Fish Bites Episode 55: Extend Michael Hill?

Hey, Marlins fans! On this episode of Fish Bites, Ely Sussman reacts to Starlin Castro signing with the NL East rival Washington Nationals (5:45), switch-pitcher Pat Venditte getting a shot to earn a bullpen spot (16:20) and Lewis Brinson winning a home run derby in the Bahamas (33:50). This Marlins offseason has garnered positive reviews from the fanbase and all across the baseball industry, so let’s give credit where credit is due. President of baseball operations Michael Hill ought to be an extension candidate heading into the final year of his contract (48:20).

Enjoy Episode 55!

Michael Hill was promoted to his current role in September 2013. Based on reporting from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Marlins—under old ownership—extended his contract through 2020, which means Hill is entering his “walk year.” Overall, he’s been with the organization for the past 17 seasons.

Because the Marlins have moved towards a more collaborative front office culture, it is difficult to pinpoint Hill’s exact responsibilities. But MLB Pipeline named Miami’s farm system the most improved in the league for 2019, and this winter, there have been a handful of veterans acquired to improve the major league roster without sacrificing young talent or long-term financial flexibility.

Please see below for more details about the Castro signing and Brinson’s derby performance:

The Fish Stripes podcast is home to Miami Marlins shows Fish Bites and Earning Their Stripes. All new episodes are posted to FishStripes.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

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