1 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Hey, Welcome to the official show here on the Fish 2 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: Stripes podcast channel. Eli Susman here managing editor at Fist 3 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: Stripes covering all things Miami Marlins for you. This would 4 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: be a pretty quick episode touching on the state of 5 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: the Marlins starting rotation. If you follow the team closely 6 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: on fifth Stripes dot com, on our social media accounts 7 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: at fist Stripes, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Watch the games, 8 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: you're well aware that the Marlin is one of the 9 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: things they take so much pride in at this particular 10 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: point in their rebuilds. Is the depth of their starting 11 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: rotation and the upside of a lot of these young starters. 12 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: Sandy Alcontra, Pablo Lopez essentially locked in to the twenty 13 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: twenty one opening day rotation, Ellie as Hernandez likely to 14 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: have a slot in there. Six do Sanchez Trevor Rodgers 15 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: right in that discussion for the back end of the rotation. 16 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: All guys that we saw in the majors for the 17 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: first time last year, and most of the rookies that 18 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: we saw flashed a lot of promise in those roles, 19 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: very encouraging. All these guys under control for four more 20 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: years or more they're very bright days ahead when it 21 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: comes to this Marlin's rotation, there's no doubt about it. 22 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: With a focus on the upcoming season, however, you see 23 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 1: some red flags, or at least I see some red flags. 24 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: I haven't seen them mentioned all that often. I have 25 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: periodically been beating the strum the last couple of months 26 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: that the Marlins need to do something outside of their 27 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: current internal rotation options to shure up things heading into 28 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: this upcoming season, to make some sort of effort to 29 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: defend their postseason birth in twenty twenty. And some interesting 30 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: news coming out of Wednesday, not a shock. I'd been 31 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: alluding to it for a couple of days now that 32 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: Corey Kluber, the former al Cy Young Award winner, was 33 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: going to be holding a throwing session in West Palm Beach, 34 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: specifically at Eric Kressy's facility called Cressy Sports Performance. Mostly 35 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: are probably that doesn't ring any belts, but it is 36 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: a facility right around the corner from where the Marlins 37 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: have their spring complex in Jupiter. Countless Marlins pitchers throughout 38 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: the last decade have worked out there, everybody from Brad 39 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: Hand and Steve Seeschek to their current top prospects like 40 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: Braxton Garrett, Jordan Holloway. I'm just thinking of the guys 41 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: that I've seen there personally, but there's probably others behind 42 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 1: the scenes. It is a very highly regarded facility, and 43 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: Corey Klueber has credited that facility for a lot of 44 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: his development as a Lake bloomer, a guy that was 45 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: never held in super high regard as a prospect, someone 46 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: that was traded before he even made much of a 47 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: dent in the majors, traded to the Indians, and then 48 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: pretty soon after he got there and got to the 49 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: major league level, he exploded as one of the more 50 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: consistent starting pitchers in all of baseball twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen, 51 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen. Every year, a five 52 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: win pitcher, a six win pitcher above replacement level, even 53 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: topping out at seven point two wins above a placement level. 54 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: Just a joy to watch him during those handful of years. 55 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 1: And on Wednesday, he held a throwing session in West 56 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: Palm Beach. The finer details coming from Jeff Passon of 57 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: ESPN that nearly twenty five teams showed up to see 58 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: Kluber at his showcase fastball averaging sitting eighty eight to 59 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: ninety miles per hour with an expectation that he wasn't 60 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: going one hundred percent. There was an understanding that he 61 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: was still progressing to get to full on throwing baseball shape, 62 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: as most pitchers do as we get closer. Just fring training, 63 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: thirty total pitches and he threw both his fastballs and 64 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: his off speed stuff. Compared to where he was in 65 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, that last full season as an ACE level pitcher, 66 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: Klueber's stock is significantly down and the Marlins have something 67 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: to do with that. Unintentionally, of course. When the Indians 68 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 1: were at Marlins Park about a month into the twenty 69 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: nineteenth season, Brian Anderson are beloved. Brian Anderson at the 70 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: Blake hit a scorching line drive comebacker that went right 71 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: at Klueber during that start that day, and Kluber had 72 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: to exit early clutching at his elbow and it turned 73 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: out that he fractured his elbow. Oh my goodness, it 74 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: nailed Klueber. Oh my goodness, it got him on the 75 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: pitching arm, and that is not good. He could not 76 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: get out of the way, that's for sure. It sidelined 77 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: him for a couple months. On his way rehabbing from 78 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: that injury, he suffered a separate, unrelated core injury, I 79 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: think an oblique injury and never made it back for 80 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: the Indians down the stretch of that twenty nineteen season. 