The Marlins have agreed to a one-year, $1.25MM deal with reliever Carlos Marmol, reports Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com (Spanish language link). The 31-year-old former Cubs closer is a client of Kinzer Management Group.
Sporting a 5.86 ERA after 27 2/3 innings in the midst of his eighth season with the Cubs, Marmol was dealt to the Dodgers for Matt Guerrier in a deal that seemed more about international bonus slot money than the players involved. Yet both Marmol and Guerrier flourished with the change of scenery, and each looks to have a good chance at a job for the coming season. The former threw to a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings for Los Angeles, though his 11.4 K/9 mark was still offset by a troubling 8.0 BB/9 during that time.
Indeed, the trick for Marmol has never been getting batters to miss his offerings; it has been getting his offerings not to miss the strike zone. He has posted a walk rate of under six-per-nine only three times in his career (2007, 2008, 2011). Meanwhile, he has maintained a career 11.7 K/9 and has only dipped below the 11 K/9 level over one season (last year) since converting fully to relief. Marmol saved 117 games for the Cubs over his tenure, but presumably he will slot in front of Miami 9th inning man Steve Cishek.
Wow, the Marlins gave this guy a guaranteed deal. Hopefully he can find his old form. He wasn’t terrible for the Dodgers.
8.0 BB/9 is terrible. He was lucky with the Dodgers.
Lol, when 4th place in the division is your goal for the season, pitchers like Marmol make perfect sense.
Or low-risk high reward guy who you could flip at the deadline if successful. I like the deal, not like 1M is hurting Loria or anything.
That’s 1 M Loria wont have is his pocket, that hurts him!
I watched him all too often as a Cubs fan. He had a few stretches where he was great (very short stretches) and was disasterous the other 90%. There is no reward with this guy
1.43 ERA in 70 Innings in 2007, had decent numbers every year up to 2013. His only problem is command, if he can figure that out, he’ll be good. If he doesn’t, well.. its the marlins.
My mistake. I forgot how well he did in 2007 as a set up man and his saves 2009-2011 weren’t that bad. I was just so focused on how horrible he was for the Cubs in the last 2 years that is blacked out the good times :(
Yeah, Salty is gonna have a tough time with him and Henry Rodriguez. If he can just stop walking everyone and there brother, he can be good.
The scouting report came out that if you didn’t swing, chances were very high that you would get a walk.
If the Marlins fans liked Heath Bell then they will LOVE Marmol
He was good for the Dodgers at the end of last year, maybe all he needed was a change. . He could be looking good for this year.
Which is why the dodgers had zero interest in bringing him back. Makes perfect sense
The Dodgers had zero interest in bringing him back because they signed every other closer or former closer on the market.
Which is why the dodgers had zero interest in bringing him back. Makes perfect sense
LOL…good one…
“How did he get a major league deal?” – EVERY Cubs fan
Major league deal? Wow. Not a bad move though, Marlins have nothing to lose. If he can reclaim himself somewhat, he’s a trade chip at the deadline and they can add to their young talent.
He already reclaimed himself somewhat in his stint with the Dodgers. He certainly wasn’t terrible, like with the Cubs at the end.
Aside from that 8.0 BB/9 with the Dodgers, he was great.
Nah, not great — just not terrible.
Aside from that 8.0 BB/9 with the Dodgers, he was great.
Dude is good in non pressure roles.
sound like Miami will be perfect for him them
Probably the only reliever on the market worse than Kevin Gregg we have yet to hear from. Crying shame he signed with the Fish.. Maybe they will cut him during the spring after he plunks the batboy from wildness, throws one half way up the backstop, or somewhere else 30-40′ away from HP…
Don’t forget that the Marlins’ batboy also has to worry about Henry Rodriguez now.
I know that and the trade rumors. You know Loria just ships em off for cheaper bat boys the first month of the season.
I know that and the trade rumors. You know Loria just ships em off for cheaper bat boys the first month of the season.
I laughed about this for about 15 minutes then cried for 30 when I remembered how many times the Cubs lost because of him.
He’s the reason why the Cardinals won the World Series or at least made the playoffs and then earned the World Series.
No Marmol, No Cardinal World Series. At least that’s how I feel about it!
No Marmol, no baseball.
They really liked Big Z, so they wanted someone with his resume. That’s all I’ve got.
Miami, you are welcome.
-Dodgers Pitching Coaches
At this rate somebody in the Marlins front office is going to get shocked beyond belief with all this trying to capture lightning in a bottle signings.
As a Braves fan, this is wonderful news.
The joke’s on you…and his name is Fredi.
If the Marlins are going to lose…I’d prefer they do it with the young guys. Signing all these retreads and journeymen doesn’t work for me.