1 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: The show goes on. This is the official show on 2 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: the fish on First podcast channel with me Eli Sussman. 3 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: The calendar of fish on First, providing you guys with 4 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: complete coverage of the Miami Marlins. This is my weekly 5 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: podcast show. Find it wherever you get your podcasts. If 6 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: you're watching on YouTube, like subscribe, turn on notifications to 7 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: get all of our video exclusive contents. Leave a rating 8 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: and review wherever applicable to let us know how we're doing, 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: how we can prove as we get inching closer to 10 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: the start of real baseball here for the Marlins this 11 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: particular week, the big events coming up is Marlins approaching 12 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: settlements with their arbitration eligible players, and my initial idea 13 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: was maybe to do a podcast about that, just running 14 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: through all those are beligible guys and the money involved. 15 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,839 Speaker 1: And I just reached a point where I thought to myself, 16 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: am I really excited to talk about this? Are people 17 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: really going to be excited to listen to this? And 18 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: thankfully as the day went on, we got a more 19 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: interesting news peg to dive into a more interesting subject. 20 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: Just one player that I want to dive into, a 21 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: player that I know very well and that I think 22 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: a lot of you guys know and may have some 23 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: interest in as well. We're going to talk about Harold 24 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: Ramirez on the heels of the Marlins making a little 25 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: bit of news by bringing back Jonathan Davis on a 26 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: minor league deal, somewhat of a cult hero of the 27 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three team. That makes me think about Harold 28 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: because once upon a time back in twenty nineteen, he 29 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: had a similar spot in the heart of Marlin's fans 30 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: for a horrible team. He was one of the few 31 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: bright spots that were involved there. As quickly as he 32 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: jumped onto the scene, he was gone and now reportedly 33 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: could be had again via trade. And we're going to 34 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: dive into whether or not he actually makes sense as 35 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: somebody that could reunite with the Marlins, whether what it 36 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: would take to get him the pros and cons how 37 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: he fits with this potential roster. This will be a 38 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: relatively quick episode, but a joyous one, a fascinating one, 39 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 1: because I find Harold I always have now, going back 40 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: over five years, I've found him to be just a 41 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: fascinating player. Joined the Marlins on a minor league deal 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: entering the twenty nineteen season, didn't have any major league 43 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: experience at the time, and yet he showed this untapped potential. 44 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: He showed this uncannonability to hit, which if you're going 45 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: to be a one tool player or two tool player. 46 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 1: He doesn't have a fully complete skill set, as we'll 47 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: dive into. If you are able to hit, that in 48 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: itself can carry you to pretty impressive heights, and he 49 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: has reached impressive heights since leaving the Marlins. So now 50 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: an opportunity for the Marlins to potentially reacquire Harold Ramirez 51 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: via trade for their twenty twenty four roster. This subject 52 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,679 Speaker 1: is coming off of a rumor from Ken Rosenthal of 53 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: The Athletic Reporting in his latest this was on Monday, 54 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: that the Rays, according to sources, also have been shopping 55 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: designated hitter Harold Ramirez. He notes Harold's due to earn 56 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: about four point four million dollars projected via arbitration. He's 57 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: going through that process again. The idea of being the 58 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: Rays are overflowing with young position players that are as good, 59 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: if not potentially better than some of the veterans that 60 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: were above them in the depth charts. So if they 61 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: could save money if they get back even more young 62 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: players in return, and if they can unleash some of 63 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: their former top prospects into regular roles in the major 64 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: league level, could make sense for them to trade from 65 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: a surplus of hitting. What a It's hard to wrap 66 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: your mind around the team having more hitters than they 67 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: know what to do with, but the Rays are in 68 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: that position, at least at certain positions, so Harold this 69 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: past year their primary designated hitter for the race. He's 70 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: been with the Rays each of the past two years. 