81 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 1: Got traded over the off season heading into twenty twenty, 82 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: a move that was relatively unpopular. It seems even then 83 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: that the Indians were selling low on Cluber didn't get 84 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: a blue chip prospect in return. As it turns out, 85 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: the Rangers only got one start, one abbreviated start out 86 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: a Clooper, before he suffered another injury to a muscle 87 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: right near his throwing shoulder. No structural damage to the 88 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: shoulder itself, but a muscle right around there. And during 89 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: the shortened season he didn't have the opportunity to come 90 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: back from that either. Over the last two seasons, combined 91 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,239 Speaker 1: just limited to what is this eight total starts from 92 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: this guy, and combined that with his age, the fact 93 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: that he'll soon be turning thirty five years old, there's 94 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: a reason why he is available at this stage of 95 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: the offseason and a reason why the Marlins were in attendance. So, 96 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: as I mentioned, a few minutes ago. This workout was 97 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: happening literally down the street from the Marlins facility. They 98 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: had no excuse for missing out on this, and the 99 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: fact that they showed up it does not necessarily reflect 100 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: that they have any serious interest in Kluber. They just 101 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: had the good practice to show up and do their 102 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: due diligence, as almost every team in the majors did. 103 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 1: Joel Sherman of The New York Post has been on 104 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: top of Kluber's progression to get to this point the 105 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: last week or so. From his angle of course, being 106 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: in New York, he is looking at it from the 107 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: Yankees potential interest and the Mets potential interest. I'd say, 108 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: and there's a good reason I believe those are more 109 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: likely destinations for Kluber than the Marlins are. And I mean, 110 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: what Joel pointed out is for someone at this stage 111 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: of his career will be entering his age thirty five season, 112 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: that and this is quoting Sherman, usually a mid thirties 113 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: broken toy pitcher stays that way when players have a 114 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 1: significant hiatus the way that he has had, or just 115 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: generally being very limited in time. I should mention that 116 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: over those eight starts that he made the last two years. 117 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: The bottom line results are not Kluber like. He was 118 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: about half a win above replacement level pro rated over 119 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: a full year. He was pitching like a league average 120 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: pitcher during that small sample in twenty nineteen and twenty twenty, 121 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: So that's notable. It's a small sample. But if you 122 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: have no other data on him over the last two 123 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,119 Speaker 1: and a half years, then that needs to weigh into 124 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: the situation, and that explains why he is the kind 125 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: of guy that conceivably could fall within the Marlins price range. 126 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: But I mean back to Joel Sherman. He points out 127 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: a couple exceptions to the norm, guys in this late 128 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: age of their career that have revived their careers and 129 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: sustained a high level of performance for a significant amount 130 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: of time after that. John Smoltz in the Hall of Famer, 131 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: he had Tommy John surgery into his thirties, came back 132 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: as a reliever dominant rely, and then later into his 133 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: thirties he was back in the rotation again for the Braves. 134 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: There's also the case of Bartolo Cologne, the ageless Bartolo Cologne. 135 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: Now as we're recording this, in his late forties and 136 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: still not technically retired from baseball, But in his late 137 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: thirties he had that ped suspension for a typis steroid 138 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: and he missed big time of that serving his suspension. 139 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: Yet he came back from that with the Oakland A's 140 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: and he was one of the best pitchers in their 141 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: rotation for several years. Came to the National League East 142 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: with the Mets, and he was good enough with the 143 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,719 Speaker 1: Mets that he was starting games in the postseason for them. 144 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: I believe he also appeared in that twenty fifteen World Series, 145 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: by which went he was already forty two years old, 146 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: so he had a lot of longevity afterwards, and I 147 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: remember his velocity also was astoundingly good for that age, 148 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: still sitting in the mid nineties. To me, though, the 149 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: example the exception to the norm, the optimistic outcome for 150 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: Kluber at this time point would probably look something like 151 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: Chris Carpenter. You may remember Chris Carpenter from the Cardinals. 