Offishial news, 1/25/21: Sixto Sánchez interview; new trade target; Yelich trade anniversary

Respeto por Sixto

Marlins top prospect Sixto Sánchez had a great week for himself without even taking the mound.

Baseball America dubbed him MLB’s best pitching prospect for 2021 and Baseball Prospectus followed suit. MLB Pipeline is less bullish on the 22-year-old, but Jim Callis eagerly defends his preference for Sánchez over Braves right-hander Ian Anderson. And Steamer projects him to be more valuable this season than any other potential rookie pitcher (h/t Sam Dykstra, MiLB.com).

On Friday, the Marlins released an insightful interview with Sánchez (via a translator). He vowed to show up to spring training in better shape than he did in 2020 and described his relationships with fellow flamethrower Edward Cabrera and Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez.

In case you missed it, Sixto topped our rankings of most trustworthy Marlins starting pitchers (the first episode of a Fish Stripes podcast series that we’ll continue throughout the year).

Walk-off links

• Possibly deterred by the asking prices of free agents Eddie Rosario and Adam Duvall, the Marlins are increasingly likely to strengthen their outfield via the trade market instead, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. There’s been some talk between them and the Orioles regarding Anthony Santander. This update comes on the heels of Andrew Benintendi buzz earlier in the month.
• Congrats to Harold Ramirez and Sandy León. Caimanes de Barranquilla, their team in Colombia’s professional baseball league (LPB), clinched the national championship Sunday with a Game 7 victory. León contributed an RBI single and a suicide squeeze that put the Caimanes ahead for good.
• Anthony Maldonado is also a champ! The Marlins right-handed pitching prospect and his Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico) swept their best-of-seven series over Indios de Mayagüez.
• Infielder Luis Marte has signed a minor league deal with the Marlins that includes an invitation to spring training. The vast majority of his career playing opportunities have come at shortstop, though he was mainly utilized at second base and third base during Dominican winter ball (Gigantes del Cibao). The light-hitting 27-year-old was previously a member of the Rangers and Braves organizations.

• Elsewhere in the NL East, old friend and reigning MLB saves leader Brad Hand has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman is returning for his 16th season in Washington (excluding 2020 when he opted out due to COVID-19 concerns). Zimmerman ranks third all-time in career home runs against the Marlins (38), trailing only Ryan Howard and Chipper Jones...Pablo Sandoval, who latched on with the Braves last September, is re-signing with them on a minor league deal.
• On this day three years ago, the Marlins traded Christian Yelich to the Brewers for the prospect package of Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, Isan Díaz and Jordan Yamamoto. Juan Páez has more on that.
• We gave away a Don Mattingly bobblehead last week. Might do that again before Opening Day. In the meantime, pre-order it here.

Don Mattingly NL Manager of the Year Bobblehead

• $50

Click to pre-order!

• $50 at FOCO

• Check out my latest projected Marlins Opening Day pitching staff (under the assumption that they make no more outside acquisitions).
• “The Yankees have been looking for partners to move as much of Adam Ottavino’s $9 million luxury tax number for 2021 as possible,” according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. If the Fish can put their frugality aside, Ottavino’s experience and swing-and-miss potential would make him a welcome addition—he even has the upside to match Hand’s production.
• Round number alert: the All-Time Marlins Countdown is up to 100 chapters.
• Our condolences to the family and loved ones of legendary talk show host Larry King. He loved baseball.