hadn't

186
00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,640
Speaker 2: been used in prior years. All that being said, I

187
00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,520
Speaker 2: think he is an intriguing player. We had Daniel Smith

188
00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,800
Speaker 2: on our website on Friday write a more detailed article

189
00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,240
Speaker 2: about Kato and how he could fit into the Marlins

190
00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,760
Speaker 2: plans potentially in the majors at some point. The fact

191
00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,240
Speaker 2: that he is very disciplined at they played and works

192
00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,480
Speaker 2: deep counts, that's something the Marlins were deeply lacking last year. Kato,

193
00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,880
Speaker 2: for most of his career was strictly a second baseman,

194
00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,240
Speaker 2: but then last year you see that the Yankees rather

195
00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:58,520
Speaker 2: they used him more as a utility guy, where he

196
00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,199
Speaker 2: still played a last second base, but also several other

197
00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,439
Speaker 2: spots in the infield. All four infield positions he made

198
00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,080
Speaker 2: double digit starts at, and he also played in the

199
00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,679
Speaker 2: outfield a little bit as well. So that kind of

200
00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,920
Speaker 2: versatility is so critical in baseball these days, and for

201
00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:19,240
Speaker 2: the Yankees last year they were overwhelmed with injuries. Kato

202
00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,560
Speaker 2: was not someone that got an opportunity to get called up,

203
00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,880
Speaker 2: which is surprising because just about everybody in the high

204
00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,959
Speaker 2: levels of the Yankees Minor League system had some stretch

205
00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,280
Speaker 2: of time in the major leagues because of all the

206
00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,559
Speaker 2: injuries to more established players. So that's something to keep

207
00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,840
Speaker 2: in mind that as much need as the Yankees had

208
00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,959
Speaker 2: for more position players in the major league level, Kato

209
00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,520
Speaker 2: was passed over a few times for a call up

210
00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,800
Speaker 2: and last year's first Triple A experience in the majors.

211
00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,640
Speaker 2: All that being said, I think there's a very decent

212
00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,920
Speaker 2: chance that he plays for the Marlins in the majors

213
00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,120
Speaker 2: this year. Again, not a super flashy skill set in

214
00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,480
Speaker 2: any one way, but considering he's someone that some Yankees

215
00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,679
Speaker 2: executive new when well some Marlins executives knew when they

216
00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,640
Speaker 2: were in the Yankees system with him, that familiarity certainly helps.

217
00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,439
Speaker 2: I imagine will get a significant amount of played appearances

218
00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,880
Speaker 2: in spring training. A severe long shot for the opening

219
00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,559
Speaker 2: day roster for sure, but somebody that I imagine will

220
00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,400
Speaker 2: be sent to Triple A Wichita at the start of

221
00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,559
Speaker 2: the year in all likelihood, and he'll certainly have a

222
00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,679
Speaker 2: chance to earned his way up depending on what injuries

223
00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,400
Speaker 2: come up. And yeah, we'll see what he's able to

224
00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,040
Speaker 2: do in the power department coming off the year that

225
00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,960
Speaker 2: he had in the Yankees system. The third of the

226
00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,240
Speaker 2: minor league signings this past week catcher Ryan Lavarnway, who's

227
00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,920
Speaker 2: now thirty two years old. He's been around a while,

228
00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,559
Speaker 2: a draft pick way back in two thousand and eight

229
00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,960
Speaker 2: for the Red Sox, and he had a really decorated

230
00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,040
Speaker 2: minor league career the first handful of years, two to

231
00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:56,360
Speaker 2: seventy five career batting average in the miners, three sixty

232
00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:00,280
Speaker 2: seven on base four fifty two slugging for a catcher,

233
00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,040
Speaker 2: so that is a one to twenty eight way. It

234
00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:07,439
Speaker 2: runs created plus at a position that you usually will

235
00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,560
Speaker 2: be willing to overlook offensive shortcomings to make him play,

236
00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,040
Speaker 2: and he's sort of had the opposite issue where his

237
00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,319
Speaker 2: defense has had some mixed reviews. Over the years, He's

238
00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,400
Speaker 2: had a handful of opportunities in the major leagues, first

239
00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,559
Speaker 2: with the Red Sox and then since then he's played

240
00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:25,880
Speaker 2: a little bit with the Reds.

241
00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:26,440
Speaker 1: Yeah.

242
00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,040
Speaker 2: Most recently his major league experience came in Cincinnati for

243
00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,760
Speaker 2: his major league career two eleven career batting average, two

244
00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:37,960
Speaker 2: seventy on base percentage, three forty three slugging, and that

245
00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:42,199
Speaker 2: is over four hundred and forty five played appearances, parts.

246
00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:42,720
Speaker 1: Of eight seasons.

247
00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,880
Speaker 2: Is that right, Yeah, he's I mean, he's a guy

248
00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:49,120
Speaker 2: that has very consistently. The only consistency in his life

249
00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,520
Speaker 2: has been inconsistency and moving up and down from TRIPAA

250
00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:57,079
Speaker 2: to the major league level. In twenty nineteen, he had

251
00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,520
Speaker 2: some time in the Yankees system, also the Red when

252
00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,679
Speaker 2: he got called up to the majors, finished off the

253
00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,560
Speaker 2: regular season in the Cleveland Indians minor league system, and

254
00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,480
Speaker 2: then the Israeli national team.

255
00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:09,360
Speaker 1: I know there are a.

256
00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,400
Speaker 2: Few listeners in the Fish Strips audience that follow international

257
00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,400
Speaker 2: baseball very closely, and in particular the Israeli team, which

258
00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,560
Speaker 2: has qualified for the twenty twenty Olympics for the very

259
00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,920
Speaker 2: first time in their history. So it will be interesting

260
00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,760
Speaker 2: to see where Lavarnway is next summer when that happens,

261
00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,960
Speaker 2: whether he's still on a major league team or not,

262
00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,480
Speaker 2: and whether he participates in that. He's a guy that

263
00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,720
Speaker 2: certainly has a wealth of experience, much more than the

264
00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,880
Speaker 2: other catchers that are currently invited to spring training, and

265
00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,120
Speaker 2: that should give him something of an edge if, for example,

266
00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,600
Speaker 2: the Marlins do find themselves needing to add a new

267
00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,840
Speaker 2: catcher to their roster before the season. Chad Wallach is

268
00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,760
Speaker 2: currently in place as the backup. He impressed a lot

269
00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,080
Speaker 2: of people early in twenty nineteen, and then he was

270
00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,320
Speaker 2: derailed by a concussion that really derailed his whole season.

271
00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,400
Speaker 2: A couple of attempts to try to make it back

272
00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:05,160
Speaker 2: from the injured list, and new complications popped up. That's

273
00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:09,160
Speaker 2: a really unpredictable situation. Concussions can derail careers. Even though

274
00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,520
Speaker 2: walk is at this point twenty eight years old, he

275
00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,520
Speaker 2: should be right entering his prime of his career. Uh,

276
00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,640
Speaker 2: but this is certainly an unusual case and potentially an

277
00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,040
Speaker 2: unfortunate case where it just puts a lot of doubt

278
00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,440
Speaker 2: over whether he'll be able to consistently stay healthy. Uh.

279
00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,320
Speaker 2: Lavarn Way over any of these other catchers, and I'd

280
00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,320
Speaker 2: say yeah, compared to pretty much most of these position

281
00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,360
Speaker 2: players that were minor league signings, Lavarnway would have the

282
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,240
Speaker 2: inside track at an opening day roster spot if for

283
00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:41,240
Speaker 2: whatever reason, something goes awry with the Marlins current catching situation.

284
00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,960
Speaker 2: Another infielder, Christian Lopes, entering his age twenty seven season

285
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,400
Speaker 2: batting from the right side in his minor league career,

286
00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,680
Speaker 2: a two sixty two career batting average three point forty

287
00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:58,440
Speaker 2: five on base three eighty seven, slugging a one six

288
00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,800
Speaker 2: WRC plus, and the more I looked into him, it

289
00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,520
Speaker 2: seems to have a lot of similarities to Kato, who

290
00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,000
Speaker 2: we just mentioned a few minutes ago, just a right

291
00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,440
Speaker 2: handed compliment to him, very similar results in their minor

292
00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,320
Speaker 2: league career. Just like Kato, he was a utility guy

293
00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,680
Speaker 2: at Double A and Triple A in twenty nineteen, and

294
00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,640
Speaker 2: just like Kato, he had a career high in home

295
00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:27,200
Speaker 2: runs this past season that I imagine was significantly helped by

296
00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,920
Speaker 2: the juice ball that they were using in Triple A

297
00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,400
Speaker 2: that hadn't been used in prior seasons. Another thing that

298
00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,760
Speaker 2: stuck out is he just seems to be accumulating a

299
00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,560
Speaker 2: lot of reps in the minors. He's been a professional

300
00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,520
Speaker 2: player most of this decade, and in most of these

301
00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,760
Speaker 2: seasons one hundred and twenty games or more, don't really

302
00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:50,200
Speaker 2: see any history of serious in season injuries, and that's

303
00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,000
Speaker 2: a pretty important skill that we sometimes take for granted,

304
00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,720
Speaker 2: is just your availability and avoiding very severe issues. So

305
00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,400
Speaker 2: if that continues, then just like Kato, if he's really

306
00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,679
Speaker 2: productive in the minors, depending on what the Marlins do.

