The Marlins announced Thursday that they’ve selected the contract of veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson while optioning fellow outfielder Austin Dean to Triple-A New Orleans. Three non-roster players — lefty Mike Kickham, righty Hector Noesi and catcher Rodrigo Vigil — were all reassigned to minor league camp, too. Miami now has a full 40-man roster.
Granderson, who turned 38 last week, split the 2018 season between the Blue Jays and the Brewers and posted a combined .242/.351/.431 batting line with 13 home runs, 22 doubles and a pair of triples in 403 plate appearances. He’s had a rough Spring Training, but Granderson was reportedly likely to make the club from the beginning of camp.
The Marlins surely value having a veteran with his level of experience working with what figures to be a very young outfield mix, but he won’t be an everyday option for them in the outfield. Granderson’s numbers against left-handed pitching have continually deteriorated, rendering him as a strict platoon and pinch-hitting option at this point in his career. Defensively, he’ll be limited to the outfield corners.
The exact composition of Miami’s outfield is beginning to come into focus now that Dean has somewhat surprisingly been optioned out. Lewis Brinson looks locked into the center field job on the heels of a torrid spring, while Garrett Cooper, Peter O’Brien and Rosell Herrera are all still outfield options on the 40-man roster who remain in camp and on the 40-man roster. Gabriel Guerrero is also still in camp as a non-roster player who could yet crack the Opening Day roster.
Long live the Grandyman!
Grandy hit just .220 this spring, but also walked a ton, giving him a .407 on-base percentage and an .846 OPS
Long live Grandy Man!
Can’t wait to see him hit homer after homer vs Mets
Almost certain they have 40 on the 4o-man while not counting Julián Fernández who’s on the 60-day DL.
You’re correct. Their announcement noted that there are 39 players remaining in Major League camp — not 39 players on the 40-man roster. Their 40-man is full. Thanks for pointing that out.
Happy to help.
They should’ve let Dean platoon with grandy. Peter O Brien needs to go…
How long will O’Brien stay on the roster he’s been bounced around so many teams and in the minors I didn’t think any team would have him on the roster the marlins must be desperate
Are you saying O’Brien isn’t drawing rave reviews?
YES. Thank you for keeping this meme alive.
I doubt O’Brien makes it over Cooper. I’d prefer Galloway or Guerrero, but I’m guessing Herrera gets the last spot. They need someone capable in CF besides Brinson.
I think O’Brien makes it. You can justify sending Cooper to the minors because he missed so many at bats last year. And yes, Herrera will be the 4th outfielder.
Wonder if Mike Kickham got a ring from those 2 games he pitched in for the 2014 Giants…
Marlins should have looked at Brian Anderson in CF, particularly since Brinson was rated a net negative in CF defense (by Fangraphs). A Prado/Walker platoon at 3B and Cooper at 1B would make for a better lineup. Brinson has hardly been “torrid” this spring. Other than a couple games early on, he hasn’t looked good at all.
Grandyman another dumb move by Marlins. He can’t get any better only worse, Father time has long ago caught up to him.
Experience from a vet pays more for a young squad than performance
Good for him
I had a feeling he was gonna be brought up to the Major League club.