Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Chen cut loose in shakeup
Marlins add six prospects to their 40-man roster
The Miami Marlins added six of their top prospects to the 40-man roster ahead of the Wednesday deadline, and cut ties with their highest-paid player to clear out space.
Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez, shortstop Jazz Chisholm, RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Nick Neidert, first baseman Lewin Diaz and Humberto Mejia were all moved to the 40-man roster, protecting them from December’s Rule 5 draft.
To make room on the 40-man roster, Miami designated Wei-Yin Chen for assignment. The left-handed pitcher, who was set to make $22 million in the final year of his contract this coming season, struggled mightily in 2019. In 45 relief appearances, he posted a 6.59 ERA.
Signed to a five-year, $80 million contract in 2016, Chen failed to live up to expectations during his time in Miami. While he spent the first three seasons in the starting rotation, he was demoted to the bullpen during spring training and struggled throughout the year.
The Marlins will still be on the hook for the salary. Despite his hefty price tag, the Marlins decided it was best to move on.
“This decision was not about money,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “It was about building the best and deepest 40-man roster to allow us
to compete in 2020 and beyond.”
Per DFA rules, Miami will have seven days to either trade or cut him.
Following the additions, Miami’s roster sits at 40. The Marlins will have to clear out more space on the roster in order to sign free agents.
Commanding the fourth-best farm system in the league, the Marlins’ new additions boast impressive resumes, with five ranked in the organization’s top-11, per MLB Pipeline. Mejia is ranked 29th on the team’s prospect list. In addition, three of the other players are top-100 prospects — Sanchez (23), Chisholm (54) and Cabrera (99).
Depending on when a prospect initially signed, any player with four or five years experience must be added to the 40-man roster or be made available in the Rule 5 draft.
While five of the additions were considered obvious choices, Mejia appeared to be borderline entering Wednesday’s deadline. Signed as an international free agent in 2015, he experienced a slower development, but broke out in 2019. Splitting between Low-A and High-A, the 22-year-old right-hander posted a 2.09 ERA across two levels.
“That was one that took a lot of discussion among our group,” Hill said. “He battled injuries in his history, but you’re talking about a very physical right-handed pitcher with three pitches and he’s an extreme strike-thrower.
“We feel he’s a future major league starter and we didn’t think we should leave that profile exposed. As we entered the season, he was probably a borderline protect, but watching the season he had, he pitched his way onto the roster.”
Cabrera and Mejia are the only players who began their career with the Marlins. The other four prospects were all acquired via trade within the past two years. Miami landed Chisholm and Diaz in July ahead of the trade deadline.
The most notable player left unprotected was left-handed starter Will Stewart, who was acquired in the J.T. Realmuto trade. Right-handed reliever Tommy Eveld and right-handed starter Cody Poteet were also left unprotected.
The Rule 5 draft will be held Dec. 12 during the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego. Last year, the Marlins carried two relievers with Rule 5 eligibility — Riley Ferrell and Julian Fernandez. Dealing with recurring injuries, neither pitched for the Marlins and were returned to their prior teams.