307
00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,160
Speaker 2: As we get later into the season towards the trade deadline,

308
00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:12,560
Speaker 2: they end up moving any of their veteran infielders, maybe

309
00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,399
Speaker 2: whether it's a Jonathan vr Once it's clear that they

310
00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,400
Speaker 2: won't be trying to retain him as a free agent,

311
00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,679
Speaker 2: should be going towards Triple A Wichita to begin the season,

312
00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,920
Speaker 2: but of course we'll have to see exactly what happens

313
00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:29,080
Speaker 2: in spring training. Another intriguing guy who is bounced around

314
00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:34,399
Speaker 2: a couple different organizations, including the Rangers organization, and it

315
00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,000
Speaker 2: seems like perfectly fine acquisition to bring to the team.

316
00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,920
Speaker 2: Not super high upside, but I can definitely see where

317
00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,240
Speaker 2: he potentially fits on the major league roster, depending on

318
00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,080
Speaker 2: a couple of things go in his favor. Next up,

319
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:53,000
Speaker 2: catcher BJ Lopez, who has already been in the Marlins

320
00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,919
Speaker 2: organization the past few years. Twenty five years old. In

321
00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,919
Speaker 2: his minor league career two to eight career batting average

322
00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,199
Speaker 2: two ZHO nine on base two thirty six slugging. So

323
00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,879
Speaker 2: some unfortunate similarities to Santiago Chavez mentioned at the beginning

324
00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:13,040
Speaker 2: of the segment, where he's a pretty one dimensional player.

325
00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,600
Speaker 2: You're just banking on his defense having an impact. Lopez

326
00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,840
Speaker 2: in his career nine hundred and ninety nine played appearances

327
00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,119
Speaker 2: in the miners. One home run. That's a point zero

328
00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,320
Speaker 2: two nine isolated power subtracting the batting average from the

329
00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,919
Speaker 2: slugging percentage, and it's one of the lowest out of

330
00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,960
Speaker 2: any minor leaguer in recent history who's actually had a

331
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,919
Speaker 2: pretty significant experience that. Lopez now a handful of years

332
00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,080
Speaker 2: playing pro ball, so he's stuck around a little bit

333
00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,359
Speaker 2: because of his defense and his catching talent, but the

334
00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,000
Speaker 2: bat just isn't there. First career thirty three percent caught

335
00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,879
Speaker 2: stealing rate in the miners and in twenty nineteen mostly

336
00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:56,600
Speaker 2: a backup catcher with high A Jupiter and double A Jacksonville.

337
00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,560
Speaker 2: A familiar face, but the same way as with Chavez,

338
00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,840
Speaker 2: and perhaps even more so with Chavez, who is Lopez

339
00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:05,879
Speaker 2: is probably behind him on the depth chart. This is

340
00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:09,000
Speaker 2: more about just bringing as many catchers as possible to

341
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,640
Speaker 2: spring training in order to actually be there to receive

342
00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:17,639
Speaker 2: the exhibition pitches from the pitchers themselves. There's really not

343
00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,680
Speaker 2: a whole lot to that. He is not what I

344
00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,520
Speaker 2: would call a strong candidate to play for the Marlins

345
00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,400
Speaker 2: in the majors in twenty twenty somewhat of a long

346
00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,480
Speaker 2: shot to make it to the majors at all, but

347
00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,520
Speaker 2: clearly he's made a positive impression on some guys within

348
00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,640
Speaker 2: the organization. That's how you stick around this long. Despite

349
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,560
Speaker 2: the shaky bat, he clearly has some intangibles that he

350
00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,800
Speaker 2: brings to the situation and he'll report to spring training

351
00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:44,679
Speaker 2: just like the rest of these guys. And right in

352
00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:46,880
Speaker 2: the middle of this list is by far the most

353
00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,600
Speaker 2: high profile of this first wave of non roster invitees.

354
00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:55,480
Speaker 2: It is former All Star, three time All Star Matt Kemp,

355
00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,399
Speaker 2: who is going to be thirty five years old this

356
00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,600
Speaker 2: coming year, and by far the most prominent of all

357
00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,600
Speaker 2: these guys. In his major league career, a two eighty

358
00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,639
Speaker 2: five career hitter, three point thirty seven on base for

359
00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,560
Speaker 2: eighty five slugging, he has two hundred and eighty one

360
00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,000
Speaker 2: major league home runs. He has one hundred and eighty

361
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,200
Speaker 2: three stolen bases. Both of those totals far and away

362
00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,440
Speaker 2: more than anybody on the current Marlins roster. And I

363
00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,119
Speaker 2: think that's something that we haven't quite emphasized enough, is

364
00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,040
Speaker 2: how lacking the Marlins are on the position player side

365
00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:26,400
Speaker 2: right now.

366
00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:27,440
Speaker 1: From having any.

367
00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,919
Speaker 2: Old guys in Camp, and there's some value to that,

368
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,280
Speaker 2: to being old but still having some life left in

369
00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,840
Speaker 2: your game. And that's gonna be the big question for Camp.

370
00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,520
Speaker 2: He's seven thousand played appearances into his major league career

371
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,040
Speaker 2: and what does he have left in the tank at

372
00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,280
Speaker 2: this point. He was a guy that at the beginning

373
00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,520
Speaker 2: of this decond, the very beginning, almost ten years ago,

374
00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,240
Speaker 2: he was an elite player for the Dodgers as their

375
00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:52,320
Speaker 2: everyday center fielder.

376
00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,760
Speaker 1: It was during the twenty eleven season that he.

377
00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:00,600
Speaker 2: Was fell a little bit short of winning the n

378
00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,439
Speaker 2: L Most Valuable Player Award. If he looked at it

379
00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:05,720
Speaker 2: a couple different ways, he had a very strong case

380
00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,439
Speaker 2: for being the MVP that year, finished runner up to

381
00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:12,480
Speaker 2: Ryan Brown. The connection that was mentioned a couple times,

382
00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,879
Speaker 2: this one leaked out a couple of days before the

383
00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,320
Speaker 2: official announcement about Kemp, and what was emphasized is its

384
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,760
Speaker 2: relationship with Don Mattingly, who is now the manager of

385
00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:25,000
Speaker 2: the Marlins. Formally was the manager of the Dodgers in

386
00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,360
Speaker 2: twenty eleven through twenty fifteen, and for the first four

387
00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:31,960
Speaker 2: of those seasons, Camp played directly under Mattingly, so they

388
00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,439
Speaker 2: have a lot of history with one another. And it

389
00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,360
Speaker 2: just so happens that Camp was an elite player when

390
00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,840
Speaker 2: he played under Mattingly for those years. Fast forwarding to

391
00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,840
Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, he started off the season with the Reds

392
00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,520
Speaker 2: and that's because he was traded to the Reds in

393
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:50,840
Speaker 2: salary dump from the Dodgers.

394
00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:52,240
Speaker 1: He made it out.

395
00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,040
Speaker 2: Of spring training for the team that was a team that,

396
00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:57,919
Speaker 2: if you may remember, they did have some significant expectations

397
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,159
Speaker 2: last year to take a step forward in Kemp was

398
00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:01,960
Speaker 2: one of the guys who was holding them back at

399
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,119
Speaker 2: the beginning of the year. For the first month plus

400
00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,840
Speaker 2: of the season, he hit two hundred, He wasn't getting

401
00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,600
Speaker 2: on base, grounded into a lot of double plays, only

402
00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,960
Speaker 2: two eighty three sloging percentage, well below replacement level overall,

403
00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,480
Speaker 2: and after sixty two played appearances, the Reds cut him.

404
00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:19,080
Speaker 1: He was picked up by the Mets.

405
00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:23,200
Speaker 2: He was assigned to their TRIPAA affiliate, only played a

406
00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,320
Speaker 2: handful of games, and then he was cut from that

407
00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,639
Speaker 2: as well. So he has been out of work since

408
00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:32,399
Speaker 2: about the All Star break of twenty nineteen. And I mean,

409
00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,080
Speaker 2: there's some obvious reasons why the appeal was here. It

410
00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:37,480
Speaker 2: was not only the Madeline connection, but if you look

411
00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,919
Speaker 2: at twenty eighteen, just one year prior to that, he

412
00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,920
Speaker 2: was an All Star with the Dodgers, a guy that

413
00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,440
Speaker 2: I think people saw pretty clearly wasn't quite the same

414
00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,400
Speaker 2: player he was early in the decade. He did regress

415
00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,719
Speaker 2: late in the twenty eighteen season, and once the Dodgers

416
00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,640
Speaker 2: made it to the postseason, he was a very limited

417
00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,520
Speaker 2: part time player for them. So on a team like that,

418
00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,159
Speaker 2: there was really no path for him to be a

419
00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,639
Speaker 2: true everyday impact player with the Marlins. If he's that

420
00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,959
Speaker 2: same quality of player somehow, as it wasn't twenty eighteen,

421
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,440
Speaker 2: then they have room for him. And it's not really

422
00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:13,800
Speaker 2: the craziest thing to think that a guy in his

423
00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,239
Speaker 2: age thirty five season can replicate what he did at

424
00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,800
Speaker 2: age thirty three. Some of the questions for Kemp throughout

425
00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,479
Speaker 2: the last handful of yours have been this conditioning, someone

426
00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:25,639
Speaker 2: that initially the first time he was traded from the

427
00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,479
Speaker 2: Dodgers to the Padres five years ago, he put on

428
00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,000
Speaker 2: some weight and made him much less effective in the outfield,

429
00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:34,760
Speaker 2: where it used to be a center fielder with some

430
00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:40,000
Speaker 2: questionable defensive metrics, and pretty quickly he got shifted to

431
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,640
Speaker 2: the corners. The outfield corners, and he didn't really make

432
00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,439
Speaker 2: that transition very well. I don't think there's ever been

433
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,000
Speaker 2: a point where he was a strong corner outfielder either,

434
00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,240
Speaker 2: And at this point in his career, I think even regardless,

435
00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,800
Speaker 2: if he's in the shape of his life, just all

436
00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,160
Speaker 2: the wear and tear from what he's been through, he's

437
00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,680
Speaker 2: going to be a liability defensively and most likely base runner.

