Marlins giving out bigger paydays
WASHINGTON — The Miami Marlins will open the season today with a record $115 million roster, breaking the old mark of $101.6 million in 2012.
The Marlins finalized their 25-man roster Sunday when they announced the addition of outfielder/first baseman Tyler Moore, who will make $1 million. Three players will make at least $10 million, with starting pitcher WeiYin Chen topping the list at $15.5 million. Giancarlo Stanton ($14.5 million) and third baseman Martin Prado ($11.5 million) are also hauling in big bucks.
The 2 5 - man ro s t e r f o r opening day will make a total of $100 million. The Marlins also will be required to pay three players on the disabled list: Prado, pitcher Jeff Locke ($3.025 million) and pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne (the league minimum of $535,000) to bring the grand total to $115,406,100.
Oddsmakers down on Marlins: Most oddsmakers have predicted the Marlins, who went 79-82 and finished third in the National League East last year, to wind up about the same or possibly worse in 2017.
T h e d e a t h o f a c e J o s e Fernandez has left a major void in a starting rotation that despite a few offseason acquisitions is still ranked by many among the worst in the majors. Bovada.com projected the Marlins to finish third in the National League East. Their win total odds are 76½.
And the Marlins are one of the top three teams most wagered to finish with even fewer wins than their projected total. The Marlins have not made the playoffs since 2003 and not had a winning season since 2009.
“You look at things on paper and where things may work out, but until you actually get out there and start kind of going game-to-game and get some innings on the board, you don’t actually know,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I feel confident with our club.”
Worley signed: The Marl i ns s i g ned r i g ht - hander Vance Worley to a minorleague deal Sunday. Worley was in camp with the Washington Nationals, who released him last week after he posted a 4.80 ERA in 15 innings. The move comes two days after Marlins pitching prospect Jake Esch was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres.
Worley, 29, went 2-2 with a 3.53 ERA with the Baltimore Orioles last season, pitching primarily as a reliever. He made four starts and 35 appearances overall.
Roster moves: The Marlins will carry 13 pitchers and four bench players — Moore, Ichiro Suzuki, Miguel Rojas and A.J. Ellis — as planned. Prado (hamstring), Locke (shoulder) and Despaigne (oblique) were placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to March 30.