Upgrading bullpen a key focus
Could bringing back closer Romo be in mix?
SAN DIEGO — As the Miami Marlins enter the first day of the MLB Winter Meetings, it’s clear that upgrading the bullpen is a major focus for the team.
Last season, Marlins’ relievers struggled, posting the third-highest walks per nine innings (4.37) and sixth-highest ERA (4.97). This offseason, Miami has already cut ties with Tayron Guerrero and Tyler Kinley, who both struggled with their command.
The two pitchers both ranked in the top five for walks per nine among relievers.
Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said finding relievers who can attack the strike zone is a necessity moving forward.
“You look at our overall bullpen performance and it was not good,” Hill said Monday. “[The walks are] something we were very sensitive too when you look at some of the departed relievers. “It just puts everyone in difficult position. You lose rhythm of the game, it puts your defense on its heels and you can’t defend it.
“As we look to build our bullpen this offseason — obviously we want stuff and guys who have above average stuff — but guys who have command of the strike zone. It’s something we’ve put a focus on in getting a variety of looks in the pen to give [manager Don Mattingly] and [pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr.] different options to win help us win games.”
While the bullpen will be a focus for the Marlins, Hill indicated the team will likely spend more heavily on improving its offense, which ranked near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. Combined with year-to-year performance volatility among relievers, Hill said the team will
have to be more creative in targeting bullpen pitchers.
“If we’re going to allocate the lion’s share of our dollars to offense — and I think it makes more sense because that’s going to have a greater impact — we do know we’ll be creative and look at different ways to improve out bullpen,” Hill said.
One solution to the bullpen woes could be a reunion with former closer Sergio Romo. The 36-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Miami last spring training and impressed in the back-end of Miami’s bullpen.
In 38 appearances, Romo posted a 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and was 17 for 18 in save situations. The Marlins dealt him to the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline for first base prospect Lewin Diaz.
MLB Network earlier reported the Marlins were among the teams showing interest in Romo, as well as the Twins, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. Asked about Romo, Hill certainly left the door open for a potential reunion.
“I think we said it when we traded him that he did a great job for us,” Hill said. “[He did] a great job in mentoring some of our young guys and is still a productive major league reliever. We’re exploring the entire market of eligible guys and I know he’s been connected to us as well he should be.
“I think if you asked him — he was very public in saying that [he] enjoyed his time with us so we’ll see where things go, but [he] was a player who did well for us and did a good job in his time with us.”
While the Marlins jettisoned Guerrero and Kinley, the team opted to retain reliever Adam Conley, who also experienced a rough 2019. The 29-year-old lefty, who was tendered last month, posted a 6.53 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP in 60 appearances this past season. While his walks per nine inning mark (4.30) wasn’t as high as Guerrero or Conley’s, he was dinged by the long ball, allowing 1.48 home runs per nine innings.
In discussing Conley, Hill said his prior performance and profile were key factors in retaining him. This past season, the lefty’s fastball averaged 95.3 mph, which ranked in the top 18th percentile across baseball.
“I think we’ve seen a good Adam Conley at times,” Hill said. “If you look the universe of 6-foot-3 lefthanded pitchers who throw in the mid-to-upper 90’s, it’s a pretty small universe of guys.”
Marlins sign former Yankees prospect: The Marlins are adding another player with New York Yankees ties to the organization.
Bolstering its depth, Miami signed infielder Gosuke Katoh to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, a source confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. A second-round pick in 2013, Katoh split the majority of 2019 in Triple-A, hitting .279/.382/.443 (115 wRC+) with 10 doubles and 11 home runs in 83 games.
Kinley claimed off waivers: In a separate move, Kinley was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies. A Nova High alum, Kinley posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 52 appearances last season. While his ERA wasn’t terrible, the 25-year-old righthander struggled with command, recording the fourthhighest walks per nine inning mark (6.57) among MLB relievers with a minimum of 40 innings.
Kinley made the Opening Day roster, but struggled over the first eight weeks of the season, tallying a 5.11 ERA.