71 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: Prior to then twenty eleven, he was with the Guardians, 72 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: and he arrived at the Guardians when the Marlins traded 73 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: him for not even traded him. They defade him entering 74 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one spring training, he was claimed off waivers 75 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: and they got nothing in return. It was a very 76 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: questionable tactic at the time. And as he has gone 77 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: further and further away from being a Marlin, he's gone 78 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: from being an intriguing role player to being a great 79 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: role player any way that you slice it. Over Here 80 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: a quick peek at his Baseball Savants page and his 81 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: stat cast percentile rankings. For watching on YouTube, you could 82 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,559 Speaker 1: see the last three seasons to that line. His rookie 83 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: year with the Marlins was twenty nineteen, then in twenty 84 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: twenty he lost most of the year to COVID and 85 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: then an injury. It was a very dramatic moment in 86 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty September of that year, coincidentally at Tropicana Field, 87 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: where he just lost his footing running down the first 88 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: base line and he collapsed the ground hurt his leg. 89 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: It wasn't quite as bad as it seemed, but it 90 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: did cost him the final month of that season, made 91 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: him unavailable for the postseason in twenty twenty and prior 92 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: to the start of the next season, that's when the 93 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: Marlins squeezed him off the roster. In twenty twenty one 94 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: with Cleveland, he slashed two sixty eight three ZHO five 95 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: three ninety eight with seven home runs. All things considered, 96 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: just an unremarkable player who showed in agregating singles but 97 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: was a below average corner outfielder overall. In twenty twenty two, 98 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: we winded up with the Rays, took a nice step forward, 99 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: slashed three hundred three forty three four oh four, so 100 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: that's comfortably Ablove League average. Once again limited in the 101 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: power department, but still useful at the corner outfield positions. 102 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: That's when he started also playing first base in twenty 103 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: twenty two, then this past year in twenty twenty three, 104 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: taking another leap forward, he set career highs last season 105 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: in games played, run scored, hits, home runs, runs batted in, 106 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: stolen bases, walks, batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, 107 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: weighted runs created plus total bases, and fangrafts wins above placement, 108 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: all those categories new career highs for Herald. Being the 109 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: primary DH for that race team, he started the majority 110 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: of the games at DH, played one hundred and twenty 111 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: two games overall, including some off the bench and filling 112 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: in at those other aforementioned positions. Just a really fascinating 113 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: step forward for him being about a two win player, 114 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: whether it's being be a Baseball Reference or fangrafts. He 115 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: was for a guy that wasn't quite playing every day 116 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: still and we'll get into that in a moment, not 117 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: quite an everyday player, but just an outstanding role player 118 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: this past season. His stat cast percentile rankings tell an 119 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: interesting story where he does things inherently that lends itself 120 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: to a lot of hits is expected. Batting average was 121 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: in the seventy seventh percent style. He doesn't strike out. 122 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: He's always been a good contact hitter, and then last year, 123 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: once again more the same in that department, striking out 124 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: at only an eighteen percent rate, right in line with 125 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: his career averages, and they'll be average, usually about twenty 126 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: three percent, so it makes a lot of contact. He 127 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: still runs better than you think despite his builds. A 128 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: bit of a stock he builds, but still an above 129 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: average runner and as mentioned, a career high in stolen 130 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: bases this past season. So he was awesome for a 131 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: Raised team that had yet another awesome regular season. He 132 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: was quiet during their postseason sweep, but he was in 133 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: the line if. He was their number three hitter in 134 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: their postseason games against the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers. 135 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: This guy is batting in the heart of the lineup 136 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: for a Tampa Bay Rays team that won ninety nine 137 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: games this past season on a not an everyday basis, 138 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: but playing a lion's share of their games at DH 139 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: Cornerile Field, spots a little bit of first base right 140 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: there with Harold. So on the downside is he continues 141 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: to have this penchant for hitting the ball on the ground. 142 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: He does it every single year of his career at 143 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: least a fifty percent ground ball rate. League averages in 144 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: the low forties, and last year he was about fifty 145 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: five percent ground ball rate. To give you a Marlins 146 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: player as a frame of reference, there, Jean Sigura, who 147 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: grounded his way out of town with the Marlins last season, 148 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: drove everybody crazy. Jean Segura's ground ball rate last year 149 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: was fifty nine percent and Harold only about four percent 150 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,559 Speaker 1: lower than that. Yeah, overall, his career ground ball rate 151 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: is almost right in line with Sigura. All things considered, 152 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: It's hard to make that comparison just because cigura struggles 153 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: are so fresh in your mind. As an overall player, though, 154 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: his hitting style is actually really comparable to what's Sagura 155 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: was during the prime of his career. And remember, this 156 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: is the player that the Marlins signed for two years 157 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: and seventeen million dollars to get Sigura last offseason. And 158 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 1: to me, Harold's market value would be I think relatively 159 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: close to that. Not as long of a track record, 160 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: but still in his theoretical prime of his career. He's 161 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: this is going to be his age twenty nine season 162 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: coming up, and as previously mentioned, he is a year 163 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: of control beyond twenty twenty four as well. That's an 164 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: important note here, So even though the Raids are looking 165 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: to shed some salary, if things go anything really resembling 166 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: his career average in twenty twenty four, he would be 167 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: a logical player to tender another contract to in twenty 168 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: twenty five, his last year of arbitration eligibility. So not 169 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: just a rental right here in Harold Ramirez. What other 170 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: positive I want to touch on with Harold? His platoon splits. 