438
00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,520
Speaker 2: What this is a bet on his bat breaking through.

439
00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:09,320
Speaker 2: I'd be very disappointed if they signed him in lieu

440
00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,800
Speaker 2: of actually bringing in a prime aged free agent outfielder.

441
00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,000
Speaker 2: Some of you know how big an advocate I am

442
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,520
Speaker 2: for Yasiel Plague or even if a small step down

443
00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:25,320
Speaker 2: from that, someone like Corey Dickerson or Cole Calhoun. There

444
00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:28,000
Speaker 2: are still several options out there that are near their

445
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,400
Speaker 2: prime of their careers and certainly have more athleticism than

446
00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,680
Speaker 2: Kemp does at this stage of his career. Those guys

447
00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,400
Speaker 2: would certainly have higher floors as a player than Kemp does.

448
00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,840
Speaker 2: The floor for Kemp right now is that he doesn't

449
00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,919
Speaker 2: make it out of spring training, and that's really where

450
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,240
Speaker 2: I am right now that I think the most likely

451
00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,919
Speaker 2: scenario is that he does not make the opening day roster,

452
00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,600
Speaker 2: and I'd be curious to see what the language is

453
00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,359
Speaker 2: in his contract, what his opt out situation is. I

454
00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,760
Speaker 2: imagine he is a fairly early opt out in the

455
00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,719
Speaker 2: season if he's not on the major league roster, allowing

456
00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,880
Speaker 2: him to explore other opportunities. But this is a guy

457
00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,000
Speaker 2: that has so much experience in the majors and the

458
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:08,120
Speaker 2: fact that he's been successful overall, it is a positive

459
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,080
Speaker 2: to have him around the young outfielders in major league camp,

460
00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,040
Speaker 2: even the guys that won't necessarily be on the opening

461
00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,520
Speaker 2: day roster, either guys on the bubble like Monte Harrison

462
00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:22,240
Speaker 2: or Hayesu Sanchez or even further down someone like JJ Blade.

463
00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:25,960
Speaker 2: The Marlins have so many very important outfield prospects right now,

464
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,720
Speaker 2: and to have them interacting directly with camp, someone who's

465
00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:33,320
Speaker 2: been through it, who's now experienced several different stages of

466
00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,320
Speaker 2: his career, all that is going to be a net

467
00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,960
Speaker 2: positive for the team. I just want to suppress expectations

468
00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:42,320
Speaker 2: for him actually being on the field in twenty twenty.

469
00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,480
Speaker 2: Most likely when you see this stuff go, when you

470
00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:46,960
Speaker 2: have someone come off the year that he had in

471
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,280
Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, when he looks so clearly overmatched against major

472
00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:54,879
Speaker 2: league pitching. Historically, those guys don't bounce back, or he

473
00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,880
Speaker 2: could bounce back a little bit, but I believe that

474
00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,199
Speaker 2: in most cases, when you struggle to that extent, you

475
00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:06,240
Speaker 2: never reclaim yourself as being an all star caliber player.

476
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:07,720
Speaker 1: Let's put it that way.

477
00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,520
Speaker 2: So it will depend on what they do, also on

478
00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:12,560
Speaker 2: the other airs of their roster. At this stage of

479
00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:15,200
Speaker 2: his career, I think Kemp is very comparable to someone

480
00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:17,920
Speaker 2: like Austin Dean. Dean is obviously much younger, but in

481
00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,120
Speaker 2: terms of the skill set that those guys have where

482
00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,520
Speaker 2: you're willing to live with a shaky defense because they

483
00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,840
Speaker 2: hit the ball hard, and they hit it on a

484
00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,880
Speaker 2: line and they don't strike out too much. So there

485
00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,280
Speaker 2: are some skills that Kemp potentially could have if he's

486
00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:35,440
Speaker 2: in his best physical shape and in the proper mindset,

487
00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,959
Speaker 2: But more likely than not, it's it's still just an

488
00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,199
Speaker 2: odd fit, especially if you assume that the Marlins are

489
00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:44,280
Speaker 2: going to pay up for one other significant outfielder before

490
00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:49,520
Speaker 2: the offseason is done. Another catcher, Brian navareto twenty five

491
00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,359
Speaker 2: years old. In his minor league career two fourteen batting average,

492
00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,960
Speaker 2: two sixty four on base three oh seven, slugging with

493
00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,000
Speaker 2: a very strong forty five percent quat stealing right now,

494
00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,440
Speaker 2: and that's gone up even a little higher right now

495
00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,720
Speaker 2: that he's playing in Winter Bawl, first in the Dominican Republic,

496
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,280
Speaker 2: then in Puerto Rico. Every week I'm monitoring how these

497
00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,240
Speaker 2: guys are doing in winter ball leagues that are anybody

498
00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,479
Speaker 2: affiliated with the Marlins organization that people might have interested in.

499
00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,360
Speaker 2: So Navarado was actually the first of all these signings

500
00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,399
Speaker 2: to kind of leak out several weeks ago. He actually

501
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,840
Speaker 2: broke the news himself on Instagram and showed himself in

502
00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:33,360
Speaker 2: a photo shopped Marlin's uniform, and he's so pretty excited

503
00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,359
Speaker 2: to be joining the team. This was his first time

504
00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,439
Speaker 2: as a free agent in Pro Bawl. Most of his

505
00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,200
Speaker 2: career in the Minnesota Twins organization and then traded late

506
00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,040
Speaker 2: in the twenty nineteen season to the Yankees, so no

507
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:48,159
Speaker 2: major league experience. Last year he was at a Double

508
00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,000
Speaker 2: A for the most part, Double A Pensacola Double A

509
00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:55,040
Speaker 2: Trenton largely a backup with the team with those teams,

510
00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:57,159
Speaker 2: and so winter ball has given him a shot to

511
00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,119
Speaker 2: rack up a lot of extra played appearances, and he's

512
00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,240
Speaker 2: done that. He's got a lot of playing time in

513
00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:06,440
Speaker 2: the Dominican and now currently in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, he's

514
00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,520
Speaker 2: not been producing well at all. A guy that, as

515
00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,439
Speaker 2: I already mentioned, has a pretty shaky track record as

516
00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,280
Speaker 2: a hitter in affiliated ball, and so far in winter

517
00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:18,280
Speaker 2: ball it's not going very well either. Just striking out

518
00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,800
Speaker 2: a lot for any guy, even adjusting for the catcher's position.

519
00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,760
Speaker 2: He's a native of Puerto Rico, and we know that

520
00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,520
Speaker 2: pretty early in the year the Marlins go to Puerto

521
00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,879
Speaker 2: Rico to play the Mets in a special series. I

522
00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,680
Speaker 2: don't think Navaredo is going to be on the roster

523
00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,600
Speaker 2: at that time, but he certainly will have some sort

524
00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,320
Speaker 2: of role in the organization. For all the catchers that

525
00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,880
Speaker 2: we've mentioned, it's worth noting the ones that they're losing

526
00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,280
Speaker 2: from the twenty nineteen season. Brian Holliday, a free agent

527
00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,240
Speaker 2: who has shown no inclination of resigning with the team.

528
00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,000
Speaker 2: That doesn't appear to be much mutual interest, even though

529
00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,480
Speaker 2: he did hit pretty well for the Marlins last year. Also,

530
00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,600
Speaker 2: Tyler Heineman, who with the Marlins had acquired mid season

531
00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,080
Speaker 2: at Triple A was an amazing hitter for Triple A

532
00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:06,640
Speaker 2: New Orleans with another guy that really benefited from the

533
00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:08,920
Speaker 2: juice ball, it seems, and then he got his call

534
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,080
Speaker 2: up late in the year. He had a very dramatic

535
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,240
Speaker 2: home run against the Mets late in the year as well,

536
00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:18,800
Speaker 2: but he was also he waved, it was outrighted to

537
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,040
Speaker 2: the minors. He elected free agency after the season, and

538
00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:24,200
Speaker 2: he just said on Twitter. This may have gone under

539
00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,160
Speaker 2: the radar, but he has already signed with the team

540
00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:29,080
Speaker 2: not being the Marlins. He hasn't identified what that team is,

541
00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,360
Speaker 2: but he is out of the picture as well. So

542
00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,400
Speaker 2: if you're using him, you're losing Holiday Wellington. Castillo was

543
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,080
Speaker 2: a guy last year who had that amazing story ten

544
00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:42,120
Speaker 2: years between major league regular season appearances. He's a guy

545
00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,680
Speaker 2: at this point, I think he'll be thirty six, thirty five,

546
00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:51,160
Speaker 2: thirty six. That they've shown no likeliness to resign as well.