152 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: I mean he won a Cy Young Award in the 153 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: early two thousands. Somewhat of a similar career trajectory with 154 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: Clubber in terms of how late he emerged as a 155 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: star pitcher. He had a handful of years early on 156 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: with the Blue Jays where didn't do much of anything, 157 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: and it wasn't until he winded up with the Cardinals 158 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: that he emerged as the best version of himself, a 159 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 1: credible endings eater for about a two or three year span, 160 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: and then in two thousand and seven it was he 161 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: underwent Tommy John surgery and at that point he was 162 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: I believe thirty three, thirty four years old. That's a 163 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: more serious setback than the shoulder at the elbow and 164 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: shoulder muscle injuries that Kluber has, but it did its 165 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: part in sidetracking him for the better part of two 166 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: years in two and seven, two thousand and eight, and 167 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: yet he came back from that with the Cardinals and 168 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: he had another three four really great years after that 169 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: in the rotation as one of the league leaders in 170 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: ennings pitched. And that's what really appeals to me about 171 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: Kluber is the track record he has had a as 172 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: a work course, because that's the main concern that I 173 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: have with these Marlins pitchers. You have Sandy Alcontra to 174 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: this point in his career. Thankfully, Sandy has been virtually 175 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: injury free, missed a little time on the injured list 176 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: with an arm infection in twenty eighteen, but that was 177 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: more of a fluke injury than anything that you should 178 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: be worried about. The problem is outside of him, almost 179 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: every other candidate for a Marlins rotation job, whether it's 180 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: for opening Day twenty twenty one or as it called, 181 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: mid season, there are concerns with all of them, at 182 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: least in their track record when it comes to their health. 183 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: Pablo Lopez, who has always been my very favorite rotation 184 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: candidate for the Marlins since he emerged around the same 185 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: time that Sandy did, coming off a great twenty twenty season, 186 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: but prior to that, he's said year after year of 187 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: shoulder issues, and he also has Tommy John very far 188 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: in his history, but in twenty eighteen and even more 189 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 1: severely in twenty nineteen miss time with a shoulder strain. 190 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: With Jordan Yamamoto that some of you are pretty low on, 191 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: understandably with Yamamoto coming off what he did in twenty twenty, 192 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: but he has some intriguing swing and miss stuff, and 193 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: he's just as young as Pablo and Sandy is a 194 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: minor league option remaining he could still have a role 195 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: with this organization moving forward if he's healthy. But just 196 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: like with Pablo, he's had a couple shoulder injuries in 197 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: his recent history as well. Six do Sanchez. I mean, 198 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: the reason why he was available to the Marlins in 199 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: the first place is because Marlon the Phillies weren't totally 200 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: sold on his long term durability. He suffered an elbow 201 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 1: injury in twenty eighteen that limited his progress through their 202 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: farm system at that point. Thankfully, the Marlins managed him 203 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: pretty carefully in twenty nineteen and there was no recurrence 204 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: of that elbow issue whatsoever. But he is unconventionally small 205 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: in stature for a starting pitcher, and fair or not, 206 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: that's always going to play into the calculus and how 207 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: much you really trust them a year in and year out. 208 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: Braxton Garrett, Tommy John survivor Jordan Holloway, Tommy John's survivor, 209 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: Nick Niger in twenty nineteen missed a big chunk of 210 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: the year with a meniscous injury, so not quite as 211 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: directly implicated with your pitching ability. That may have been 212 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: somewhat unlucky on his part. I'm still pretty high on Nider, 213 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: but that's again, his availability is somewhat in doubt, and 214 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: Eliezer Hernandez, who I've seen pretty frequently mentioned as trade bait, 215 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: whether it's for Andrew ben and Tendi or Wilson Contreras. Personally, 216 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: in my mind, he's pretty essential to what the Marlins 217 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: are trying to accomplish this coming year if he's healthy, 218 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: because he was not around for this postseason run with 219 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: the Marlins or in all of after suffering a lat injury, 220 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: and by all accounts he is fully recovered from that 221 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: at this point, with spring training almost around the corner, 222 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: he seems to be back on track from that. But 223 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: it's pretty much everybody. Trevor Rodgers is kind of the 224 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: exception here