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Bullpen and outfield help were the Marlins’ biggest needs to address entering the Winter Meetings. Sure enough, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Thursday afternoon that the club is signing RHP Yimi García (the report has since been confirmed by Craig Mish). It will be the first major league deal handed out by them to a free agent so far this offseason.
The 29-year-old had previously spent his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. García was non-tendered this offseason after posting a 3.61 ERA in 62.1 IP along with an impressive 0.866 WHIP.
While throwing strikes and limiting baserunners was a strength, García’s overall performance has been negatively affected by home runs. For comparison’s sake, he allowed just as many of them in 2019 as Wei-Yin Chen did (15) despite facing 60 fewer batters. Chen was released by the Marlins in November.
That being said, García is an immediate improvement for the Marlins bullpen, and could even be in the mix for ninth-inning opportunities.
Don't let the fact that Yimi Garcia isn't a huge name distract you, the @Marlins just added a great RP:
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) December 12, 2019
13.9% SwSt on his FB (top 25)
98th percentile in FB spin, xBA, Hard Hit%
95th percentile in wOBA
While the SL doesn't put up elite whiff%, it pairs very well with the FB. pic.twitter.com/zG7ng51AzL
The García signing is not official yet—the Marlins filled up their 40-man roster by selecting right-hander Sterling Sharp during the MLB Rule 5 Draft.
There’s a growing sense that former Opening Day starter José Ureña will be traded. Completing that move would be one way to create space for García.