Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas will be reaching free agency a bit later than initially projected, as the organization formally announced a two-year contract extension for the 30-year-old defensive standout Friday. Rojas, a client of the Beverly Hills Sports Council, will reportedly be guaranteed $10.25MM in total. The contract also comes with a vesting option that’d take the deal north of $15MM, if triggered.
The new contract buys out Rojas’ final season of arbitration, guarantees one free-agent season and gives Miami an option for what would be the second free-agent season for Rojas, who’ll turn 31 in February. Rojas earned a $3.155MM salary in 2019 and would’ve been eligible for arbitration for the final time this winter — although his relatively timid offensive profile would’ve prevented him from cashing in on a substantial raise.
The timing of the contract talks are a bit unusual, but the Miami organization is no stranger to September extensions. The Marlins previously worked out a three-year, $40MM extension for Martin Prado as well as a much smaller one-year extension with Greg Dobbs in the final month of a season (not that either deal panned out particularly well for them). Beyond that, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro tweeted this week that Rojas has “made it clear” to the Marlins that he wants to stay in Miami. The two sides apparently preferred to skip the potentially contentious arbitration process and proactively work out a multi-year arrangement.
Rojas has quietly become a versatile and fairly valuable player in South Florida, logging time at all four infield positions over the past few seasons while proving to be a difficult strikeout at the plate. He’s currently hitting .288/338/.388 with five homers, 27 doubles, a triple and eight steals in 2019, and he’s put together a serviceable (albeit still below average) .274/.327/.368 slash through 1316 plate appearances dating back to 2017. In that time, he’s punched out in only 12 percent of his plate appearances.
Though he’s spent the bulk of his time at shortstop over the past two seasons, Rojas grades out as an above-average defender all over the diamond. He’s generated elite numbers at the shortstop position, where he’s been credited with +26 Defensive Runs Saved and a +14 Ultimate Zone Rating dating back to 2017, which has helped to offset his lack of power and limited on-base skills.
Looking ahead, Rojas now appears poised to serve as the Marlins’ primary shortstop in both 2020 and 2021 — depending on the timeline of prospect Jazz Chisholm. For now, Rojas will likely be joined on the left side of the diamond by continually improving Brian Anderson, with well-regarded prospect Isan Diaz the favorite at second base. Garrett Cooper will likely round out the 2020 infield, although trades and free-agent acquisitions can certainly impact that composition. Rojas had previously been a somewhat under-the-radar trade asset, but a multi-year deal quite likely takes him off the market — at least in the short term.
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman first reported the deal (Twitter links). Barry Jackson and Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald added some financial context, and Heyman tweeted final details.
yeah! build your franchise around that!
I guarantee they’re planning to trade him for something good at the next deadline.
Lol
Something good as in a flier on a low grade prospect or change of scenery prospect
Risking having to give a player tens of millions is worth a low grade prospect ? you trade reliever prospects and middling relievers for that. Not eat money especially since they have zero money locked up now.besides Chen for one more year.
What tens of millions, the extension is probably ten mill guaranteed tops.
You eldest extension it’s generally longer than 2 years. He is older still the 3rd year portion will jump above 10 mill. He’s obviously a defensive shortstop. A stopgap.
He’s also played 4 other positions on the diamond. You’re not extending him for a large sum of money nor are you extending a SS only player. He’s a fine stopgap and eventually utilityman.
I was thinking the same thing. A Marlin signs a team friendly extension, expect to be traded soon.
Dont want him I’m sure the Brewers wouldnt mind him one bit
Marlins are always welcomed in Brewers fans eyes for business lol. Got another Yelich lying around on a team friendly deal?
Totally agree
Braves sign Ronald Acuna to lengthy extension.
Derek Jeter: Hold my Zima.
Jeter is just waiting to sign this guy to a extension then gift him to the Yankees.
*Jester
This is a move to bridge the gap to Jazz Chisholm, while offering a veteran SS to work with Isan Diaz at 2B and the rest of the young infield going forward. It also helps with the defense to support the young pitching. It stabilizes both offense and defense, even though he’s not anything close to an All Star, but has the defense and can bat in the 1 or 2 hole until those roles are taken over.
While he’s no superstar, he’s very beneficial for a continuously rebuilding, shallow pocketed organization.
Oh
2yr $9m with $6m option $500k buy out
You have to give to Rojas, he’s a survivor. He’s smart to stick with the Marlins if they will have him. Not many other teams would give him an everyday role and the money that goes along with it.