where Rogers is. He was handled also pretty 225 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: carefully early in his career coming out of the draft, 226 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: but as far as I can tell, has never really 227 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: had that one significant injury that gives you great pause 228 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: when you're projecting forward to a full season. And that's 229 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: what we're doing at this point because Major League Baseball 230 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: sent out a memo to all the teams, all the 231 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: agents recently declaring their intention of opening spring training camps 232 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: on time in mid February, starting spring training games in 233 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: late February and keeping opening day just as it was 234 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,719 Speaker 1: scheduled to be on April first. If you're going to 235 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: proceed within one hundred and sixty two game season, you 236 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: know work in potentially some postponements or cans for COVID 237 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: related reasons. That if you're going to make it through 238 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: this whole season, a major league team should proceed with 239 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: at least a group of ten potential starting pitchers that 240 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 1: they trust in their organization. And I named about nine 241 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: of them just now. And there are a few others 242 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: you could put in that conversation. Daniel Costano, who I 243 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: think exceeded just about everybody's expectations with what he did 244 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: last year, although I'm not sure how sustainable that is. 245 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: George Guzman, who was held in very high regard not 246 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: that long ago being acquired from the Yankees, and the 247 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: Gean Carlos Stanton trade. There are you could if you 248 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: squinn carefully enough, if you are really on the bright side, 249 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: then maybe you could see a path for the Marlins 250 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: doing this all with existing options. But I'm just here 251 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: to give you a reality check that these guys are 252 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: not experienced, because not only do most of them have 253 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: somewhat concerning injury in their recent past, but you just 254 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: don't have a track record of any of them doing 255 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: much at all at the major league level, aside from 256 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: Sandy having a couple of quality seasons under his belt. 257 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: At this point, you you'll really, I mean I personally, 258 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: I'll give you my preference with Edward Cabrera. Another name 259 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: that we should mention that we'll definitely be debuting during 260 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one. Edward Cabrera. I'm really high on Nick 261 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: knighterd as well. I think those guys can step up 262 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: to the majors and immediately be quality starters. They could be, 263 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: They have the potential to be. That doesn't mean they 264 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: will be. With these type of players, most of them, 265 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: evaluators will tell you they have a future grade somewhere 266 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: between forty five fifty and fifty five, right around a 267 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: league average quality starting pitcher. All of them have the 268 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: potential to be really solid starters at the very least 269 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: back end starting pitchers, But that's almost the best case scenario. 270 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: Even if they do stay healthy, and even if they 271 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: do reach their potential, there's no saying that they're going 272 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: to reach their potential in their rookie year or in 273 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: their first full year, even if they had debuted in 274 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, all of them are on different timelines, bringing 275 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: us right back to Corey Klueber, who did not settle 276 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: in as an elite starting pitcher until he was twenty 277 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: eight years old. That's pretty far along, just to put 278 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: that in perspective. When he was twenty eight he emerged. 279 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: There's nobody in the Marlins organization who will even be 280 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: who's a rotation candidate. Legitimately that will even be twenty 281 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: seven on opening day. Daniel Castano is the oldest of 282 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: the bunch, and if you take him and put him 283 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: on the back burner as triple A depth, then the 284 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: graybeard of their projected rotation is Eliez or Hernandez, who 285 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: is not even twenty six. So these guys are all 286 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: on their different schedules. The Marlins have invested a lot 287 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: of energy and time into putting together the best possible 288 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: player development operation. We've seen some very positive signs from 289 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: the way these pitchers have progressed through the miners, the 290 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: way that they stepped up coming out at the alternate 291 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: training site during the twenty twenty season. There are some 292 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 1: good things happening here, but that doesn't guarantee that these 293 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: guys will be totally ready to be the best version 294 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: of themselves immediately. There may need to be some adjustments 295 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: when you're approaching this twenty twenty one season. There's a 296 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: case to be made that coming off of the pandemic, 297 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: with all the lost opportunities to make revenue for the team, 298 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: the fact that the Marlins, through some very poor timing, 299 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: were sattled with the entire salary of wig in Chin, 300 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: all twenty two million dollars instead of having it pro rated. 