547
00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,320
Speaker 2: You need to replace all that depth. So a couple

548
00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,320
Speaker 2: of these guys certainly seem likely to stick with the

549
00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,880
Speaker 2: Marlins in the organization even if they don't make the roster,

550
00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,520
Speaker 2: and Navaretto is definitely one of them, as a guy

551
00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,480
Speaker 2: that had most of his background with the Twins. Maybe

552
00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,360
Speaker 2: he's crossed paths with James Rousen, the new Marlins offensive coordinator.

553
00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:12,640
Speaker 2: I don't know what that relationship was like. That's just

554
00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,920
Speaker 2: spitballing here as to why this connection was made. But

555
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,800
Speaker 2: he's another guy that you could see catching some significant

556
00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,240
Speaker 2: innings in Double A or on Triple A during the season.

557
00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:26,600
Speaker 2: That will work itself out. The final two to be

558
00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,520
Speaker 2: named here among the non roster inviteees, both of them pitchers.

559
00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:34,760
Speaker 2: Beginning with right hander Aaron Northcraft, who is twenty nine

560
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,640
Speaker 2: years old. A really interesting story that we'll get to

561
00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,720
Speaker 2: in a moment. In his minor league career, a three

562
00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:43,200
Speaker 2: to eighty seven earned run average in eight hundred and

563
00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,680
Speaker 2: fifty three and one third innings pitch, he has been

564
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,959
Speaker 2: around the block quite a bit, and most of that,

565
00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:51,200
Speaker 2: as you would guess, because of all the innings that

566
00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:53,000
Speaker 2: he's been able to rack up. He has spent the

567
00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,840
Speaker 2: majority of his pro career as a starter at this point,

568
00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,479
Speaker 2: though the Marlins are looking at him as a reliever.

569
00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:03,800
Speaker 2: He is someone that after the twenty sixteen season he

570
00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:07,240
Speaker 2: took a hiatus from professional baseball. I'm sure we'll get

571
00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,520
Speaker 2: more of his story when he reports the spring training

572
00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:11,960
Speaker 2: and all that, because it took nearly two full years

573
00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,760
Speaker 2: for him to return to pro ball in the Dominican

574
00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,800
Speaker 2: Winter League, and all of a sudden he was dominant

575
00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:19,360
Speaker 2: down there. He was a guy that was decent in

576
00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,440
Speaker 2: the minor leagues but clearly thought that his path to

577
00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,960
Speaker 2: the show had been blocked, and some are specially affiliated

578
00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,920
Speaker 2: plateaued or something. He came back with a changed delivery

579
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,440
Speaker 2: that we have some highlights that we put up on

580
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,320
Speaker 2: our social media if he has already of Northcraft, and

581
00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:36,760
Speaker 2: there'll be more in the article, that he has a

582
00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,440
Speaker 2: very unconventional arm angle and that has clearly had a

583
00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:44,000
Speaker 2: lot of success. Not top end velocity by any means,

584
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,479
Speaker 2: it's just the delivery itself in his pitch selection, and

585
00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:51,040
Speaker 2: he's been able to throw strikes from that unconventional angle.

586
00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,920
Speaker 2: So he had results in the Dominican League. Last year

587
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:56,880
Speaker 2: he latched on with the Triple A affiliate of the Mariners,

588
00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,160
Speaker 2: and he put up a one point eighty seven er

589
00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:02,400
Speaker 2: in Triple A, less than a base runner, perending twenty

590
00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,560
Speaker 2: seven point three percent strikeout rate in thirty three two

591
00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,920
Speaker 2: thirds endings at Triple A. Pitched a little bit at

592
00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:10,840
Speaker 2: lower levels as well most of the work at Triple A,

593
00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,560
Speaker 2: and he was great. The strikeout rate not overwhelming. It's

594
00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:16,480
Speaker 2: this is more so guy that you're gonna trust to

595
00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:19,400
Speaker 2: be able to get a heading counts in the strike

596
00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:24,000
Speaker 2: zone and induce some weak contact. That's what the Marlins

597
00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,520
Speaker 2: are looking for when they missed out on Sergio Romo.

598
00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,800
Speaker 2: Sergio Romo is getting a five million dollar guarantee from

599
00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,959
Speaker 2: the Twins. The Marlins shopping for more of a bargain

600
00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,120
Speaker 2: to fill out their bullpen, and Northcraft is one that

601
00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:40,000
Speaker 2: I could definitely see fitting into this mix. Optimistically, the

602
00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:43,640
Speaker 2: Marlins should be still pursuing at least one other major

603
00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:47,320
Speaker 2: league reliever this offseason, someone to certainly raise the floor

604
00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:50,400
Speaker 2: of their team right now, someone with experience. Still a

605
00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,520
Speaker 2: handful of really intriguing relievers out there on the free

606
00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,480
Speaker 2: agent market, But I really don't blame them for trying

607
00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,440
Speaker 2: to get trying to find it die him in the

608
00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:03,840
Speaker 2: rough in Aaron Northcraft, because when you have someone that

609
00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:05,560
Speaker 2: is unique like this in this day and age where

610
00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:10,040
Speaker 2: everybody's so focused on velocity and the three quarters delivery,

611
00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,000
Speaker 2: having someone that's a change of pace can be really effective.

612
00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:16,360
Speaker 2: We saw the in Miami not that long ago with

613
00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:19,960
Speaker 2: first Well, with Sergio Romo in twenty nineteen, with Brad

614
00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,520
Speaker 2: Ziegeler in twenty eighteen. You don't need to throw ninety

615
00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:27,080
Speaker 2: six miles per hour to be successful. And Northcraft is

616
00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,520
Speaker 2: going to be a really interesting one to watch. I imagine

617
00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:31,000
Speaker 2: he's going to get to pitch in a handful of

618
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,120
Speaker 2: spring training games and we'll see how the rest of

619
00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:37,680
Speaker 2: the roster maps out around him. Finally, the ninth of

620
00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:40,800
Speaker 2: the non roster invitees is Josh A.

621
00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:41,480
Speaker 1: Smith.

622
00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,040
Speaker 2: He's a right hander most recently pitched for the Red

623
00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:48,400
Speaker 2: Sox answering his age thirty two season. Not to be

624
00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:49,920
Speaker 2: confused with Josh D.

625
00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:50,360
Speaker 1: Smith.

626
00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:54,000
Speaker 2: At the end of last season in September, Marlins someone

627
00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:58,160
Speaker 2: curiously claimed a lefty named Josh Smith as well, and

628
00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,000
Speaker 2: he made a handful of his appearances before were being

629
00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:04,200
Speaker 2: sent on his way and no longer part of the organization,

630
00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,800
Speaker 2: and they've replaced him with another Josh Smith, but with

631
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,319
Speaker 2: a different middle initial, Josh A. Smith. Let me see

632
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:14,560
Speaker 2: if I can find his middle aid Josh Alan Smith

633
00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:16,320
Speaker 2: and nicknamed Smitty.

634
00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:19,160
Speaker 1: All right, So Josh A.

635
00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,600
Speaker 2: Smith in his minor league career three seventy nine eer,

636
00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:26,560
Speaker 2: a one point two seven FIP, twenty two point four

637
00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:29,839
Speaker 2: percent strikeout rate in over one thousand innings. So that's

638
00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:32,960
Speaker 2: the solid performance overall. But when you're at this stage

639
00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:36,520
Speaker 2: of your career, thirty two years old, you don't want

640
00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:39,960
Speaker 2: to really At this point, the minor league performance isn't

641
00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,560
Speaker 2: something you could read into all that much. He's had

642
00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,920
Speaker 2: a few opportunities in the majors and he hasn't done

643
00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,680
Speaker 2: too well. A five point four zero ERA, five point

644
00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:51,960
Speaker 2: three seven FIP, So both those kind of agree that

645
00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,520
Speaker 2: he's been poor, allowing one and a half based runners

646
00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,760
Speaker 2: per ending one hundred and fifty eight innings with the Reds,

647
00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:02,520
Speaker 2: with the Glen Days with the Boston Red Sox. So

648
00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,480
Speaker 2: here's what sticks out, the fact that he's had some

649
00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:08,200
Speaker 2: major league time. We have more precise measurements of his

650
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:11,520
Speaker 2: spin rate, and he has elite spin rate on his

651
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:16,359
Speaker 2: curveball last season in the ninety fifth percentile. He didn't

652
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:18,200
Speaker 2: really have that much success though. I mean, if you

653
00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:21,480
Speaker 2: look at the batting average and the slugging against that pitch,

654
00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,160
Speaker 2: it was responsible for a lot of his struggles in

655
00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:28,280
Speaker 2: twenty nineteen were against the curveball. But you imagine if

656
00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,680
Speaker 2: the Marlins are somehow able to get him to locate

657
00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:34,640
Speaker 2: that pitch better use it in certain sequences, that it

658
00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:37,520
Speaker 2: can be more successful, because that's a big factor we've

659
00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:39,719
Speaker 2: seen in having success with their breaking balls is being

660
00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:40,400
Speaker 2: able to spin.

661
00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:41,319
Speaker 1: It at a high rate.

