Headlines

  • Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension
  • Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations
  • Giants Fire Gabe Kapler
  • Orioles Agree To 30-Year Lease At Camden Yards
  • Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024
  • Brooks Robinson Passes Away
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

The Marlins’ 2011 Rotation

By Luke Adams 2 | August 18, 2010 at 7:56pm CDT

When the Marlins locked up Josh Johnson by signing him to a four-year, $39MM contract, it was a rare display of long-term spending by Florida ownership. After all, besides Wes Helms, who is finishing up an inexpensive two-year deal, the only other Marlin signed to a multi-year contract is Hanley Ramirez, who inked a deal to remain with the club through 2014.

In Johnson, the Marlins knew they had a young arm capable of anchoring their staff, and the big right-hander has proven them right so far this year, recording a 2.27 ERA over 158.2 IP. If the Marlins aren't playoff contenders toward the end of his contract, the 26-year-old ace could eventually become tradeable. But he's going nowhere anytime soon; barring an injury, he'll get the ball on Opening Day in 2011.

Behind Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, and Chris Volstad figure to have spots in the 2011 rotation virtually locked up. Volstad has underperformed in 2010 (4.91 ERA), but as a former first-round pick and a player under team control through 2014, the right-hander should have a reasonably long leash at the back of the rotation. Meanwhile, Nolasco and Sanchez have pitched admirably this season, and will both be arbitration-eligible for two more years before hitting free agency after the 2012 campaign.

Nolasco, however, is a trickier case than Sanchez for the cost-conscious Marlins. The 27-year-old, as a Super Two player, will be eligible for arbitration four times rather than the usual three, meaning he'll be more expensive for the Marlins to retain. Even this season, Nolasco is earning $3.8MM while Sanchez makes just $1.25MM. With Nolasco set to receive two more raises through arbitration, he could become a trade chip for Florida in either 2011 or 2012.

Nolasco will almost definitely be around to start 2011 though (the team hopes to explore an extension) which leaves only an empty fifth spot in the Marlins' rotation. Florida has shown a willingness to take fliers on one-year contracts for bullpen arms in recent years, but they've rarely relied on the free agent market for starters. As such, we can probably expect the club to fill their rotation with an in-house option.

Currently, Sean West and Alex Sanabia appear to be the favorites to compete for the Marlins' fifth starter job. The 24-year-old West has posted impressive numbers for Triple-A New Orleans this year, including a 3.12 ERA in 11 starts. However, in 22 career major league starts, the 6'8" southpaw has been mediocre (5.03 ERA). Sanabia, 21, has dominated Double-A and Triple-A opponents this year, with a 1.92 ERA and just 1.7 BB/9 in 16 starts, and has also spent a little time with the big league club. Like Volstad, these two should get a longer look from the Marlins, in hopes that their minor league successes translate to the majors. West, in particular, could be valuable to Florida as the lone left-hander in a righty-heavy rotation.

If the Marlins require more depth, they have a few other possibilities in the minors, including a pair of 24-year-olds, Elih Villanueva and Tom Koehler. The two right-handers have combined to pitch over 300 Double-A innings between them this year, with a 2.15 ERA for Villaneuva and 2.88 for Koehler. Other familiar names in Florida's minor league system include Brian Lawrence, Tom Mastny, and Andrew Miller, though if they're still with Florida in 2011, none of them are likely to be more than potential injury replacements.

Overall, the Marlins' rotation is in decent shape. Johnson is one of the best starters in baseball, and the team has affordable second and third starters in Nolasco and Sanchez. If Volstad, West, and Sanabia prove they can build on the potential they've occasionally displayed, the Marlins should field a 2011 rotation that will be tough on opponents from front to back.

Share 2 Retweet 4 Send via email0

2011 Rotations Miami Marlins

Reds Offer Extension To Dusty Baker
Main
Marlins Extend Wes Helms
View Comments (7)

Comments

  1. Dave_Gershman

    13 years ago

    If the Marlins can find another Clay Hensley, they will be great. We can’t expect them to sign anybody big but I think they should lock up Nolasco and Sanchez.

    Reply
  2. jwredsox

    13 years ago

    Nolasco is a mystery to me. He has great strike out stuff but he can’t keep the ball in the ballpark. He has the repertoire of an ace but hasn’t been able to put it together.

    Reply
  3. wes W

    13 years ago

    man, of all the 2011 rotation posts, the Marlins is the least active (you hear that, fans, that for some reason like to dress up as orange empty seats, cause we know there is alot more Marlins fans out their.) :)Anyway, it’s the usual with the Marlins, Johnson is dominant, Nolasco, Volstad and Sanchez are good, young, cheap, back of the rotation pitcher and still have more on the way (Sanabia). Very quality staff.

    Reply
    • jwredsox

      13 years ago

      Marlins will have more fans at their games when they get their new covered stadium. It’s hard to sell seats when you have an open air stadium in a place where the chance of rain is 50% most days and when you play in a football stadium, meaning there is a chance you could get a seat the is set up to face the 50 yd line and not the pitchers mound/batters box.

      Reply
      • ludafish

        13 years ago

        for real man…ive been to 5 games this year and it is way too hot. those sunday games are unbearable…but the TV are very very high and with all the hype in miami and the hype of the new stadium attendance should be no question…

        Reply
        • jwredsox

          13 years ago

          Plus the stadium should be really nice.

          Reply
  4. ludafish

    13 years ago

    As usual the marlins have a great rotation on paper….it has the potential to be one of the best rotations in baseball. I feel like many others do though, we need that one real veteran starter. some good number 3 starter that can mold these young kids and offer advice. i dont have much faith that West, Miller, or Sanabia can lock it down because it seems every year one of our good guys breaks down (nolasco, anibal, and volstad all broke down last year). i would love to see Miller finally pan out and put his amazing stuff together, but again, if we had a good middle of the rotation veteran we can really get things going. the future is looking good for the fish. on that note we need to get rid of Cody Ross and save that 6 or so million and sign an arm

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension

    Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations

    Giants Fire Gabe Kapler

    Orioles Agree To 30-Year Lease At Camden Yards

    Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024

    Brooks Robinson Passes Away

    Reds’ Matt McLain Shut Down For Remainder Of 2023 Season

    Padres Plan To Reduce Payroll To Around $200MM; Front Office Changes Possible

    Marlins Place Eury Perez On 15-Day Injured List, Select Jeff Lindgren

    Sandy Alcantara Shut Down For Rest Of 2023 Season

    Brandon Lowe To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Kneecap Fracture

    Rays Promote Junior Caminero

    Sean Doolittle Announces Retirement

    Tigers Name Jeff Greenberg General Manager

    Qualifying Offer Value To Land Around $20.5MM

    Shohei Ohtani Undergoes Elbow Surgery

    Marlins Claim Matt Moore From Guardians

    Rays To Announce New Stadium Deal

    Reds Designate Hunter Renfroe For Assignment

    Shohei Ohtani Out For Season With Oblique Strain

    Recent

    Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension

    Rangers Place Jon Gray On Injured List

    Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations

    Giants Fire Gabe Kapler

    Brewers Select Caleb Boushley, DFA Julio Teheran Amid Flurry Of Roster Moves

    Tigers To Hire Miguel Cabrera As Special Assistant Following 2023 Season

    Nationals Activate Tanner Rainey From 60-Day IL

    Offseason Chat Transcript: St. Louis Cardinals

    Details From Orioles’ Stadium Agreement

    Tyler Clippard Announces Retirement

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version