The Marlins announced today that they have inked outfielder Corey Dickerson to a two-year deal, as had previously been reported. Righty Austin Brice was designated for assignment to create roster space.
Dickerson is a well-established hitter who can reasonably be expected to turn in above-average work with the bat. He’s best utilized in a platoon capacity but will presumably be given more opportunities against left-handed pitching in Miami than he would’ve received elsewhere. A surprise defensive darling in 2018, Dickerson graded poorly with the glove last year. The Fish will likely be pleased if they receive palatable fielding.
This signing is the clearest indication that the Marlins want to begin moving in a positive direction in the win/loss column. There’s no real hope of a 2020 surprise, as the organization still lags in present-day MLB ability, but there’s obviously a belief that its worth making some targeted investments — and, perhaps, that Dickerson could be a part of a charge in 2021.
At the same time, the Marlins will part with yet another young pitcher. They’ve already designated Tayron Guerrero, Tyler Kinley, and Kyle Keller earlier in the offseason. Every one of those arms landed on another 40-man roster via trade or claim.
There could also be interest from other organizations in the 27-year-old Brice, who has already bounced around a bit. He’s fresh off of his most successful MLB stint yet, having provided the Marlins with 44 2/3 innings of 3.43 ERA ball in 2019. Brice reduced the usage of his sinker in favor of his curve and four-seamer, resulting in a boost in strikeouts (9.3 K/9) but also a reduction in groundball induction (42.2%). Statcast figures suggest Brice was successfully able to induce poor contact when he did allow it (.292 wOBA vs. .293 xwOBA), but fielding-independent metrics still weren’t sold on the results (4.87 FIP, 4.79 xFIP, 4.24 SIERA) due in no small part to ongoing home run issues (1.41 per nine).
Unfortunately, Brice also dealt with forearm issues that scuttled his season. His current health situation isn’t really known, but it stands to reason that the Marlins were somewhat less than optimistic about its impact on his outlook.
Orioles reclaim him
Austin will get a chance elsewhere.
Some odd reason my mlb app gave me a notification for this and it’s been the only non Braves notification I’ve gotten all offseason….. Weird. As if it’s huge news … lol
Good pick up for the marlins… they have made a lot of pretty strong moves this offseason. Made themselves a solid pain in everyone’s side at the least. Still hate them though
How have the Marlins made themselves a pain in anyone’s sides? They still stink, they are barely a big league club.
I think they have built themselves a much better team very quick… and instead of being a cake walk for everyone, I think they will be a pain to deal with and will win their fair share of games which will be meaningful to the other teams in the division. I’m in no way implying they will win the division or come close to the playoffs. But the east might be the strongest division in the NL if not all of baseball. The glaring weakness was the marlins. I don’t think they will be that terrible this year and solidify that the east is the best division.
Ask a Phillies fan. Marlins were 10 – 9 against them in ’19.
As a Marlins fan, I am realistic in seeing us finish in last place again, but we’re headed in a good direction again. Hopefully this rebuild finishes with the goal reached the same way our original 5-year plan led to 1997, and how our second 5-year plan led to 2003. Loria didn’t finish the last two. Good riddance.
Oh, and even though all of us can expect the Marlins to finish in last again, I’m not entirely sold on that this year. The Marlins have made some very solid additions to go with the young talent. And the Phillies and Mets are good candidates for implosions that could open the opportunity for the Marlins to pass them in the standings this year.
The Marlins are going to win the division this year.
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They have never won a division. What makes you think they will this year or ever?
@Atlanta Barves
How funny it would be if you end up regretting those words!?
Marlins really clearing the path for the young pitchers that’ll be coming up in the next couple of seasons, starting this spring. I really want them to take a flyer out on Taijuan Walker or Danny Salazar, but they may not have the roster space with the young kids that are up, the ones coming this year, and the ones coming next year.
It’s gonna be interesting.
Wouldn’t be a bad idea, but we still have a TON of pitching depth in the minors. Doubt we make a signing like that especially when we need to conserve cash.
Yeah, a move like that would be good, but we seem like we won’t have the roster space, unless we’ll be willing to move a couple of the kids to the bullpen if they don’t win out, or if they can find a good deal for Smith or Urena during the spring.
We’ll be interesting either way.
I hope we let Smith rebuild value because he had a terrible second half. If he can put up a sub 3.70 ERA by the deadline with similar K rates as last season we’ll get a haul.
Yeah, I think that’s the plan because we’ll have some more pitching that is ready by the time the trade deadline rolls around. I think that’s when both Smith and Urena get moved (if they have rebuilt their values).
I think after the trade deadline, it’ll be Alcantara, Lopez, Yammamoto, Hernandez, Duggar, and/or anyone else that’s ready to take a spot. I can even see us with a 6-man youthful rotation after the deadline to protect arms.
Here is their lone All Star Rep this year…..and probably next as well……
@boognailz4
Sandy Alcantara, Brian Anderson and Jorge Alfaro want to tell you that there may be more. Jonathan Villar and Jesus Aguilar agree.
Play again.
Lmao Jesus Aguilar is hoping he can bat the league average next season!
I’m sure Brian Anderson will get the all star nod over Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant, and potentially Josh Donaldson as well!
Please list more major leaguers! I know it must be tough rooting for the Marlins but naming guys who are good enough to be on a decent major league ball club doesn’t make them All-Stars!
What comes first…..Marlins end up in 4th place or they break 1,000,000 attendance mark !
4th place lol
Dude is going to put up solid numbers if he stays healthy I see him going .290 w/ 20 homers in a 145+ game season
Since that Midnight Boat Crash, Marlins went down hill !
Thanks for the reminder?
@bigbadjohnny Unnecessary, Try not to be obnoxiously edgy.
Angels might grab him
judging how last offseason went for Brice, he’ll get claimed by someone, if Miami doesnt work out a trade.
I hope we can get a trade. RHP middle relievers have limited value though.
Yet another example of analytics prevailing over the eye test. Both Brice & Keller have a chance to be solid bullpen pitchers and their ERAs were well below 4.00 each, but since their FIP was much higher and they let up a few more HRs with the juiced ball, they were let go rather than trying to build off of their success from last season. Both pitchers should be picked up by other organizations and wouldn’t be surprised to see both of them add value wherever they land.
Whoops; looks like Keller has already landed with Anaheim. Good move!
Keller’s advanced stats probably disagree with that. They were pretty decent.
Uh, I’m a Marlins fan. The eyeball test also says that there isn’t anything that’s a ‘must keep’ in either guy. We’re rebuilding. We have a bunch of younger pitchers with higher upside that are about ready to come up. These guys weren’t being kept to stand in their way. We went nowhere with these two. We’ll go nowhere without them…except with younger pitchers with more upside.
Relief pitchers with higher upside? I’m not so confident.