The Marlins have been on the lookout for an answer to their hole at third base this offseason, and they filled that spot on the diamond today by officially announcing a one-year deal with Casey McGehee. McGehee, who spent last season playing in Japan, will reportedly earn a base salary of $1.1MM and has additional incentives in his deal contract. Back in October, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reported that McGehee was seeking a return to MLB.
The 31-year-old may not be the No. 1 target of big league clubs from the Rakuten Golden Eagles — that honor goes to his now-former teammate Masahiro Tanaka — but McGehee did hit .289/.371/.512 with 27 home runs in his first season there and got some attention from MLB scouts. McGehee is represented by Barry Meister, as shown in the MLBTR Agency Database. McGehee earned a guaranteed $1.5MM with the Golden Eagles last season, meaning he'll take a slight pay cut to return to the Major Leagues (although his incentives likely can carry him beyond that mark).
McGehee broke into the Majors in impression fashion with the Brewers, batting .291/.346/.477 with 39 homers in 273 games (1064 plate appearances). His production vanished over the next two years, though, as the former 10th-round pick batted just .221/.282/.351 over his next 952 plate appearances prior to his signing in Japan.
Last week, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Miami was intrigued by McGehee. Wilson Betemit, who lost 2013 to injuries, was also discussed as an option by the Marlins.
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald first reported the agreement (on Twitter). Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported the Major League guarantee (also on Twitter).
I think most people saw this coming.
How many saw him get a major league deal?
McGehee said he wasn’t leaving Japan unless he got received a major league contract.
So, it was pretty obvious he was going to get a major league deal if he came back to the states. He made $1.5MM last year in Japan.
Exactly, was going to make more than this in Japan. I actually thought he might get as much as $2m by MLB team due to lack of strength at the position.
Is it a minor league deal????
It’s a big league deal.
somebody has to go because the 40 man roster is full
These things can take a couple days to become official before a spot needs cleared.
Maybe Chris hatcher lucas Jimmy Paredes
Kyle Skipworth
A very low risk/high rewardl move for the Marlins. McGehee may not have been the player the Pirates thought he would be when acquired from the Brewers for the 2012 season, but he was a very positive presence for the team. It may have been purely coincidental, but after the Pirates traded him to the Yanks, their season spiraled downward. He deserves the second chance, and I hope that he excels for the Marlins.
Yeah pretty sure the Pirates’ collapse had more to do with things other than the departure of Casey McGehee. That said, good to see him back in the league.
Their pitching staff comes to mind on the 2012 collapse. But yes, he is awesome, glad to see him back!
His departure certainly wasn’t among the biggest reasons for the Pirate 2012 second-half belly flop, but your point is taken. McGehee was a solid veteran presence in that clubhouse.
How is this not a great signing by Miami, low risk-medium reward can play 1b or 3b maybe even 2b in a pinch…got 20 homers in his bat…good veteran presence in the clubhouse on a young team at practically next to nothing. If it works out Miami’s lineup looks solid, if it doesn’t minimal investment…
I don’t know how well he’s kept himself up (presumably quite well), but he did play 179 2/3 innings of 2B for the Brewers in 2009, and I remember it being pretty solid (and Fangraphs agrees with me, giving him a UZR of 1.0 in that time). He can definitely play all three of those positions (1B, 2B, 3B), but I imagine he’ll be mainly 3B for the Marlins.
Not to be lost in stats here is McGehee’s leadership value. That man was loved by everyone in the Brewers clubhouse and fans alike. He’s one of the better people to play the game, and he’s definitely a great leader of men. For $1.1M plus incentives, I think the Marlins got themselves a steal here, and I’m rooting for him.
I completely agree about his clubhouse/fanbase presence; He’s a diamond in the rough.
Also, the year he made the team out of Spring Training, it was between him and someone else for the final spot, but he made it based on the fact that he could be the emergency backup catcher! I remember the names of the other 2 guys who made it that year, ahead of him: Chris Duffy and Brad Nelson… they both pretty much tanked, but McGehee broke out… and is still swingin’. Very happy for him scoring a MLB deal.
Oh yeah, that was the Chris Duffy year! I almost forgot he played for us. Yeah, McGehee making the team was the best thing that could’ve happened. I believe we first used him at second base for awhile because Rickie was injured, and then he got moved to third where he stuck. I miss him. I’m really hoping he has a good year for the Marlins.
Looks like he really mashed in Japan. Is that a typical slugger line over there or did he have a breakthrough?
it could be a little of both, japan the place where struggling MLB players tend to shine
Guys with good power often become great sluggers in Japan. Overall the Japanese Leagues are probably between AAA and MLB here in terms of skill level. The pitching talent is not quite as deep there, and I also think that some of their ballparks are relatively smaller. McGehee is not a 30 homer hitter in the States, but he still has average to above-average power if he is going well.
Marlins are adding low-risk high reward guys, if McGehee, Furcal, Stanton, Fernadez, Turner and Jones all have good years, look at Mets for 5th place.
Walker who????
Neil Walker, Garrett Jones, same thing. Edited. I called Gaby Sanchez Garret Jones a few days ago. Pirates players.. sigh.
Solid pickup by the marlins.
the marlins will surprise some people next season. much improve from last season. it also surprising to see the owner making good low key moves.
He made his debut with the Cubs..
He was the winner of the “Best Nine” 3B in Japan–i.e., the best 3B in the league as voted by the press. Had a good year here.
He had a big comeback year in Japan; I was expecting him to get a deal back in the States. Let’s see how he does second time around.
How do you pronounce his last name? Is it “Mack-gee” or is it “Mack-gee-hee”?
Mick gay hee
Thanks bro.
Could the Marlins now make a move to deal for Conor Gillaspie of the Chicago WhiteSox and platoon them? Gillaspie is a lefty hitting corner infielder who is very good defensively at 3rd and can play first and although he proved to not be able to hit Leftys AT ALL , he has shown signs of brilliance vs RHP. Since the acqusition of matt Davidson in Chicago, Paul Konerko coming back for another season and Jose Abreu, the White Sox no longer have a spot for Gillaspie at 3B( Davidson) and it would be difficult to carry two guys that can only play 1(Konerko) or 2 (Gillaspie) positions on your bench as that would take away the spot of a 4th outfielder or Utility infielder. Do you think Gillaspie could be a fit in Miami?
Casey was team MVP for the 2010 Brewers, on a roster that included Braun and Fielder.
Not sure where his game went after that, but best wishes for 2014.