Offishial news, 12/16/20: Bullpen help still needed; potential 2021 season delay

Latest happeniNgs

Marlins general manager Kim Ng addressed local media again on Tuesday, echoing Spencer Morris’ analysis about last week’s Rule 5 draft picks and giving outfielder Corey Dickerson a vote of confidence. “We expect that we’ll see a better Corey Dickerson hopefully over the entire length of the season” (h/t Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald).

Ng stated unequivocally that “we anticipate acquiring more arms...whether that’s by a trade or the free agent market.” Although Miami’s 40-man roster is full at the moment, there are some expendable players who I could see departing to make room for competent veteran relievers.

The Athletic has selected Ng’s hiring as one of 16 finalists for The Best Sports Moment of 2020. Vote for it on Twitter.

She is the exception, not the norm, though. Ken Rosenthal expresses frustration about how slowly MLB front offices are evolving in terms of diversity.

“The problem is that minority candidates hardly ever get the same types of breaks,” Rosenthal writes, “and promises of good intentions and programs to promote diversity no longer are enough.”

Ng’s predecessor with the Marlins, Michael Hill (who is Black), still hasn’t found a new home.

Walk-off links

• MLB owners are floating the possibility of a shortened 2021 regular season whereby the league waits until every player has received the COVID-19 vaccine. But the players’ union is determined to do a full 162 games.
• Miguel Rojas will be assisting with a holiday gift basket drive-thru distribution being held at the Humana Lot at Marlins Park beginning around 1 p.m. (cars can line up in advance).
• Did you know Rojas was an original Blue Wahoo?! Pensacola joined Minor League Baseball in 2012 when he was a prospect in the Reds farm system.

• Starling Marte’s broken pinkie finger has fully healed, allowing him to return to full baseball activities.
• Speaking of rehab, recently acquired right-hander Zach Pop tells the Marlins Hot Stove Show that his stuff is better than ever following last year’s Tommy John surgery. New first base coach Keith Johnson was also interviewed on the program.
• Our own Juan Páez is very encouraged by Pop’s minor league success and what it could mean for his future with the Fish.
• Former Marlins right-hander Ryne Stanek is drawing interest from multiple teams in free agency, including the Reds.
• Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium will be making some changes to prevent fans from spreading/contracting COVID-19, using funds provided by Palm Beach County.
• Baseball-Reference was “not allocating enough wins to position players when calculating Wins Above Replacement” for the 2020 season. The issue has now been fixed, with Marlins Brian Anderson, Jesús Aguilar and Corey Dickerson each gaining at least 0.2 rWAR in the process. That puts BA in some elite company among all-time Fish third basemen.
• We are now 60 chapters into the All-Time Marlins Countdown.
• The Loaded Bases podcast has rebranded as “Fish Bros.” Monday’s episode debuted their expanded cast of commentators.
• Lewis Brinson had the Marlins’ most spectacular Statcast play of 2020, as GIF’d below.

Fish Stripes original GIF

• Here are some of my favorite highlights of Marlins players competing in international winter leagues.