171 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: So we're talking about Harold in the context of the 172 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: Marlins team offensively that projects beef very bad next year. 173 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: They have just not done much of anything to upgrade 174 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: this offense from what it was last year. Despite the 175 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 1: success that they had last year, they were, as has 176 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: been repeated ad nauseum, they were last in the National 177 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: League in runs scored. That is not characteristic of a 178 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: playoff team under most circumstances. It is not realistic to 179 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: expect them to come close to last year's performance if 180 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: they don't make upgrades to that offense. The players that 181 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: they've added this offseason, whether are minor league deals like 182 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: Jonathan Davis, or ones that are slotted into roles on 183 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: the roster like Vidal Bruchan. Those guys can't hit. They 184 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: do some other things that are intriguing, but they can't hit. 185 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: They're not going to drive in runs. More specifically, Marlins 186 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: need run producers. There's a lot of ways that they 187 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: could go about improving this roster on the Margins moving forward. 188 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: What's unfortunately becoming very apparent is that they're not going 189 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: to spend substantial amounts of money on Jorge so Laire. 190 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: For example, Tasker Hernandez just came off the market. He 191 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: was viewed as maybe a high end some of a 192 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: pipe dream fit, but there was a universe it seems 193 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: like the Marlins might use somebody like that, and he 194 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,079 Speaker 1: gets a hefty one year deal. No word about the 195 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: Marlins really coming close to that. So Lair expected to 196 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: be the next one off the board. So what made 197 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: so Lair so valuable for the Marlins last year was 198 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: his power hitting, obviously, especially when he had the latoon 199 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: advantage against lefties. This is a leader board from Fangrafts 200 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: of the best hitters by weighted runs created plus against 201 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: left handed pitching in twenty twenty three guys that had 202 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: betted at least one hundred times against lefties. Number one 203 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: on the board is former Herald teammate Yan Di Diez, 204 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: Willi Contraras, Willy Contraras in there, then Mookie Betts, Ryan Mountcastle, 205 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: Jorge Hilaire, number five in all of baseball against lefties 206 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: with a one eighty one w RC plus league average 207 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: one hundred eighty one percent better than a league average, 208 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: followed by Chas McCormick, Ozzie Albi's, Freddy Freeman, and number 209 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 1: nine in the entire league production against lefties last season, 210 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: hitting Harold a one to seventy three w RC plus 211 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: nearly a four hundred batting average to three point eighty 212 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: seven with a one to seventy three w RC plus 213 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: in their four of his twelve home runs, so absolutely 214 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: dominated against lefties. He was in the lineup all the 215 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: time when he had the platoon advantage, did well enough 216 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 1: against righty's to put together his overall stat line and 217 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: stay in there. That is one particular area where he 218 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: helps fill the void that we just think that the 219 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: Marlins are going to have that so Lair SiGe Volli 220 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: that they're not going to pay so lair. They need 221 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: to bring in somebody that has, if not a realistic 222 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: chance to fully fill his shoes, then just to do 223 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: some of the things that he did well at a 224 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: fraction of the cost. Salary Wise, he'll be a fraction 225 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: of the costs. And they're in a position where this 226 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: is not a new rumor about Harold. This has been 227 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: a trade candidate on my mind for about two months 228 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: ever since Bendix took over as Marlin's president of baseball operations. 