Miami Marlins Morning News: Mat Latos to start Friday

Marlins News

Marlins pitcher Mat Latos passed a precautionary test and will start Friday. It will be the first appearance of Spring Training for Latos, who was acquired this summer from the Reds for prospect catcher Chad Wallach. The Marlins are expecting big things out of the Florida native this season and hope his first Spring Training game is only the beginning.

The Marlins spent some money this offseason for a private jet and a two personal chefs. The Marlins also beefed up their scouting and player development department, hiring ten new people.

Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart  is extremely motivated to show the Astros that they made a mistake in trading him this upcoming season. The Marlins need Cosart to come up big this season with Jose Fernandez not returning until June.

Marlins reliever Mike Dunn has been extremely durable over the years. Dunn has never spent a day on the disabled list during his Major League Career. This season Dunn will be an asset to the Marlins.

Last season was a disappointment for Marlins Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. One year after signing a three-year $21 million deal Saltalamacchia faces a pivotal season in 2015. Saltalamacchia only batted .220 last season and committed a career-high 13 errors.

Around the League

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman will miss the season with a torn ACL. Stroman was participating in a bunting drill when he heard a pop and was diagnosed with a torn ACL. Stroman has showed incredible promise as a pitcher, and his injury leaves the Blue Jays scrambling for options.

Jake Locker called it a career on Tuesday, announcing he was walking away from football. Speculation has already started to fly about if Locker will go back to playing baseball. If Locker does return to baseball it will not be the Los Angeles Angels, who have no interest in Locker as a baseball player.

The San Diego Padres have emerged as the likely favorite to land Cuban infielder Hector Olivera. Several other teams have expressed interest in Olivera, but the market heated up Tuesday when the Padres offered a $50 million contract to Olivera.

Pablo Sandoval made it clear he was not happy with the San Francisco Giants organization and that leaving was not hard. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Sandoval stated he knew he would leave San Francisco and felt disrespected by the Giants organization.

With relations between the Untied States and Cuba growing, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wants exhibition games played in Cuba. Manfred sees Cuba as a great opportunity to tap into the Cuban market and scout out new talent.

At Fish Stripes

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