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Non-tender tsunami approaches
The following Marlins players will be arbitration eligible in 2021: Jesús Aguilar, Jorge Alfaro, Brian Anderson, Garrett Cooper, Yimi García, Ryne Stanek, José Ureña and Richard Bleier.
Retaining all of them would cost the club somewhere in the range of $16-22 million, but that will not happen. Anderson is certain to be tendered a contract, with Alfaro and Cooper being near-locks as well. García and Bleier are likely to stick around, though Stanek is more of a coin flip considering his struggles since arriving in Miami.
Aguilar and Ureña are the most expensive hitter and pitcher respectively in the Marlins’ arb class. Both have contributed positively to the clubhouse culture and previously performed at a level that would justify their projected salaries (Aguilar even did so in 2020). However, I expect them to be waived/released on Wednesday—prior to the 8 p.m. ET MLB non-tender deadline—as the Fish pursue alternatives who better suit the roster.
We shouldn’t rush to judgement until the entire offseason plays out. That being said, the Marlins lineup is already somewhat thin on impact bats, and getting rid of Aguilar without moving quickly to replace him would only exacerbate that.
Walk-off links
- New Marlins Season Review articles from Juan Páez are up analyzing Garrett Cooper and Lewis Brinson.
- Updated stats for Marlins prospects in the Dominican Winter League: Lewin Díaz is 3-for-13, .231/.333/.308 with 4 K (barely played last week); Jesús Sánchez is 2-for-13, .154/.154/.154 with 4 K; Joe Dunand is 9-for-29, .276/.389/.483 with 1 HR and 9 K. A more extensive winter ball update is coming Thursday.
- Marlins team photographer Joseph Guzy takes us behind the scenes with Jesús and Sixto Sánchez during their much-anticipated major league debuts.
- The Fish Stripes YouTube channel lives on! Here are all 41 Trevor Rogers strikeouts from 2020. I am tentatively planning to make one of these for each of the Marlins’ main starting pitchers.
- Miguel Rojas emphatically supports the Hall of Fame candidacy of fellow shortstop and countryman Omar Vizquel.
- Speaking of Venezuelan shortstops, Marlins prospect José Salas discusses (in Spanish) his first impressions of playing professionally over there.
- Cooper got engaged last weekend. Congrats to Garrett and Erica!
- So did Jon Berti! Wishing all the best to Jon and his fiancé, Jill.