301 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: The organization probably lost money this past season, and as 302 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: of this recording, their TV deal is still in limbo, 303 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: their local television deal, which is something we circled as 304 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: soon as the team changed ownership three plus years ago, 305 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: that renegotiating that deal long term was going to be 306 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: so critical to this organization actually spending like a mid 307 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: market team instead of one of the smallest in the league, 308 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: and they the reality is they've steadily reduced their payroll 309 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: each year under new ownership, and they're poised to do 310 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: that again, at least compared to what the full season's 311 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: worth of revenue, full seasons and worth of payroll would 312 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: have been in twenty twenty that currently they're on track 313 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: to spend less than sixty million dollars on payroll entering 314 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: the new season, and if they stand pat with what 315 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: they are right now, it's a roll of the dice 316 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,719 Speaker 1: that they are internal options that a good chunk of 317 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: these prospects, many who we saw at the major league 318 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: level for the first time last year, others that are 319 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: right on the cusp of the debuting in twenty twenty one, 320 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 1: and even some that have been are in that post 321 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: prospect by low situation, Isan Diez, Lewis Brinson, guys that 322 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: we've seen some discouraging things from a major league gumbo 323 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 1: but still have incredible pedigree and skill. It's not insane 324 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 1: to bank on the fact that those guys will reach 325 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: it a new level after that's some combination, they'll find 326 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: the right players to step up in those situations at 327 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 1: second base, between Isan and Jazz Chisholm in right field, 328 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: between Brinson and Monte Harrison, and Harold Ramirez and Jyesus 329 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: Sanchez at catchers. If Jorge Alfaro bounces back from a 330 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: pretty much lost year, that this could be a cheap 331 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: team and still be a very competitive team, but there's 332 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 1: no reason for them to stamp pat given the limited 333 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,479 Speaker 1: commitments they have and understanding the fan based mindset that 334 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:47,719 Speaker 1: we had so much fun during the twenty twenty season, 335 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: and it doesn't seem like you're upholding your commitment to 336 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: the fans if you're not actively seeking ways to improve 337 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: the team, to plug holes, to do so efficiently at 338 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: a time where spring training is around the corner and 339 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: they're still well over one hundred major league free agents, 340 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: a lot of decent free agents, some star level free 341 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 1: agents still out there. That with all those guys out there, 342 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: as those dates approach, you got to think that they'll 343 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: be attainable on relatively affordable deals. Corey Klueber being one example. 344 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: Based on the best estimates from ESPN and also from 345 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: Joel Sherman of The New York Post, they think his 346 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: market is going to be a guaranteed deal around the 347 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 1: five million dollar range five million, six million dollars guaranteed, 348 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: with a bunch of incentives on top of that that 349 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: give him the opportunity to perhaps even triple that salary 350 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: upwards of fifteen million to eighteen million something like that, 351 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: where if he has the season that we've historically seen 352 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: from him, where he makes thirty two starts, where he 353 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: keeps his ra around three, and where he strikes out 354 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: two hundred, two hundred and twenty five hitters. That that 355 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: would give him a opportunity to make a bunch of 356 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: money for himself, the kind of salary that he's accustomed 357 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 1: to having under his previous contract. And would the Marlins 358 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: make that type of offer to him. I don't think so. 359 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: Maybe that guarantee is reasonable for them, although I don't 360 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 1: think they would hop on quite as many incentives and 361 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: potentially put themselves in a position where they're paying so 362 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: much for him. But I think the fit is absolutely there, 363 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: given how durable he was before these couple fluky injuries, 364 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: and despite his age. He is a guy that you 365 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: could get on a one year deal, which is not 366 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: something that could be said for all the available free 367 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: agent starters at this time. One name that I circled 368 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the off season was Jake Odorizzi, who, 369 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: somewhat like Klueber, was kind of sidetracked in his career 370 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: by a fluky injury in twenty twenty. He absolutely would 371 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: have pitched in twenty twenty some more if it was 372 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 1: a full length season, but he was limited to three 373 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: or four poor starts due to a stints on the IL. 374 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 1: As things have progressed, and if you've seen some of 375 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: these other deals that starting pitchers are getting in free agency, 376 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: they're doing pretty well for themselves. It's kind of surprising. 