662
00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,879
Speaker 2: He is a South Florida native who was born in

663
00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:49,800
Speaker 2: Margate in Broward County. He went to high school in

664
00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:54,120
Speaker 2: Boca Ratone. Yeah, Grand View Prep for those of you

665
00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,200
Speaker 2: that know where that is, I actually don't. And so

666
00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:03,600
Speaker 2: somewhat intriguing as well that he pitched low leverage relief

667
00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:06,640
Speaker 2: endings for the Red Sox this past year and a

668
00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,839
Speaker 2: lot of time in Triple A when he wasn't in

669
00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:12,680
Speaker 2: the majors. Just an interesting depth arm because of the

670
00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:15,560
Speaker 2: spin right that he has, the wealth of experience that

671
00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:18,880
Speaker 2: he has. At the very least, maybe you have him

672
00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,840
Speaker 2: as a starter in Triple A. If the Marlins are

673
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,120
Speaker 2: fortunate enough with a lot of their top pitching prospects

674
00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:24,960
Speaker 2: that they're able to break through to the majors and

675
00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:27,759
Speaker 2: avoid injury, then you need someone to fill out those

676
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:31,320
Speaker 2: endings in Triple A. Conversely, if those guys are struggling

677
00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:33,040
Speaker 2: early in the year, you have a couple of unfortunate

678
00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:36,040
Speaker 2: injuries in spring training. The nest guy you can plug

679
00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:39,080
Speaker 2: into the Triple A starting rotation and just give him

680
00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:42,040
Speaker 2: a long look down there. Last year they brought in

681
00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,839
Speaker 2: Hector Noah Ci for the same kind of role, and

682
00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:46,799
Speaker 2: he did pretty well in Triple A and it did

683
00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:48,600
Speaker 2: not convert at all when he was called up to

684
00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,360
Speaker 2: the majors. But these are the kind of guys that

685
00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:55,640
Speaker 2: it doesn't cost much, but it is essential really to

686
00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:59,319
Speaker 2: have these kind of depth pieces that don't necessarily feel

687
00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:03,719
Speaker 2: too invested in, but they protect your biggest investments. They

688
00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:07,560
Speaker 2: protect those top prospects. I would not be shocked if

689
00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:10,440
Speaker 2: at some point during the regular season Josh Smith, where's

690
00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,440
Speaker 2: a Marlins uniform, But just temper your expectations for how

691
00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:21,960
Speaker 2: effective he would be assuming that happens. Now that we

692
00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:26,440
Speaker 2: are all more familiar with the minor league signings recently,

693
00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:30,680
Speaker 2: it's time for my updated twenty twenty Marlins opening day

694
00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:34,439
Speaker 2: roster projection. With the rule change coming to Major League

695
00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:37,640
Speaker 2: Baseball next season, twenty six players on an active roster

696
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:42,279
Speaker 2: instead of twenty five, split evenly between thirteen position players

697
00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:47,359
Speaker 2: and thirteen pitchers. I incorporated a couple of these new

698
00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:50,200
Speaker 2: minor league signings into the mix, but for the most part,

699
00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:54,040
Speaker 2: these will be very familiar names from what you saw

700
00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:57,520
Speaker 2: as a Marlins fan in twenty nineteen. And I think

701
00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:00,719
Speaker 2: most importantly, it's a young roster that wasn't really the

702
00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,279
Speaker 2: case last year. Last year, remember, they had a lot

703
00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:06,480
Speaker 2: of veterans who were either clinging to bad contracts or

704
00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:08,759
Speaker 2: brought in and stuck with the team because the top

705
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:12,520
Speaker 2: prospects weren't ready to break through. And that's not the

706
00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:16,680
Speaker 2: case this time. They're putting so many of these high leverage,

707
00:38:16,680 --> 00:38:20,239
Speaker 2: important roles in the hands of young guys, former top

708
00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:23,200
Speaker 2: prospects or current top prospects. A few of them will

709
00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:24,960
Speaker 2: have to wait until later in the season they get

710
00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:28,239
Speaker 2: called up. Some of them do, however, force themselves on

711
00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,200
Speaker 2: the roster coming directly out of camp. In my estimation,

712
00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:36,680
Speaker 2: it's very exciting to have guys that are already dangerous

713
00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:39,879
Speaker 2: right now, and because they're still young and still somewhat raw,

714
00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,880
Speaker 2: you can reasonably expect them to get better. In twenty

715
00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:46,920
Speaker 2: twenty one and beyond. We're finally beginning to see big

716
00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:51,319
Speaker 2: pieces of the future that are breaking through, and you

717
00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,040
Speaker 2: expect to me somewhat productive in the present. This team

718
00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,919
Speaker 2: should be better than they were in twenty nineteen. They're

719
00:38:56,920 --> 00:38:58,719
Speaker 2: not going to lose one hundred and five games again

720
00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:02,600
Speaker 2: and to see a very significant jump in that team.

721
00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:05,839
Speaker 2: A lot of the guys from the opening day roster

722
00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:07,919
Speaker 2: we'll have to do with that. Others will come up later.

723
00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:11,680
Speaker 2: We're gonna keep our focus on the initial twenty six

724
00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:14,279
Speaker 2: man group that'll break out of spring training. I'll go

725
00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:17,600
Speaker 2: through position players first, then the pitchers. Alfa deckal order

726
00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:22,080
Speaker 2: based on last name I'm projecting on the position player side,

727
00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:28,880
Speaker 2: Haysius Aguilar, Jorge al Farrow, Brian Anderson, John Birdie, Lewis, Brentson,

728
00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:36,520
Speaker 2: Garrett Cooper, Isan Diez, Corey Dickerson, Harold Ramirez, Miguel Rojas,

729
00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:43,040
Speaker 2: Magnatter Sierra, Jonathan VR, and Chad Wallach. A few of

730
00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:46,280
Speaker 2: those guys are clear priorities for the team Jorgel Farrow,

731
00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:50,719
Speaker 2: Brian Anderson, Jonathan VR. I'd put those guys in the

732
00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,320
Speaker 2: separate category as being top priorities for the team that

733
00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:54,080
Speaker 2: you expect them to.

734
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:55,279
Speaker 1: Play very regularly.

735
00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:58,840
Speaker 2: It'd be very unlikely for someone to challenge them for

736
00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:02,280
Speaker 2: a solid st arting job on the usual. Miguel Rojas

737
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:04,440
Speaker 2: was right behind that, I would say, coming off a

738
00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:08,120
Speaker 2: very strong season as essentially the everyday shortstop and recently

739
00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:11,040
Speaker 2: signed to an extension, and Corey Dickerson in that same

740
00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:15,759
Speaker 2: row host here, that's my expected free agent signing. They've

741
00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:19,560
Speaker 2: already been very credibly linked to Dickerson. They've had some

742
00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:23,560
Speaker 2: discussions with him, balking at his asking price a little bit,

743
00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:27,160
Speaker 2: considering that Dickerson does have some durability issues, especially this

744
00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:29,600
Speaker 2: past year where he missed about half the season in

745
00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:33,600
Speaker 2: total on a one two three separate injured list stints,

746
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:37,400
Speaker 2: including finishing the year with a broken foot. But Dickerson,

747
00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:40,160
Speaker 2: when he's been healthy the past few years, he's been

748
00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:43,239
Speaker 2: a great offensive player, not good and not decent, but

749
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:47,200
Speaker 2: a great hitter, and the Marlins need more quality bats

750
00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:51,879
Speaker 2: on their team. He's a corner outfielder, turned himself into

751
00:40:52,080 --> 00:40:54,680
Speaker 2: a good defensive attfielder. He played a lot of designated

752
00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:56,640
Speaker 2: hitter when he was in the American League briefly with

753
00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,759
Speaker 2: Tampa Bay, but since moving back to Pittsburgh and then

754
00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:03,719
Speaker 2: Philadelphia in left field that's been his by far as

755
00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:07,839
Speaker 2: primary position, and he's been depending on what you look at,

756
00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,400
Speaker 2: he's really improved as a defensive left fielder, not so

757
00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:15,000
Speaker 2: much because of his raw athleticism, but improved instincts for

758
00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:18,880
Speaker 2: reading the ball. He does his best with probably below

759
00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:22,280
Speaker 2: average throwing arm. The signing with him is more about

760
00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:26,320
Speaker 2: the bat, specifically what he could do against right handed pitching.

761
00:41:26,719 --> 00:41:28,920
Speaker 2: I imagine it would take a two year deal to

762
00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:30,959
Speaker 2: get it done. We're seeing a very strong free agent

763
00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:34,480
Speaker 2: market this year, and again, aside from Jimmy Garcia, the

764
00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:37,239
Speaker 2: Marlins have not been giving out guaranteed deals. They've been

765
00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:42,280
Speaker 2: outbid by their teams, reportedly outpriced out of Avisel Garcia,

766
00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:45,360
Speaker 2: who they were interested in. Garcia got two years twenty million.

767
00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:50,040
Speaker 2: My prediction would be about two years eighteen million for Dickerson,

768
00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:54,200
Speaker 2: maybe two seventeen and if the Marlins are responsible, I

769
00:41:54,239 --> 00:41:57,000
Speaker 2: would like to see them front load that contract. You

770
00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:59,680
Speaker 2: don't see that very often, but because of the fact

771
00:41:59,719 --> 00:42:02,160
Speaker 2: that they have the at bats for him right now

772
00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:04,600
Speaker 2: in twenty twenty and in twenty twenty one, it's a

773
00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:07,840
Speaker 2: little murkier with all the outfield prospects potentially breaking through.

774
00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:11,120
Speaker 2: If they want to get him and if they want

775
00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:14,440
Speaker 2: to consider him as a tradeable player late in the

776
00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:17,480
Speaker 2: season or next season. Then that's the way you do it,

777
00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,400
Speaker 2: is you give him a lot of his money up front,

778
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:22,799
Speaker 2: and that makes him more movable later on if you

779
00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:25,600
Speaker 2: figure that he's expendable coming up at some point.