229 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: He's ready shown an affinity for his former Tampa Bay 230 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: Rays players, So what would what more do to make 231 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: a difference with that approach that he's had to going 232 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: after players that he's very intimately familiar with wouldn't shock me. 233 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: And we think he's available for the aforementioned reasons because 234 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: the Rays like their internal options because even more so 235 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: than the Marlins, they are their moves are often financially motivated, 236 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: and I think they recognize that Harold has some surplus 237 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: trade value at this moment too, so they could get 238 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: something in return that could help them either in twenty 239 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: twenty four or beyond that. What I also like about 240 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: Harold is that against every pitch type the three major 241 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 1: pitch types fastballs, breaking balls, off speed pitches. His production 242 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: against them was good across the board. Last year he 243 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: hit three hundred or better against all of those three 244 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: seventeen against fastballs, three to ten against breaking balls, three 245 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: h two against off speed pitches. Now, as Verver Marlin's fan, 246 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: you're spoiled because you saw Luisa Rise last year, and 247 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: I think Louisa Rise hit in the mid three hundreds 248 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: are better against all those pitch types. Overall. This is 249 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: the fairly rare and notable achievements. The splits that show 250 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: that when he is on his game, the way that 251 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: he his bat stays in the zone as long as 252 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: it does his ability to use all fields that Harold 253 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: does not really doesn't have an apparent weakness at the plate. Well, 254 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: there's some things that he struggles with and we'll get 255 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: into those now, But in terms of the strategy for 256 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: pitching to Harold's really really the only thing is throwing 257 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: pitches out of the zone making him swing at bad pitches. 258 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: But in terms of trying to get him to swing 259 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: and miss in the zone, it's extremely hard to do that, 260 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: no matter what type of stuff that you have going 261 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: on with him. So with the concerns with Harold bring 262 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: back his baseball savon page Sweet Spots percentage is that 263 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: we don't talk about a whole lot, but one thing 264 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: it does to me is it kind of gives you 265 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: a ceiling on a player's home run potential. It's the 266 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: percentage of times where you put them on play and 267 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: the launch angle is between eight degrees and thirty two degrees, 268 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: I meaning it's significantly off the ground, but not too 269 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: high elevated. It's it's you know, it is putting you 270 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: in position to hit line drives, hard line drives, and 271 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: Harold has even this past season, he's shown the ability 272 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: on the high ends. When he really squares up the ball, 273 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: he can crush it. He has exit velocities in this 274 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: past year, one twelve was his max, and in previous 275 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: years I think he's hit one thirteen with eggs velocity. 276 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: So he can generate a ton of power when he 277 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: and everything is moving in the right direction. The thing is, 278 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: the vast majority of the time he's not hitting the 279 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: ball exactly at that angle, that the optimal angle that 280 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: you want it to so often he's getting over it 281 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: and pounding it into the ground or sometimes he's even 282 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: getting underneath the ball. So with even though the strikeout 283 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: rate is low, there's a fair share of pop ups 284 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: in there, which are just as bad and just as 285 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: useless as strikeouts are. Is overall barrel percentage league average 286 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: about seven percent this past year, he was at four 287 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: point six, So that doesn't sound like a big difference, 288 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: but that is a third lower than the league average 289 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: for the balls that he really crushes and also hits 290 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: at a fairly decent angle. And yeah, the sweet spot 291 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: percentage being even more of an outlier there. So he's 292 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: in the thirteenth percentile in barrel ray just the seventh 293 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: percentile in sweet spot percentage this past year because of 294 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: his his bat path. Part of that is also his 295 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: aggressiveness in the first percentile and chasing balls outside the zone. 296 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: He's an aggressive hitter, and he doesn't work deep counts either. 297 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: That is one of those sort of an intangible thing 298 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: that is still relatively important for a functional offense is 299 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: having hitters work deep in accounts, seeing everything and exposing 300 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: everything that a pitcher has to offer, maybe fatiguing the 301 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: picture that they're facing, especially in this pitch clock era 302 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: that we're in. There is value to having long played appearances, 303 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: making pictures. Throw a lot of pitches in quick succession 304 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: with minimal recovery time, and Harold does not do that. 305 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: Last year a career low when pitches per play apparent 306 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: three point six. The league average is close to four, 307 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 1: and he's always been below for every single year. Swings 308 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,479 Speaker 1: a lot of the first pitch forty one percent of 309 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: the time swing at the very first pitch, so he 310 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 1: can benefit from selectivity. And you'd like to say that 311 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: these are areas where a player can make adjustments and 312 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: potentially take off. Patients can be learned, can be reinforced, 313 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: as can your the mechanics of your swing in order 314 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: to get up underneath the ball more often and generate 315 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: backspin than a player currently, so those links can be 316 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: taught at the same time. This is a player that's 317 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: now five years into his big Ley career, twenty