377 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: Guys Charlie Morden, for example, let go by the Rays 378 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: and ends up signing for a whole lot more money 379 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: than the Rays would have owed him under his club option, 380 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: the way that Drew Smiley also got paid by the Braves, 381 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: even though Smiley had a very limited track record of 382 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: actually being a steady, reliable starter. And oh Mike Minor 383 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: going to the Kansas City for a big two year 384 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: deal despite also being very deep into his thirties. That 385 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:43,959 Speaker 1: someone like oda Rizzi I think is going to be 386 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 1: a multi year guarantee, as will of course Trevor Bauer 387 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 1: being out there, probably Taiwan Walker multi year deal for 388 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: him as well. And for the Marlins, I think the 389 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: best fit is having someone on a one year deal. 390 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: I think it's reasonable for them to prioritize short term 391 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: help and put their faith in some of these pitchers 392 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 1: that are coming up through the system. If you're dreaming 393 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: of a future where the Marlins can build their whole rotation, 394 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: most of their entire pitching staff out of just homegrown arms, 395 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,360 Speaker 1: that future could be here as soon as twenty twenty two, 396 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: but it's not here right now. If the team actually 397 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,880 Speaker 1: has any aspirations of being competitive, if they want people 398 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 1: to believe that they're trying at the major league level, 399 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 1: they still need to do more. It goes without saying 400 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: they needed to do more offensively, whether it's a catcher 401 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: or in right field or just a general power left 402 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 1: handed bat, that there are a variety of things they 403 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: can do on the offensive side to give themselves a 404 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 1: better chance. And of course, probably the most obvious glaring 405 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: need they have right now is in the back end 406 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 1: of their bullpen. After not resigning Brandon Kinzler, who remains 407 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: out there in free agency, and the understandable interest they 408 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,719 Speaker 1: may want to look for different type of reliever in 409 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 1: that role. They have other areas to address. Starring picture 410 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: is not at the top of the list. I'm not 411 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: saying that it should be the highest priority, but I 412 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: think it should be addressed in some way before we 413 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 1: get to the start of the season, and one other 414 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: way just per sent what I've been hammering home the 415 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: last what twenty twenty five minutes is if you look 416 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: at their rotation last year, I mean there were unusual 417 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: circumstances of course last year with the COVID outbreak, but 418 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,719 Speaker 1: some of the pictures who made starts for them in 419 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 1: twenty twenty Caleb Smith, who's since been traded to the Diamondbacks. 420 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm virtual Mahea who has traded along with him. Josh 421 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: A Smith made a start and he has since signed 422 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: to play in Korea. Jose Ouurina has since moved on 423 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: to the Tigers. And there was one more I thought 424 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: I saw, yeah, and Robert Duggar. Robert Dugger made a 425 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: start as well in several longer relief appearances, but he's 426 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: since been cleaned off waivers by the Mariners. Overall, that 427 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: is eleven starts from the sixty game season. I love 428 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: how that number lines up. Eleven out of sixty. It 429 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,679 Speaker 1: is pretty close to once every five days. Those are 430 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 1: the number of pitchers that starts for them last season 431 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 1: that are no longer in the organization, and that leaves 432 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: to me avoid avoid for them to fill because over 433 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: the course of a full season. There are those injury 434 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: concerns I mentioned, There are those inexperienced concerns that can 435 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: manifest themselves in poor performance. There could be some of 436 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: these prospects that we are so high on that simply 437 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 1: things don't click for them immediately and they need to 438 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 1: be sent back down that over the course of a season, 439 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: you're gonna need a lot of decent starting pitchers. Marlins 440 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: are in an a fortunate place where all of their 441 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: internal options are under long term control and they're all 442 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: extremely cheap for this upcoming season. None of them are 443 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: even arbitration eligible yet among these starting pitching options, So 444 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: despite the uncertainty with their local television deal, it's going 445 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: to be there relatively soon. I'm not looking for them 446 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 1: to make anything, to do anything risky that has long 447 