780
00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:27,400
Speaker 1: But that would be my pick.

781
00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:31,720
Speaker 2: I'm rooting for you, Seal Puigue, but I think they're

782
00:42:31,719 --> 00:42:34,160
Speaker 2: going to lean towards that lefty bat and someone that

783
00:42:34,239 --> 00:42:38,720
Speaker 2: comes potentially a little bit cheaper on average annual value

784
00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:42,040
Speaker 2: than Pleigue would. My prediction is Dickerson some of the

785
00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:45,280
Speaker 2: other ones. Aguilera will play a lot at first base,

786
00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:48,520
Speaker 2: not every day unless he absolutely mashes, but he'll play

787
00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,440
Speaker 2: very significantly that position, be really dangerous off the benching

788
00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:54,040
Speaker 2: games that he isn't starting. John Birdie did more than

789
00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:56,640
Speaker 2: enough late last season to show that he belongs on

790
00:42:56,680 --> 00:43:00,920
Speaker 2: a major league roster. His versatility was pretty incredible. It

791
00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:02,840
Speaker 2: was still a small sample, you know, just half a

792
00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,439
Speaker 2: season in the big leagues, but he made a lot

793
00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,400
Speaker 2: of really impressive plays both as a middle infielder, as

794
00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:11,320
Speaker 2: third baseman, as a center fielder. He's he's gonna have

795
00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:13,200
Speaker 2: a fit on the roster, especially now that they have

796
00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:17,520
Speaker 2: that extra spot in twenty twenty loose Brinson. It's been

797
00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:20,799
Speaker 2: really discouraging in the major leagues. We've mentioned this on

798
00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:24,479
Speaker 2: the website. He's one of the worst hitters to get

799
00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:27,120
Speaker 2: this kind of long leash at such a young age.

800
00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:32,160
Speaker 2: It's the history says that he's simply that it's not

801
00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:35,440
Speaker 2: a safe that he's ever gonna reach that ceiling that

802
00:43:35,440 --> 00:43:38,640
Speaker 2: the Marlins were so attracted to. And I have him

803
00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:41,640
Speaker 2: on the opening A roster on the condition that he's

804
00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:45,279
Speaker 2: not an everyday player. I think Brinson and Sierra would

805
00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:48,480
Speaker 2: form some sort of platoon in center field. Both those

806
00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:51,600
Speaker 2: guys were highly thought of as prospects, but I think

807
00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,000
Speaker 2: there are very clear limitations in both of their games.

808
00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:57,200
Speaker 2: They're both Sierra is out of options, which makes him

809
00:43:57,200 --> 00:43:59,440
Speaker 2: a pretty easy call to make the roster. Princeton has

810
00:43:59,480 --> 00:44:04,239
Speaker 2: an optional left, but I think there's really not a

811
00:44:04,280 --> 00:44:05,960
Speaker 2: whole lot to prove in Triple A. He went down

812
00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,640
Speaker 2: to Triple A last year and he produced, then got

813
00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:11,440
Speaker 2: called back up and it simply didn't translate to any

814
00:44:11,480 --> 00:44:14,879
Speaker 2: improvement at all. So I think you put him around

815
00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:18,120
Speaker 2: the new coaches that they have and suggest a few

816
00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:21,839
Speaker 2: tweaks to his game. A guy that he's always been

817
00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:24,600
Speaker 2: in shape the last couple of years but in terms

818
00:44:24,640 --> 00:44:28,280
Speaker 2: of being motivated, that's never really been an issue for him.

819
00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:31,520
Speaker 2: It's really more fundamental issues with his swing and his

820
00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:34,760
Speaker 2: pitch recognition. So hopefully the new additions to the staff

821
00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:37,719
Speaker 2: can help with that. So I see more as a

822
00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:40,920
Speaker 2: filler on the roster to begin the year. They have

823
00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:44,759
Speaker 2: interesting outfielders in Triple A, and I did have a

824
00:44:44,760 --> 00:44:48,120
Speaker 2: temptation to put Monte Harrison on the roster projection because

825
00:44:48,160 --> 00:44:52,640
Speaker 2: Monte is He's a guy that has a couple of

826
00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:55,080
Speaker 2: dimensions to his game that even Brinston doesn't have. He's

827
00:44:55,120 --> 00:44:59,360
Speaker 2: a really premium defensive outfielder, top of the line, base runner,

828
00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:03,320
Speaker 2: his makeup. He wants to Puerto Rico this offseason and

829
00:45:03,360 --> 00:45:07,400
Speaker 2: played really well. And also with Harrison, he is twenty

830
00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:09,760
Speaker 2: four years old, turning twenty five next to August.

831
00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:10,759
Speaker 1: So even though with some.

832
00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:14,239
Speaker 2: Other top prospects you see service time manipulation to gain

833
00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:17,000
Speaker 2: extra years of control, they already have him under control

834
00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:19,960
Speaker 2: throughout his entire twenties. Pushing it back, I'm not sure

835
00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:23,560
Speaker 2: what exact purpose that serves if you have worries about

836
00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:26,200
Speaker 2: him being a guy that could have a relatively short

837
00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:30,600
Speaker 2: shelf life because of his durability concerns and the effort

838
00:45:30,640 --> 00:45:33,439
Speaker 2: that he plays with and all that, I don't really

839
00:45:33,440 --> 00:45:36,440
Speaker 2: see that extra year necessarily being worth it if he

840
00:45:36,600 --> 00:45:39,560
Speaker 2: proves that he's definitely ready for the major leagues right now.

841
00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:42,400
Speaker 2: But I still think the most likely scenario is he

842
00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:44,879
Speaker 2: is held down because of some of the reps that

843
00:45:44,920 --> 00:45:48,680
Speaker 2: he missed last year because of risk injuries. He should

844
00:45:48,719 --> 00:45:51,200
Speaker 2: be up in the majors relatively soon, but I think

845
00:45:51,239 --> 00:45:54,239
Speaker 2: the easiest fit is to have Brinson and Sierra handling

846
00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:57,359
Speaker 2: center field on opening day. To touch on the other

847
00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,399
Speaker 2: ones is san Diez. They're going to go into training

848
00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:04,760
Speaker 2: hoping he's the everyday second baseman. If he simply doesn't perform,

849
00:46:04,920 --> 00:46:06,560
Speaker 2: then he could find himself sent down or at the

850
00:46:06,640 --> 00:46:08,960
Speaker 2: very least lose some playing time as they want to

851
00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:12,200
Speaker 2: find at bats for Jonathan Vrvr is someone that's going

852
00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:14,360
Speaker 2: to move around a lot, and second base is a

853
00:46:14,400 --> 00:46:16,960
Speaker 2: position he's had a lot of experience with, so Diez

854
00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:19,080
Speaker 2: is going to be on the roster either way, but

855
00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:21,440
Speaker 2: he'll certainly have to prove himself pretty early on to

856
00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:22,120
Speaker 2: stick around.

857
00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:23,399
Speaker 1: The final ones.

858
00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:27,320
Speaker 2: To touch on Chad Wallack, who we've mentioned previously somewhat

859
00:46:27,320 --> 00:46:30,359
Speaker 2: of a question mark coming back from a concussion and

860
00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:34,319
Speaker 2: concussion related symptoms that prevented him from returning later in

861
00:46:34,360 --> 00:46:37,840
Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, but he is the only other catcher besides

862
00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:40,440
Speaker 2: Alfaro on the roster right now, so hoping for the

863
00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:42,839
Speaker 2: best that he's going to be healthy, that he's going

864
00:46:42,840 --> 00:46:44,720
Speaker 2: to look the same way he did in twenty nineteen

865
00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:48,360
Speaker 2: spring training and earned the job. And finally Harold Ramirez,

866
00:46:48,480 --> 00:46:51,799
Speaker 2: who when he got called up towards the middle of

867
00:46:51,840 --> 00:46:54,960
Speaker 2: the twenty nineteen season, his bat was on fire. He

868
00:46:55,239 --> 00:46:58,399
Speaker 2: had some stretches in the mill where he was hitting

869
00:46:58,440 --> 00:47:00,880
Speaker 2: too many ground balls, but then he made really interesting

870
00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:04,560
Speaker 2: adjustments late in the year, tapping into more of his power.

