Marlins tender pitchers, add two power hitters
The Marlins on Monday tendered contract offers to two pitchers, released their other arbitration-eligible players and added two power-hitting position players they hope can help fortify their offense that was among the worst in baseball last year.
It all adds up to the Marlins continuing their plan to bolster their roster without having to sacrifice much from their improved farm system.
Starting pitcher Jose Ureña and Adam Conley were tendered contracts. Infielder JT Riddle is now a free agent.
And the two big bats: Former Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jesus Aguilar claimed off waivers and Baltimore Orioles infielder Jonathan Villar acquired for minor-league pitcher Easton Lucas.
Villar and Aguilar have combined for 141 home runs over their careers and will bolster a lineup that finished 2019 last in slugging percentage (.375), on-base plus slugging
(.673) and home runs (146) while also finishing second-to-last in runs scored (615).
In addition to non-tendering Riddle, the Marlins designated relief pitcher Tayron Guerrero for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Ureña, 28, was the club’s Opening Day starter each of the past two seasons but finished 2019 as a lateinning reliever after suffering a herniated disc in his lower back midway through the season. Urena went 4-10 with a 5.21 ERA, 62 strikeouts and three saves over 24 appearances (13 starts).
Barring injuries or a surprise trade or free agent signing, Sandy Alcantara and Caleb Smith will likely hold down the top two spots of Miami’s starting rotation heading into the season. Following them will probably be some three-person combination of Pablo Lopez, Jordan Yamamoto, Elieser Hernandez, Robert Dugger, Nick Neidert and Ureña.
Aguilar, a 29-year-old right-handed hitter, has hit 63 home runs over the past three seasons and was a 2018 All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers when he belted 35 home runs and drove in 108 runs while hitting .274.
Villar, 28 and a Dominican Republic native, had a .274 batting average last season with career-highs in home runs (24), runs scored (111) and RBI (73) to go along with 33 doubles and 40 stolen bases. He was one of five players to play all 162 games in 2019. Second base and shortstop have been Villar’s primary positions, but he can also play third base.
He led MLB with 62 stolen bases in 2016.
Aguilar and Villar will complement a Marlins lineup that should be centered around third baseman/right fielder Brian Anderson, shortstop Miguel Rojas and catcher Jorge Alfaro.
Garrett Cooper, who entered the offseason as the Marlins’ presumed favorite to start at first base, will likely either split time with Aguilar at first base or play primarily in a corner outfield spot.
While Ureña and Conley have been tendered, that does not mean they have a finalized contract. The Marlins have until Jan. 10 to agree to a deal with both players. Otherwise, each party has to submit what they believe the player deserves to be paid for the 2020 season and an arbitration meeting will take place at some point between Feb. 3 and Feb. 21.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Ureña to be owed $4 million for the 2020 season.
Conley, who went 2-11 with a career-worst 6.53 ERA in 60 relief appearances while striking out 53 batters and walked 29 over 60 2⁄3 innings, is projected to be owed $1.6 million.
Aguilar is projected to be owed about $2.5 million. Villar will be the priciest of the bunch, due a projected $10.4 million.