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 1: term implications in this department, but there should be room 448 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: to do something for twenty twenty one. There are a 449 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 1: bunch of options out there, aside from Kluber, just other 450 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: names that I think could be attainable on a one 451 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: year deal. Jose Kintana, Alex Wood, Geo Gonzalez, who's a 452 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:33,239 Speaker 1: Miami native, and Ani bal Sanchez, an old friend who 453 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: we've seen in this division the last few years. He's 454 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: coming off a down year as well. I'm compared to them, though, 455 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: I'd say Cluber, which is clearly the one that has 456 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 1: more upside of the bunch. He is also the oldest 457 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:50,959 Speaker 1: one of the bunch. And just going back to the 458 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 1: insider Joel Sherman from the New York Post, he seems 459 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: not directly reporting it, but he seems pretty convinced that 460 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: the Mets would be a great fit for Corey Kluber. 461 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: We've seen what the Mets have done this offseason, most 462 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 1: recently the blockbuster to acquire both Carlos Carrasco and Francisco 463 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: Lindor from the Indians that even though they finished behind 464 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 1: the Marlins in the standings last year, it's going to 465 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 1: be hard to dispute that they're the superior team right now. 466 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: And if not them, I could see the Phillies going 467 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 1: in in this department. The Phillies have been awfully quiet 468 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: this offseason, and I don't think they're content with continuing 469 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: to be an embarrassment relative to expectations that they'll do 470 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:39,360 Speaker 1: something on the back end of their rotation. And honestly, 471 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:41,680 Speaker 1: just about any team except for the Braves. The Braves 472 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: seem more or less set with their rotation for the 473 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one season, but if going with Kluber prevents 474 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: him from haunting you within the division, understanding that, as 475 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: the schedule is originally said, about half their games come 476 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: inside the NL East, but I think we should also 477 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: consider the possibility that as things get closer, depending on 478 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: where we are with COVID, that Major League Baseball may 479 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 1: opt to adjust the schedule and make it very regional 480 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 1: in the same way that the twenty twenty season was. 481 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: Remember last year, the Marlins played two thirds of their 482 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: games within the division in the NL East for that reason, 483 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 1: and I don't think we can totally rule that out. Again, 484 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: just understanding the kind of elevated risk in terms of 485 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,919 Speaker 1: transmitting the virus that happens when you're doing travel, so 486 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: adjustments could be made in the schedule where you travel 487 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: less and you play some familiar faces a lot more. 488 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 1: In the same way that the Marlins got extremely rough luck. 489 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 1: They faced Jacob de Gram in four consecutive starts during 490 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: the middle of the year, and surprisingly one I think 491 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: one or two of those games against the Gram. But 492 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: they may not get so lucky with Kober, and imagine 493 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: the scenario if they're both teammates next year, leading the 494 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: Mets rotation to try to vault themselves to the top 495 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: of the division for the first time in a long time. 496 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:04,719 Speaker 1: I just want to see them do something in this 497 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: rotation department for all the reasons just mentioned, and just 498 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: one final thing about the intangibles that veterans starting pitchers 499 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: can bring. I think a lot of us got frustrated 500 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: at times with what jos Ourania did as Marlin. Glimpses 501 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: of being the kind of great picture you think he 502 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: could be, but never really sustaining it for big portions 503 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 1: of time, never putting it all together, and finishing his 504 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: Marlin's tenure on a very unfortunate note, eerily similar to 505 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: Corey Klueber's injury with a line drive comebacker right at 506 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: the mound that fractured his arm made him unavailable for 507 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: the postseason. But with that being said, he's a guy 508 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,719 Speaker 1: that you ask just about any of these young starting 509 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 1: pictures in the Marlins rotation right now contending for jobs 510 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: in the near future. They looked up to him, They 511 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: really respected him. Arana wasn't all that much older than them, 512 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 1: but when they arrived to the Marlins, most of them 513 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: via trade, that arena was already here. He was already 514 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 1: in the rotation. He already knew about Miami, and he 515 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: was someone that came from very humble roots. That he 516 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: was not a highly regarded prospect at all early in 517 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: his professional career, and he worked himself into being even 518 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 1: if it wasn't the very best version of himself. That 519 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 1: he was a starting pitcher in this league for several 520 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: years