nine 318 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: years old. He's been around a long time and old 319 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: habits can be very difficult to break, so that is 320 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 1: a really tangible concern. We touched on his defense. He 321 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: was primarily a DH this past year, and that just 322 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: puts a whole lot of pressure on your offense and 323 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 1: especially on your power, because that is a position where 324 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: traditions a lot of the other alternatives to be a DH. 325 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: That's a landing spot for usually big guys that are 326 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: unable to move around at other positions. The standard is 327 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: very high offensively if you're going to be primarily a DH. Unfortunately, 328 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: his defense at the non DH positions is you know, 329 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 1: kind of shaky. The Marlins were using him primarily in 330 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: left field when he was in their organization, occasionally even 331 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: in center field, but this stage has becomes clear that's 332 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: not in his skill sets to be out there even 333 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: in the corners. Just a below average player due to 334 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: his arm strength some of his routes out there when 335 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: pursuing balls, even though his range is surprisingly decent an 336 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: overall as an overall fielder, just not very good, which 337 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: means that it puts a lot of pressure on his bat. 338 00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: And now what with the Marlins, they can They're position 339 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,479 Speaker 1: is kind of in flux right now, so adding him 340 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: is certainly better than doing nothing. At the same time, 341 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:08,959 Speaker 1: for the reasons that I laid out here, the ceiling 342 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 1: is kind of limited on Harold, Like last year is 343 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: eight thirteen ops last year being what twenty five percent 344 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: better than a league averag hitter by WRC plus. That's 345 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: probably the ceiling in a year where he's actually getting 346 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: substantial playing time. That's the reason why the Rays are 347 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: shopping him. They probably understand that rationally that they're selling 348 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: somewhat high on him, But that doesn't mean it's bad 349 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: to go after him. It just means to have realistic 350 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: expectations for what he would do moving forward, and the 351 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: Marlins don't lose the trade if he regresses a little bit. 352 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: I think he is being made available with the understanding 353 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: that regression is the likely outcome. Last year, he got 354 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: a little bit lucky last year on his balls and play, 355 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: considering how many of them are on the ground. It 356 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: should be brought up that one of the main frustrations 357 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: with the Marlins offense last year was that they were 358 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: hitting into a record number of double plays, and you'd 359 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: think that that is going to be somewhat of an 360 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,640 Speaker 1: issue moving forward if Harold is having a big role 361 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: on this team because he is, although historically he hasn't 362 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: hit into a ton of double plays, maybe that's something 363 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 1: that could definitely catch up to him moving forward. If 364 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 1: he continues to put the ball on the grounds as 365 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: much as he does, he's open to that risk, and 366 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: so that is an area of frustration for this Marlins 367 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 1: team that I think will continue to be an area 368 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: of frustration here. So what would Marlins roster look like 369 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: with Harold in here? I also included recently resigned Jonathan Davis, 370 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: who is a non roster invitee for the moment. But 371 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: I think this is kind of what you're potentially looking 372 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: like if you were to trade from somebody off your 373 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: forty man roster to acquire him. Suddenly your outfield the 374 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: regulars would be the same as last year with Jazz 375 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: and center and Brian Dela Cruz and left, and Hayesu 376 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: Sanchez and right, but now you have Jonathan Davis as 377 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: a really prototypical backup center fielder, blake game replacement, fourth 378 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: outfielder type. And you have Harold as again your primary 379 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: DH in similar role to last year, but somebody that 380 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: could also fill in at the corner outfield spots when 381 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: you want him in the lineup, But do you want 382 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 1: to give somebody else the DH spot. He could fake 383 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 1: it enough in the corner outfield spots that you could 384 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: get away with it. Similar to Jorge Solaire in twenty 385 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: twenty three. That's what the Marlins did with him, played 386 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: a couple dozen games in the corner outfield spots in 387 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: addition to being the main DH there. Now, what this 388 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: also factors in is the absence of Avisejol Garcia. So 389 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: that is the main hang up here. I don't know 390 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 1: how you like logically fit Harold into this team if 391 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: you're also going to be carrying av because there's only 392 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: so many spots that you can use on position players. 