The Marlins have optioned a pair of prospects to Triple-A Wichita, per multiple reporters (including Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald). Outfielder Monte Harrison and right-hander Nick Neidert are headed to the Pacific Coast League.
Both Harrison, 24, and Neidert, 23, finished last season at the minors’ highest level, but each looked in need of a bit more seasoning. Harrison hit a passable .274/.357/.451 in 244 plate appearances with New Orleans (Miami’s previous Triple-A affiliate) last season. However, the former second-rounder’s longstanding strikeout troubles in the minors persisted.
Neidert, meanwhile, worked to a 5.05 ERA in nine Triple-A starts. That’s better than it seems on the surface given the hitter-friendly nature of the PCL. The control artist’s walk rate spiked dramatically in his 41 innings there, though, and his ground ball rate fell precipitously.
Both Harrison and Neidert still look to be solid, near-ready assets for the Marlins’ organization. They’re each among the club’s top 15 prospects, per Baseball America.
Today is the final day teams can option players before MLB’s roster freeze kicks in. As Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic points out, there’s a rationale behind teams’ recent spate of options around the league. By optioning players who didn’t figure to crack the Opening Day roster, the Marlins (and other teams who make similar moves) insulate themselves from paying an MLB salary if the players involved were to suffer a long-term injury while the sport is on hiatus. Upon the league’s resumption, such players would go on the minor-league injured list, where they would receive a minor-league salary and (presumably) not accrue MLB service time.
Man that Yelich trade was a steal for the Marlins.
Based on…?
Or is this sarcasm?
Obviously, it’s sarcasm.
They got a back of the rotation starter, a starting second baseman and an outfielder who is near major league ready plus an outfielder who still has upside and has started each of the last two seasons. I think it’s still too early to make that claim.
Too early to say isan Diaz is a starting 2B as well. Dude has looked lost in the MLB in his brief time. And you’re getting real close to saying Brinson is a complete flop—if you’re not there already.
Haha come on. It was an absolute landslide win for the Brewers. Getting 25 cents on the dollar is not great
Dude wanted out and flourished since then, can’t hate on that. Marlins did well in the Mike King, Stanton, Ozuna, Gordon, Brian Schales, and Romo trade, you win some and you lose some.
Doesn’t matter what he wanted. They had him under contract for 5 more years. And after his breakout 2018 they’d have gotten way more for him even with him losing a year of control.
Baseball needs more Montes
Full or Three Card?
There’s room for both!
And with that, their salaries go from $500K+ to $20K. Poor guys…WalMart & Amazon are hiring!
Over the years, the Marlins have traded away an all-star team. Still waiting for any one of the zillion or so prospects they’ve received in return to establish themselves as a bona fide MLB player. Caleb Smith and Jorge Alfaro are OK, but if those two represent the top side, we’re in trouble.
Actually believe Monte Harrison might end up being the jewel among them. And I like Jordon Yamamoto., too.
Sandy Alcántara says hello.