and one of the only familiar faces in this 521 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 1: rotation both before and after the ownership change. They respected 522 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: him in that same category Dan Strayley, who is pitching 523 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: Korea last year in his back resigning with that team 524 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty one, that Dan Strayley, even you put 525 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: knocks on him for having trouble keeping balls in the 526 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: ballpark and maybe the Marlins give up too much in 527 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: the trade to acquire him from Cincinnati a few years back. 528 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: He was the same way in terms of how he 529 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 1: went out of his way to help you pictures, to 530 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: help them develop best practices, to answer any of the 531 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: questions that they had, from the very important ones to 532 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: just the basics about how to go about a routine 533 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: and how to make adjustments darning a game, what type 534 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: of data to look at to be the best version 535 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: of yourselves, how to interpret your performance. That these are 536 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:24,719 Speaker 1: the intangibles that veteran pictures can bring. As sexy as 537 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: it is to envision a homegrown, young rotation like the 538 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 1: Marlins could potentially have, that veteran presence is still so 539 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:38,640 Speaker 1: critical to bring in and to me, the Marblins are 540 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: really fortunate that we're in this offseason that is moving 541 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: so slowly and way more supply than there is demand 542 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: of these type of guys that they can get really 543 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: impactful on and off the field, starting picture on a 544 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: relatively cheap one year deal. I'm not optimistic that it's 545 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 1: going to be Kluber. I think attending his workout as 546 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: much as anything, was doing their due diligence and of 547 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: course aided by the convenience of being where he was 548 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: situated right around the corner from their facility. So I 549 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: wouldn't get your hopes up about that. But this is 550 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 1: once again another plea for them. Whether maybe there's a 551 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: creative trade out there that I'm overlooking, but most likely 552 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: via free agency, that Marlins makes some sort of one 553 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: year commitment to bring in veteran presence to make sure 554 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 1: that they're highly coveted young starting pitchers so have a 555 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: world of potential that being around a veteran picture who 556 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: has been there and done that before could make so 557 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 1: much of a difference in how they perform during twenty 558 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: twenty one, but also the kind of trajectory that they're 559 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: on for the rest of the decade and put them 560 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 1: in position to reach their full potential by having the 561 00:32:53,320 --> 00:33:02,240 Speaker 1: good influences around them. Thanks for listening, guys. If you 562 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 1: want more coverage on Andrew Benin Tendee on Wilson Contreras, 563 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:09,080 Speaker 1: we have full articles with trade proposals on them upon 564 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 1: fishtripes dot com. I handled the Ben and Tendie one. 565 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: The Wilson Contreras article that's from Ethan Podowski. We will 566 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: have a pretty massive presence on our Fishtripes platform throughout 567 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: the spring and into the summer, so I'm very excited 568 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 1: for Ethan's involvement in our content, as well more than 569 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 1: a dozen other contributors that will be on Fish Stripes, 570 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 1: on the podcast and on the website this upcoming season. 571 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: There's still some big plans to get sorted out once 572 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,160 Speaker 1: we get a little more certainty about what the season 573 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: is going to look like and exactly what kind of 574 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 1: team the Marlins have put together for the season. So 575 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 1: I made a plea for the Marlins to do more. 576 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 1: But I also want to calm everybody down, anybody that 577 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: is panicking about the Marlins not doing anything, that there 578 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 1: are still so many options out there in the way 579 00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 1: that the market is moving so slowly that I'm still 580 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 1: optimistic that we'll have something new to talk about relatively soon. 581 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 1: Next episode of the Officials show, we will have a 582 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:12,280 Speaker 1: special guest that is MLB dot com Marlins Beat reporter 583 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 1: brand new to that full time position, Christina de Nicola. 584 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:19,040 Speaker 1: So if you have any specific questions for her, just 585 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: let me know on social media or on the website 586 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:24,880 Speaker 1: so that we can ask that to her. That should 587 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 1: be a fun episode that you'll find on the same 588 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 1: feed wherever you listen to your podcasts. Please subscribe, rate, 589 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: and review on Apple Podcasts. That'd be much appreciated as well. 590 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 1: And anything else you want me to talk about in 591 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 1: the near future about the way that this Marlin seems 592 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 1: coming together, you know how to contact me with those 593 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: suggestions for Eli Susman and all the fish stripes. Thank 594 00:34:46,520 --> 00:35:03,279 Speaker 1: you for listening. Go fish The p