393 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: I don't think I could be any more clear than 394 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: I have been that Garcia's fit with Marlins moving forward 395 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: isn't there. You have two straight years of him being 396 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: an awful Major League baseball player. It's long past time 397 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: to kind of consider that a sunk cost and turn 398 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 1: the page. I think Harold would be almost across the 399 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: board in upgrade. In fact, they share a couple of 400 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: the same deficiencies, right. I mean, one of the things 401 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: that makes av struggle so much as in Marlin is 402 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 1: his poor play disciplines, swinging at the wrong pitches, and 403 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: he doesn't have the same bat's ball skill, bad control, 404 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: or any of those other things as Harold does. So 405 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: when he swings at bad pitches, he whiffs on them, 406 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: whereas at least with Harold he could hit him on 407 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: the ground, or he can find a hole, or he 408 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: can foul him off because he is superior in that regard. 409 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,360 Speaker 1: So it's just there are enough redundancies in what they 410 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: do though, that if you have them on the team, 411 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: I don't I don't see the fit if they're not 412 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:13,440 Speaker 1: willing to part ways with AV. Right here as guys 413 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 1: that are best used as platoon players at this stage 414 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: of their career, but one of them a lot better 415 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,479 Speaker 1: than the other. Yeah, there's just too much redundancy for 416 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: it to really make sense if they're not willing to 417 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 1: do that. I think our educated guess right now is 418 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: that at least entering spring training, Garcia is going to 419 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: be with the Marlins and they're going to evaluate what 420 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: they have there. So is this Harold Romiro's trade market 421 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: going to hold up be put on a standstill enough 422 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: entering spring that they can reevaluate AV and potentially get 423 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: Harold before the season starts and would still be available, 424 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: would still fit in like, is it possible that this 425 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: could drag on long enough for the Marlins to get 426 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: both for to get that last look at av and 427 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: then decided to go into a different direction. Sty'll have 428 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: somebody like Ramirez available to be traded for. But I 429 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,920 Speaker 1: do have one quick trade proposal idea in mind, and 430 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't require a ton of explanations as simple one 431 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: for one, as proof checked by Baseball Trade Values. Would 432 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 1: the Marlins do Harold Ramirez for George Soriano? Straight up? 433 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: I think I would. Baseball Trade Values says it's as 434 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: even as it could be. I'm not beholden by the 435 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: site very closely. In fact, I think it's low on 436 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: both of these players. So I think it's low on 437 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: Harold for the reasons that we laid out a three 438 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: hundred hitter, who is, like, you don't need to overthink this. 439 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: A three hundred hitter was a year of control beyond 440 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, who was relatively cheap for both years 441 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,960 Speaker 1: and especially for this year. That's more substantial surplus value 442 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,359 Speaker 1: than I think they're giving him credit for right here, 443 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: all things considered, and with Soriano, he took an nice 444 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: step forward in his debut season twenty twenty three with 445 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: the Marlins. There were stretches a time where he was 446 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 1: most reliable guy in their middle relief mix. They occasionally 447 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: gave him long relief semi starting opportunities that didn't quite 448 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: go as well. There are some questions about or his 449 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: exact fit is with this Marlins team, but he's major 450 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 1: League ready. The slider really established itself as as a 451 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: plus pitch for George Soreano, extraordinary pitch that hitters have 452 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 1: a very hard time tracking as it comes to the plate. 453 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: His fastball control was a little bit better than I anticipated, 454 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: and his changeup was further along as a legitimate swing 455 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: and mis pitch when he has a good feel for it. 456 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: So it was really not the craziest thing in the 457 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: world that they at least came out at a necessity 458 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: of him as a potential rotation option. All the rumors 459 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: are flying about Marlin's dealing Jesusilzzardo or one of their 460 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: other established starting pitchers, and I balk at that premise 461 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 1: that you can really feign any opportunity to compete in 462 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four if you're trading any of your super 463 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: reliable starters, but if Soriano. The Rays are known for 464 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,639 Speaker 1: this in recent years of taking guys that are conventionally 465 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: regarded as relievers and finding success for them in a 466 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: starting role. So it depends on their evaluation of him 467 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 1: if they think that he could be a potential long man, 468 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: bulk guy, or even a spot starter for them in 469 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, this is a raised team that has 470 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: some rotation depth concerns. I think he'd have considerable value 471 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 1: for them in this type of one for one trade. 