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Marlins left-hander Jeff Locke is expected to open the season on the disabled and miss the entire month of April as a result of tendinitis, according to Tim Healey of The Sun Sentinel.
The Marlins signed Locke to a one-year in December and it seemed they considered him to be a reasonable starting option. Miami will open the season without a left-handed reliever. Locke could have proven to be just that.
Locke, 29, struggled with the Pirates last season, pitching to a 5.44 ERA and 5.84 FIP over 127.1 innings. However, the organization seemingly felt Locke can pitch to an ERA in the mid-threes as he did in 2013, when he was an All-Star, and 2014.
When Locke is healthy, the Marlins will have a roster decision to make. Unless he struggles, Jose Urena is likely to remain on the roster because he is out of options. A reliever could lose out on a spot when Locke returns.
*CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated Locke was 23-years old. The story has been updated.