871
00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:06,799
Speaker 2: He had a couple walk off home runs in the

872
00:47:06,800 --> 00:47:10,680
Speaker 2: month of August alone, and as it turns out, he's

873
00:47:10,680 --> 00:47:12,840
Speaker 2: one of the top leading home run hitters are turning

874
00:47:13,160 --> 00:47:16,040
Speaker 2: from last year. Even though he's in a package that

875
00:47:17,080 --> 00:47:21,359
Speaker 2: with a frame that isn't super athletic and won't while

876
00:47:21,400 --> 00:47:25,160
Speaker 2: you away, he has such good fundamental hitting skills and

877
00:47:25,239 --> 00:47:28,120
Speaker 2: to see someone I've been a big fan of dating

878
00:47:28,160 --> 00:47:30,160
Speaker 2: back to one of the Marlins originally signed him to

879
00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:32,760
Speaker 2: a minor league deal, and he'll be on a roster

880
00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:35,360
Speaker 2: either way, even if you don't know if he's going

881
00:47:35,440 --> 00:47:37,840
Speaker 2: to be a really impactful everyday player, even if you

882
00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:40,840
Speaker 2: think there might be some regression from twenty nineteen, that

883
00:47:40,920 --> 00:47:43,919
Speaker 2: extra roster spot makes it more manageable. At the very least,

884
00:47:43,920 --> 00:47:46,000
Speaker 2: Harold is going to be a good weapon to have

885
00:47:46,120 --> 00:47:48,719
Speaker 2: off the bench as a late game pinch hitter as well,

886
00:47:48,800 --> 00:47:51,839
Speaker 2: someone that's shown he can handle both lefties and right

887
00:47:51,880 --> 00:47:55,440
Speaker 2: handed pitching. Good for the clubhouse, good for the fans,

888
00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:58,920
Speaker 2: and so he fills out my position player side of

889
00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:02,960
Speaker 2: the roster projection onto the pitchers. The thirteen names are

890
00:48:03,840 --> 00:48:10,400
Speaker 2: Sandy al Contra, Jeff Brigham, Adam Conley, Harlen Garcia, Yimi Garcia,

891
00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:17,920
Speaker 2: Eliezer Hernandez, Brandon Kinsler, Pablo Lopez, Aaron Northcraft, Sterling Sharp,

892
00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:24,840
Speaker 2: Caleb Smith, Ryan Stanek, and Jordan Yamamoto. My projected rotation

893
00:48:25,239 --> 00:48:29,520
Speaker 2: would be al Contra number one, Caleb Smith, Pablo Lopez,

894
00:48:29,560 --> 00:48:33,920
Speaker 2: and some order two and three, Eliezer Hernandez, and Jordan Yamamoto,

895
00:48:34,239 --> 00:48:38,560
Speaker 2: some order four and five, and with our two time

896
00:48:38,640 --> 00:48:41,719
Speaker 2: defending opening day starter Josse Arena.

897
00:48:41,960 --> 00:48:42,920
Speaker 1: He's gonna get traded.

898
00:48:43,200 --> 00:48:46,799
Speaker 2: That's something that several of the Beat reporters seem to

899
00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:49,600
Speaker 2: agree on that he was pretty actively shopped during the

900
00:48:49,640 --> 00:48:53,360
Speaker 2: winter meetings and that there are other teams interested. Considering

901
00:48:53,360 --> 00:48:57,200
Speaker 2: the price of free agents starting pitchers this offseason, there

902
00:48:57,200 --> 00:48:59,759
Speaker 2: are teams that want to improve their rotation but don't

903
00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:03,880
Speaker 2: want to commit multiple years at eight figure salaries. Urania

904
00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:07,279
Speaker 2: is arbitration eligible for about four million dollars this coming year.

905
00:49:07,600 --> 00:49:10,640
Speaker 2: That's gonna make him really desirable as a low risk

906
00:49:10,680 --> 00:49:14,160
Speaker 2: acquisition that still has some tantalizing potential because of his

907
00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:18,319
Speaker 2: fastball velocity and his athletic builds and the durability that

908
00:49:18,360 --> 00:49:21,920
Speaker 2: he showed in twenty seventeen and twenty eighteen. I imagine

909
00:49:21,960 --> 00:49:23,840
Speaker 2: he's out of the picture to clear way for this

910
00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:27,480
Speaker 2: homegrown rotation, and you have guys at Triple A really

911
00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:31,960
Speaker 2: pounding on the door. Six Though Sanchez, Nick Knider, Edward

912
00:49:31,960 --> 00:49:33,800
Speaker 2: Carbrera could be a guy that starts in Triple A,

913
00:49:34,160 --> 00:49:37,680
Speaker 2: George Guzband a lot of intriguing options. My guess is

914
00:49:37,719 --> 00:49:40,880
Speaker 2: those pitching prospects don't quite break through into the opening

915
00:49:40,960 --> 00:49:45,600
Speaker 2: day equation, but they will be up shortly afterwards. And again,

916
00:49:45,960 --> 00:49:48,560
Speaker 2: these injuries can't really be fully anticipated if any of

917
00:49:48,600 --> 00:49:51,640
Speaker 2: these starters do suffer some sort of injury, then I

918
00:49:51,640 --> 00:49:57,239
Speaker 2: imagine internally those prospects will get another serious consideration for

919
00:49:57,320 --> 00:50:00,360
Speaker 2: actually joining the roster out of the shoot. On the

920
00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:03,200
Speaker 2: relief side, Jeff Brigham is someone that I'll be falling

921
00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:06,239
Speaker 2: very closely. If you look at the overall numbers in

922
00:50:06,280 --> 00:50:09,160
Speaker 2: the majors last year, not gonna impress you all that

923
00:50:09,239 --> 00:50:12,359
Speaker 2: much the elevated earned run average, but he had such

924
00:50:12,360 --> 00:50:15,920
Speaker 2: a huge spike in his fastball velocity from twenty eighteen

925
00:50:16,000 --> 00:50:18,080
Speaker 2: to twenty nineteen. He's at a point where he's one

926
00:50:18,080 --> 00:50:21,200
Speaker 2: of the harder throwers in this entire bullpen. And even

927
00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:24,279
Speaker 2: more impressively was the slider and how dominant he was

928
00:50:24,560 --> 00:50:26,359
Speaker 2: when he got a head in counts and was able

929
00:50:26,360 --> 00:50:30,360
Speaker 2: to use that pitch. He's someone that would slightly improved control.

930
00:50:30,400 --> 00:50:32,280
Speaker 2: He doesn't even need to be precise with this command,

931
00:50:32,280 --> 00:50:35,160
Speaker 2: but just by throwing more first pitch strikes and able

932
00:50:35,160 --> 00:50:37,480
Speaker 2: to get to that slider more often, even using the

933
00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:42,319
Speaker 2: slider more often than he currently does, he's gonna be

934
00:50:42,480 --> 00:50:45,280
Speaker 2: very tough to even put the bat on the ball against.

935
00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:48,040
Speaker 2: And I wouldn't be surprised if he's working high leverage

936
00:50:48,040 --> 00:50:52,279
Speaker 2: innings for this Marlins team. Adam Connelly was someone that

937
00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:54,560
Speaker 2: I've really gone back and forth on. I'll admit to

938
00:50:54,920 --> 00:50:58,520
Speaker 2: being inconsistent with opinions on him. There were times last

939
00:50:58,600 --> 00:51:00,960
Speaker 2: year where I was over him and was surprised the

940
00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:05,440
Speaker 2: marlinston simply DFA him release him. It just seemed that

941
00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:09,200
Speaker 2: despite his impressive velocity and his pedigree as a former

942
00:51:09,280 --> 00:51:13,640
Speaker 2: high round draft pick, that he just won't be an effective,

943
00:51:13,719 --> 00:51:17,439
Speaker 2: consistent reliever. You look into the numbers a little bit more.

944
00:51:18,000 --> 00:51:20,000
Speaker 2: The issues he had with his change up early on.

945
00:51:20,400 --> 00:51:22,440
Speaker 2: He made some adjustments to that pitch later in the

946
00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:25,480
Speaker 2: season that shows some promise. The fact that he gets

947
00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:28,760
Speaker 2: another year now working with mel Stotdemeier Junior, the pitching coach,

948
00:51:29,160 --> 00:51:32,040
Speaker 2: and some of the instructors, maybe they can tap into something.

949
00:51:32,360 --> 00:51:34,680
Speaker 2: He is due a raise in arbitration, which I thought

950
00:51:34,719 --> 00:51:37,920
Speaker 2: might scare the Marlins a way a little bit because

951
00:51:37,960 --> 00:51:41,239
Speaker 2: those deals aren't fully guaranteed. They could always cut ties

952
00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:44,000
Speaker 2: at the end of spring training if he carries over

953
00:51:44,040 --> 00:51:48,520
Speaker 2: those struggles from twenty nineteen. But he was all things considered,

954
00:51:48,520 --> 00:51:53,000
Speaker 2: a very decent reliever in twenty eighteen and entering his

955
00:51:53,040 --> 00:51:56,400
Speaker 2: age thirty season in out of options.

956
00:51:56,880 --> 00:51:57,359
Speaker 1: All that.

957
00:51:58,760 --> 00:52:01,879
Speaker 2: There's gonna be very short leash on him, I imagine.

958
00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:05,040
Speaker 2: But it seems he's coming back, and I'm gonna give

959
00:52:05,080 --> 00:52:07,200
Speaker 2: you the most honest projection I possibly can for the

960
00:52:07,200 --> 00:52:10,080
Speaker 2: team right now, He's gonna be in the mix. Both

961
00:52:10,120 --> 00:52:14,000
Speaker 2: of the Garcias. Harlan Garcia arguably the best reliever the

962
00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:15,880
Speaker 2: Marlins had last year in terms of the ones that

963
00:52:15,880 --> 00:52:19,360
Speaker 2: actually finished the year with the team ERA in the

964
00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:23,239
Speaker 2: low threes, and the fielder independent pitching almost matched that

965
00:52:23,320 --> 00:52:25,120
Speaker 2: as well. It was kind of surprised when you look

966
00:52:25,120 --> 00:52:26,920
Speaker 2: at it that he actually spent some time in Triple

967
00:52:26,960 --> 00:52:29,719
Speaker 2: A considering how good he was in the majors. It

968
00:52:29,760 --> 00:52:31,360
Speaker 2: was a great bounce back year from where he was

969
00:52:31,600 --> 00:52:35,640
Speaker 2: in twenty eighteen. He'll be pitching pretty important endings, Yimmy Garcia,

970
00:52:36,440 --> 00:52:40,680
Speaker 2: given that guaranteed deal brought into spring training. I mean,

971
00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:43,759
Speaker 2: it's again, it's not a huge commitment that the Marlins made.