472 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 1: So yeah, really simple. I know in the projected roster 473 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: I showed a moment ago I had shorts on there, 474 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: but with the Marlins have enough guys to backfill that 475 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: role for him, it's a significant risk because what he showed, 476 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: the stuff that he showed and his overall command and 477 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 1: was better than anticipated. I think the ceiling is pretty 478 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 1: interesting for George Soiano, and the floor is that he's 479 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: just a random up and down middle reliever like that 480 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: is the most likely outcome, even with very promising young arms, 481 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: is that through a combination of injuries and inconsistencies that 482 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 1: they're just guys. And for this Marlins scene that has 483 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: a lot of confidence in his pitching development, that they'd 484 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:25,919 Speaker 1: be able to overcome that in order to address a 485 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: more pressing area of need with Ramirez, So I'm biased 486 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,919 Speaker 1: when it comes to Harold. I acknowledge that he has 487 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: been one of the players I've most enjoyed watching over 488 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: the last half decade or even longer than that, ever 489 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: since Marlins have been under Bruce Sherman's ownership, and it 490 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: didn't last very long. And he's actually played his best 491 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: pay ball since leaving the Marlins, So it's been a 492 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 1: very interesting ride. I'm proud of what he's gone through, 493 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: and it's nice to see that this upcoming year he's 494 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: going to earn quite a bit of money for himself, 495 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: relatively speaking, to settle his future. So wherever that is, 496 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: whether it's the Raise or elsewhere, I think he'll, Yeah, 497 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: he'll be appreciated and he'll be relatively productive moving forward. 498 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: This is not kind of This is not the name 499 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: that he had circled entering the off season for the Marlins, 500 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 1: and frankly I didn't either. Yeah, even with my biases 501 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: favor of Harold, I was adamant that they should have 502 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: aimed higher for this type of player, whether it be 503 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 1: that DH or just a general middle of the order bat. 504 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: Harold is a part time middle of the order bat, 505 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: especially when he has a platoon advantage. This team needs 506 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 1: to do more, I think, in order to feel confident 507 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 1: about themselves as a postseason contender. At the same time, 508 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: this is a step forward, and you got to be 509 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: just needed accept reality. There's just been no indication that 510 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: this team is going to spend big. On top of 511 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: the money that's already on their books for twenty twenty four. 512 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: Their payroll, as we've covered, is most exactly in line 513 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: right now with where it was last year. Despite the 514 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: obvious holes to address, most notably at shortstop. In some 515 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: of those other areas that they have room to improve, 516 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: there just seems to be an unspoken budgetary restriction that's 517 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: holding them back from pursuing good players with any level 518 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: of fervor out there. In this case, you have at 519 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: least a good role player who's available the team. Even 520 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: before this report by Ken Rosenthal about the race shopping him, 521 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: he's been a logical trade candidate for most of the 522 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,239 Speaker 1: off season for him, so I think you just you're 523 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: gonna be able to get him on a relatively good 524 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 1: value for one youngish arm like the one I mentioned 525 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: in Soriano and somebody that is not really a top 526 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: of mind on your depth chart, either as a starter 527 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: or reliever. I think there's a pretty clear fit here, 528 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: and we know that Peter Bendix knows Harold Ramirez even 529 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: more intimately than I do. So yeah, if he doesn't 530 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: pursue him all that heavily, then maybe that speaks to 531 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: how much they expect him to regress in twenty twenty 532 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: four and beyond. Anyway, I like to hear what you 533 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 1: guys think about Harold just being realistic about the relatively 534 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: cheap bats that are still out there and he being 535 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: one that comes with some of the perks that I mentioned, 536 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 1: some of the history that people still look back fondly 537 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: when it comes to him. What do you think of 538 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: the fit, especially at that estimated, relatively cheap asking price 539 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: that we imagine the Rays have for him at the moment, 540 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 1: this has been the official show with Eli Sussman. Finally 541 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: things getting a little bit busier around baseball. The Marlins 542 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: still very famously one of the few teams that have 543 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,800 Speaker 1: not signed a major league free agent, but there's still 544 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 1: a lot of players out there. So as frustrating as 545 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: this offseason has been a lot, it's been slow moving overall, 546 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 1: and as long as there are still players out there 547 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: is kind of our responsibility to do our due diligence 548 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: about what they bring to the table, and especially when 549 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: it comes to players like this, that really there's no 550 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 1: excuse not to pursue, no to overlook considering how they 551 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: fit and how little, relatively speaking, the cost would be. 552 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 1: It's yeah. I hope you enjoyed this deep dive on 553 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: Harold and check back for another pod from me next week, 554 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: as well as the rest of our coverage on Fish 555 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: on First dot com. Thanks for tuning in, and go 556 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: Fish