100%. He’s in a good spot in Miami – dollars and playing time that just wouldn’t be available elsewhere.
He’s a good guy to have on board, especially as the Marlins will be sifting through a fair bit of young pitching over the next couple of years – having Rojas’ glove behind those guys will do them wonders.
Rojas holds the position until Jazz or Devers is ready.
He’s the perfect platoon player for a contender. Instead he’s an okay everyday starter on a rebuilding team.
Meh, give me Cookie Rojas any day.
Good player to bring in for another 2 years. Chisholm will take longer than most people believe, seeing how long it has take Isan Diaz, Monte Harrison, Nick Neidert, and more to be called up. I makes sense too. Castro is a free agent at the end of the season, he isnt coming back. They could put Rojas at 3rd temporarily as well when they decide to call up Chisholm
Um…at 3B, the Marlins have some guy named Brian Anderson.
It’s not like he didn’t make 60 starts in RF this year also. Rojas’ bat never plays at 3rd so I highly doubt that situation ever becomes plausible but Anderson is obviously not married to 3B.
Jon Berti anyone?
Guys like Berti get exposed when given everyday at bats. Nice versatile spare part, but that’s about it.
Still waiting for just one of the prospects they received for Stanton, Ozuna, Realmuto and Yelich to really step it up and look like they might amount to more than just an average MLB pitcher or hitter.
I don’t think Brinson is ever gonna figure it out, and Alfaro, though he offers pop, still strikes out way too much. Also, not sure he’s anything special behind the plate.
I do like Smith and Yamamoto, but don’t think either one is more than a #3 or #4 starter for a contender. Sixto Sanchez is well thought of, but he’s probably still a year or two away. And he has to stay healthy.
The Marlins do a lot of strange things. Signing Rojas to a two-year deal isn’t necessarily one of them, but I’ll wager his signing didn’t so much as rattle the phones in the ticket office.
Sandy Alcantara says, “I think some of the prospects from those trades have started to show something. They’re still young, so they need to show more consistency.”
Zac Gallen asks, “Do I still count or do you all have to wait for Jazz Chisholm since I was then traded for him?”
I’m sorry, but while Alfaro has certain flaws and lacks the same mobility that Realmuto has, his flaws at this point of his career are not as bad as Realmuto’s flaws were at the same point and age. And Alfaro has a far superior arm. His defensive side and HR power has more upside than Realmuto. Realmuto has more of a consistent bat and mobility and base running skills.
Alfaro is pretty decent catcher, just strikes out too much but he can rake also hes not jt on the bases but hes not wilson ramos he moves and hustles.
That’s just not true at all for Realmuto. At 26 years of his age he was one of the games better catchers. Alfaro is not. He has problems making contact and he never draws a walk. He has not improved that at all in his career. He’s a fine catcher for now but if he never approves the plate discipline this all you’re ever getting.
Alvaro’s defensive side has more upside than likely 2019 Gold Glover JT Realmuto?
I wish they traded Yamm or Smith to Arizona and kept Gallen. Now if Jazz works out well you can say he was part of one of those trades. Brinson does seem so lost which is a shame because we don’t need him to win an mvp just play good defense and they predicted he would be a 20 20 guy (now he looks like Maybin). Yamm could work out well. Monte Harrison could be the stud of the deal and if Isan can put it together it could definitely work out. Alcantara has shown some great flashes. Devers is destroying the minors he’s just so young. The other pitcher we got for Stanton has an amazing fastball and decent breaking but needs to cut the walks down (he could make a good reliever if anything).
So the trades still need some time to marinate. The Stanton deal looks great now cause of his health and no one thought Yeli would hit 40hr. Should be interesting where this goes.
I tell us what folks here are crushing rojas, as a mets fan he looks like hank aaron to us I mean he just kills mets pitching. He is a solid player great glove smart, slap contact hitter. Not a bad place holder
Great move anyone that has watched the Marlins last few seasons. Have seen what a clubhouse leader he has become. not to mention his out the field things he does.
The front office is definitely putting money in building blocks for a good roster.
good utility team guy,goood international and draft. loaded farm system. And money coming off books and stadium and T.V deal looming. By the time they can spend on free agents. the sustainability will be there.
Good for him. That’s life changing money and he’s making it in a stage with no income tax.
31 is too old to gamble on arbitration and this free agent market. Take the guaranteed $$$.
For a team that’s been in off season mode for a couple months, signing extensions in September makes sense.
Who are the Marlins going to build around?