972
00:52:43,760 --> 00:52:46,560
Speaker 2: So if it is evidently clear at some point early

973
00:52:46,640 --> 00:52:49,480
Speaker 2: on that he can't keep the ball in the ballpark,

974
00:52:49,520 --> 00:52:51,400
Speaker 2: because that was an issue with him for the Dodgers

975
00:52:51,440 --> 00:52:55,480
Speaker 2: last year, allowing too many home runs, He's not necessarily

976
00:52:55,480 --> 00:52:59,640
Speaker 2: guaranteed to stick around, but I imagine pretty confidently that he

977
00:52:59,680 --> 00:53:03,960
Speaker 2: will be on the opening day roster sterling sharp pick

978
00:53:04,040 --> 00:53:06,440
Speaker 2: up in the Rule five draft that the team is

979
00:53:06,520 --> 00:53:11,160
Speaker 2: very excited about, and doesn't have premium velocity but a

980
00:53:11,280 --> 00:53:14,640
Speaker 2: very high ground ball rate in the minor leagues. He

981
00:53:14,719 --> 00:53:17,919
Speaker 2: has that sinker that hitters in the miners at least

982
00:53:17,920 --> 00:53:21,120
Speaker 2: weren't able to really barrel up very well, has some

983
00:53:21,160 --> 00:53:24,200
Speaker 2: experience as high as double A, and he's gonna have

984
00:53:24,239 --> 00:53:26,960
Speaker 2: a very strong shot at breaking the roster because clearly

985
00:53:27,080 --> 00:53:29,759
Speaker 2: the Marlins like him, not just for twenty twenty to

986
00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:32,399
Speaker 2: fill a spot on the roster, but long term as well.

987
00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:35,920
Speaker 2: Don't give up on Ryan Stanek. I know late last

988
00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:38,120
Speaker 2: year was very discouraging. After he came over in the

989
00:53:38,160 --> 00:53:41,319
Speaker 2: trade from Tampa Bay. Don maddenly plugged him into some

990
00:53:41,400 --> 00:53:45,680
Speaker 2: high relief, high leverage relief situations, and he choked away

991
00:53:45,760 --> 00:53:49,280
Speaker 2: a few different games despite having that great fastball splitter

992
00:53:49,280 --> 00:53:53,680
Speaker 2: combination that had him success with Tampa Bay. Because of

993
00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:56,720
Speaker 2: his track record, he did seem to get things together

994
00:53:56,760 --> 00:53:59,560
Speaker 2: a little bit in September. He's certainly going to come

995
00:53:59,600 --> 00:54:02,759
Speaker 2: back to the team, not even arbitration eligible yet the

996
00:54:02,760 --> 00:54:06,400
Speaker 2: Marlins are definitely gonna give him another shot, not necessarily

997
00:54:06,440 --> 00:54:10,479
Speaker 2: gonna use him as a closer initially, but certainly bring

998
00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:13,320
Speaker 2: him back and try again, because that was a pretty

999
00:54:13,440 --> 00:54:16,399
Speaker 2: significant trade that they gave up Nick Anderson, who could

1000
00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:18,520
Speaker 2: have been a long term relief option for them, and

1001
00:54:18,560 --> 00:54:22,360
Speaker 2: Treva Richards as well. Clearly they believed in stantic stuff

1002
00:54:22,600 --> 00:54:25,799
Speaker 2: and his poise, so he will get in another opportunity

1003
00:54:25,840 --> 00:54:29,120
Speaker 2: to show that. I think my front runner for closing

1004
00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:31,040
Speaker 2: games is someone that's not actually signed to the team

1005
00:54:31,120 --> 00:54:34,640
Speaker 2: right now, but free agent Brandon Kinsler, who we just named.

1006
00:54:35,080 --> 00:54:37,279
Speaker 2: He is coming off a very good season with the

1007
00:54:37,320 --> 00:54:42,560
Speaker 2: Chicago Cubs. In the same way as strolling sharp Harlan Garcia.

1008
00:54:42,719 --> 00:54:45,400
Speaker 2: He doesn't overwhelm me with velocity. He might have the

1009
00:54:45,400 --> 00:54:49,040
Speaker 2: lowest velocity out of all those guys, but he throws

1010
00:54:49,120 --> 00:54:51,520
Speaker 2: a ton of strikes. He has a lot of experience

1011
00:54:51,560 --> 00:54:55,359
Speaker 2: in this league before Chicago with the Brewers and with

1012
00:54:55,440 --> 00:54:58,360
Speaker 2: the Twins. He has closed games in the major leagues before,

1013
00:54:58,520 --> 00:55:02,080
Speaker 2: which is something that the rest is bullpen is really lacking.

1014
00:55:02,400 --> 00:55:05,839
Speaker 2: And I don't see really anybody here that is consistently

1015
00:55:05,840 --> 00:55:08,600
Speaker 2: closed games in the majors, So he has that experience.

1016
00:55:09,040 --> 00:55:11,279
Speaker 2: By far the oldest player of this bullpen as well,

1017
00:55:11,320 --> 00:55:14,840
Speaker 2: at thirty five years old. It should be attainable on

1018
00:55:14,960 --> 00:55:16,799
Speaker 2: just a one year guarantee, but it's going to cost

1019
00:55:16,920 --> 00:55:19,560
Speaker 2: more than Jeamy Garcia did. It'll cost a few million

1020
00:55:19,600 --> 00:55:22,880
Speaker 2: dollars and potentially has some incentives in there based on

1021
00:55:22,960 --> 00:55:27,040
Speaker 2: games finished or something. But he's the guy that was

1022
00:55:27,120 --> 00:55:29,960
Speaker 2: reportedly drawing a lot of significant interests. The Marlins have

1023
00:55:30,040 --> 00:55:32,840
Speaker 2: not been named specifically as one of those teams, but

1024
00:55:32,920 --> 00:55:34,759
Speaker 2: I do have a hunch because of everything that the

1025
00:55:34,840 --> 00:55:39,400
Speaker 2: organization has been saying about emphasizing throwing strikes and being consistent,

1026
00:55:39,520 --> 00:55:42,399
Speaker 2: he's the guy that fits that bill. And finally filling

1027
00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:45,799
Speaker 2: out the bullpen, is Northcraft mentioned as one of the

1028
00:55:45,920 --> 00:55:50,480
Speaker 2: non roster invitees to give yet another different look simply

1029
00:55:50,680 --> 00:55:52,719
Speaker 2: the fact that you have retained a lot of hard

1030
00:55:52,719 --> 00:55:56,919
Speaker 2: throwers in this bullpen between Brigham and Conley and Stank

1031
00:55:57,239 --> 00:56:01,600
Speaker 2: and Garcia. Jemmy Garcia don't need another fireballer in this

1032
00:56:01,640 --> 00:56:04,799
Speaker 2: bullpen to be successful, and Northcraft is the one that

1033
00:56:05,239 --> 00:56:10,000
Speaker 2: I imagine he was so successful in Triple A last year,

1034
00:56:10,520 --> 00:56:13,359
Speaker 2: and considering how much Triple A benefited the hitters. If

1035
00:56:13,360 --> 00:56:16,480
Speaker 2: you're putting up a sub two point zero e er a,

1036
00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:21,000
Speaker 2: that that means something I have to believe. And I

1037
00:56:21,040 --> 00:56:23,920
Speaker 2: think if he just performs well in spring training that

1038
00:56:24,360 --> 00:56:26,640
Speaker 2: he's gonna have a shot at breaking this opening day roster.

1039
00:56:27,360 --> 00:56:30,759
Speaker 2: As things currently project, I think he's gonna sneak in

1040
00:56:31,040 --> 00:56:35,640
Speaker 2: and waiting to be determined what his role would be. Obviously,

1041
00:56:37,200 --> 00:56:39,800
Speaker 2: he's an intriguing pickup that this is the kind of

1042
00:56:39,880 --> 00:56:41,919
Speaker 2: year where you give a shot to some of those

1043
00:56:42,200 --> 00:56:43,800
Speaker 2: wild card signings.

1044
00:56:47,680 --> 00:56:48,439
Speaker 1: That will do it.

1045
00:56:48,480 --> 00:56:52,400
Speaker 2: For this episode of Fish Bites with me Eli Sussman,

1046
00:56:52,760 --> 00:56:56,120
Speaker 2: I'm anxious to hear what your opening day roster projections are.

1047
00:56:56,440 --> 00:56:59,040
Speaker 2: Who you want to see Marlin's target and free agency

1048
00:56:59,040 --> 00:57:01,080
Speaker 2: to fill out the roster, who think they actually will

1049
00:57:01,120 --> 00:57:04,280
Speaker 2: get because for me, there was a difference between who's

1050
00:57:04,320 --> 00:57:07,440
Speaker 2: on my wish list and what my expectations are for

1051
00:57:07,560 --> 00:57:12,120
Speaker 2: them actually delivering those quote unquote presents. Everybody, have a

1052
00:57:12,360 --> 00:57:16,720
Speaker 2: merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy holidays. I'll catch up

1053
00:57:16,720 --> 00:57:19,800
Speaker 2: with you next time. One more episode left in twenty

1054
00:57:19,880 --> 00:57:23,360
Speaker 2: nineteen before we move forward to an exciting build up

1055
00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:24,800
Speaker 2: to the twenty twenty season.

1056
00:57:25,520 --> 00:57:42,240
Speaker 1: Go Fish