One last ‘blowout’ gig for Canes, who vow not to let NIL bleed into camp
UM players, some of whom are making money off their name, image and likeness, were supposedly winding down appearances this week before fall camp.
Star treatment or not, Miami Hurricanes players say football will prevail once fall camp begins a week from Friday.
For quarterback D’Eriq
King, his linebacker roommate Ryan Ragone, cornerback Al Blades Jr., receiver Charleston Rambo and the UM fans who wanted to mingle, their “Orange & Green Takeover” appearance late Thursday night at Pilo’s
Tequila Garden in Wynwood was pegged to be “the perfect last blowout before they dive fully into fall camp,” said their sports and entertainment attorney Adam Arnaout, a former UM walk-on center.
“Once they get into camp, nothing else matters,” Arnaout, 26, said earlier this week. “It only makes sense this stuff should die down once we get to August. It would be alarming if it didn’t.”
The players insist they will not allow Florida’s new name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation that allows them to earn money through appearances, signings, podcasts
prospect list are starting pitchers. Center field and catcher are the organization’s two biggest areas of need.
WHO WILL BE THE MARLINS’ CLOSER?
The Marlins trading Garcia on Wednesday opened the door for a new reliever to become the club’s closer for the final two months of the season.
So who gets the job? Marlins manager Don Mattingly wouldn’t commit to one pitcher in particular.
“I’m not quite sure what it looks like,” Mattingly said. “I don’t think we’ll have to anoint anybody as the closer, probably as much by committee and trying to match up at the end of the game, depending on where we’re at, who’s available.”
Mattingly did mention a handful of relievers who would get looks at the closer spot, pending any trades made between now and Friday
The five:
Dylan Floro: Has primarily pitched the eighth inning but has gotten five save opportunities. He leads Marlins relievers with 41 innings pitched and has a 2.63 ERA with 39 strikeouts against 18 walks. All 12 earned runs he has allowed have come in four of his 43 relief appearances.
Anthony Bass :He started the season as Miami’s closer but blew both of his first two save opportunities, including the controversial walk-off hit-by-pitch against the Mets. He has primarily pitched as a setup reliever since and leads Marlins relievers with 45 appearances.
Anthony Bender:
The rookie’s production has regressed recently (nine earned runs allowed in his last 13 outings after not giving up an earned run in his first 21 appearances), but his pitch mix has the look of a future closer. His sinker averages 96.7 mph with movement and his slider has a 47.8 percent swing-and-miss rate.
Richard Bleier: The main high-leverage lefty on the staff, Bleier has mostly been used as a middle reliever or in an early setup role. His best attribute is getting batters to keep balls on the ground, evidenced by his 69.6 percent ground-ball rate.
John Curtiss: Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the start of spring training, Curtiss has primarily been used as an opener on bullpen days, a multi-inning pitcher and in low-leverage situations.
He has gotten good results (2.48 ERA over 40 innings, 40 strikeouts against nine walks), and
Mattingly said he could be an option moving forward.
Mattingly also said Zach Pop, a rookie selected in the Rule 5 Draft, could also be used in more highleverage situations.
FIRST-BASE DEPTH WITHOUT COOPER
Ng announced Wednesday that Garrett Cooper elected to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a small tear in the UCL of his left (nonthrowing) elbow. The surgery will sideline Cooper for about five months.
“Hope to have him back by Opening Day next year,” Ng said.
With Cooper’s season over, the Marlins’ MLBready depth at first base is thin beyond Aguilar and Lewin Diaz should an injury happen or the team trades Aguilar.
Shortstop Miguel Rojas has the most big-league experience at the position beyond those two, playing 225 innings at first over 99 career games (nine starts), but hasn’t started a game there since 2018.
Joe Panik has also made three starts at first.
In the minors, 32-year-old Lorenzo Quintana has made 24 starts this year at first base with the Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, primarily filling in when Diaz was in the big leagues or hurt.