The Marlins are interested in retaining right-handed reliever Brandon Kintzler heading into next season, Craig Mish of Sportsgrid tweets. The team has a $4MM option for next year, or it could buy Kintzler out for $250K and see him return to the open market.
The 36-year-old Kintzler isn’t far from his latest trip to free agency, where he signed a $3.25MM with the Marlins last offseason. Kintzler then pitched to a sterling 2.22 ERA, converted 12 of 14 save opportunities and posted 5.18 K/9 against 4.07 BB/9, albeit with a 5.00 FIP, over 24 1/3 innings.
In fairness to Kintzler, fielding-independent pitching metrics have leaned against him throughout his career, though his results have been good, as his sterling 56.2 percent groundball rate has helped him to a 3.31 ERA since he debuted in 2010. Kintzler has teamed that with a 3.80 FIP and 6.28 K/9 and 2.43 BB/9 over 448 2/3 frames during his time in the majors.
A very underappreciated player throughout his career, and he seems to be happy in Miami. I hope they re-sign him along with a few more pen arms.
Marlins’ fans, what positions need upgrading going into 21′? I see their team, and I see a whole bunch of good players, but some names I don’t recognize that could be building blocks and I just don’t know. I know the pen needs upgrading though.
IMO, the Marlins need the following:
1) a veteran, defensive catcher to mentor Jorge Alfaro
2) a veteran SP that eats innings
3) a legit closer to move Kintzler to a set-up role
4) more bullpen pieces to stabilize late innings
5) a veteran infielder that can help the middle infield
Lance Lynn and Rafael Montero? I know I say it a lot, but Lynn is a great veteran (albeit for one year), and Montero is probably capable of being a closer, and definatley an 8th inning guy. He has an inflated line because of two appearances, but he was really good for us in the 9th. And the only team Lynn was hurt by was really the Astros lol. Talk about kryptonite, he gave up probably 4 runs each time against them. But he was so great this season that those instances only rose his era to a low 3’s. Insane. Though he would look awfully weird in a Marlins uniform… Giving off Heath Bell vibes.
Not a Marlins fan, but I don’t see that move happening at all. IMO, the Marlins are about one year away from being a decent team, so trading prospects that could help them when they are ready to contend for one year of a 33 year old pitcher just doesn’t seem that wise.
Personally, I think the Mets would be the best fit for Lance Lynn, as they were pretty decent last year and they desperately need starting pitching.
Ditto, dan55. The Mets also have trade options that could intrigue Texas. Another option that doesn’t seem viable because it is inter-divisional, but that makes sense is Houston. A starter and a bullpen arm for maybe a Bryan Abreu centered package? Though I doubt either team would pull the trigger.
James McCann might be a pretty good option for #1 on your list. He did wonders in Chicago.
We have so much SP depth that I doubt they sign anyone. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea but who is out there that will fit that bill at a low cost? They are better off trying to give Neidert Digger and Garret a shot. Then they need to be careful with progressing Rogers and Sixto to get the best out of them.
Catcher we definitely agree on but I’m sure McCann will be too expensive. I wonder if there’s any chance Molina does leave the cards.
They need to keep Kintzler even as a setup man. We have Yimi Garcia coming back. We don’t know about Steckenrider and his injury. Hoyt and Belier are under control. Kinztler really bought in to what we were doing and became a leader. We need him back. I wish we could get Treinen or something. Relief help will be difficult but the main priority.
Personally I think they next big thing is a true veteran bat. A run producer. We have some intriguing guys now and some waiting like JJ and Jerar. But they definitely need some help there. Or a good full season of Dickerson back to normal with Aguilar, BA, Cooper and Marte back at their best.
Should we try Max Meyer as a reliever first?we really need a power arm to get you out of jams. Going to be a fun off-season
So you think Molina would be cheaper then McCann? I’m a McCann fan but I don’t see it.
While I do agree they need a defensive catcher that can help mentor Alfaro, I don’t know if there are clear upgrades on the market without having to give that free agents the bulk of the playing time. I still think Alfaro should get 50-60% of the playing time. I think if they can sign a guy like Erik Kratz if he’s willing to go to AAA. Wallach and Alfaro is a nice duo though, with Navarretto in the minors.
Do they really need a SP to eat innings?
I’m all for signing a #2 or #3 SP for 1-2 years. But we have the depth to “eat in innings.” Whether that be giving Yamamoto, Neidert another shot. (I think Neidert should be in the pen). Duggar hasn’t looked good, but he can be a mop up guy. Rogers and Garrett need to be in AAA but they are options. Guzman and Holloway will likely be in the pen but they can go multiple innings.
Max Meyer, Will Stewart, and others will likely get their feet wet this year.
And we can’t forget about Cabrera.
I guess it depends on if the Marlins believe the rotation can stay healthy, if they plan on keeping Sixto in the MLB, how much seasoning do they expect to give Cabrera, Rogers, and Garrett.
Rotation should be:
Sandy
Pablo
Elieser
Sixto
Castano
I’m all for signing a legit closer, although I’d like to see everybody from the pen return, minus maybe Nick Vincent, in exchange for letting Neidert, Guzman, or Holloway have that spot. I think we need another lefty along with Bleier.
And do we really need another veteran infielder? I don’t think so at the MLB level. We have Rojas, Chisholm, and Diaz. If someone gets hurt we have Berti. I think adding another Sean Rodriguez type to the AAA team would be very wise in case of an injury or two. I’d like to see Eddy Alvarez again but I doubt it.
We should be active with waiver claims in the middle infield market. Depth is needed there, just not sure if we need it enough to take up another spot on the 26-28 man roster.
One thing they need to do is give certain players a real look at starting. Not having the minors around this year really hurt certain players. Yamamoto got his shot, he’s done for. Then people like Neidert and Dugger a legitimate shot at a rotation spot (or keep them somewhere they can). I feel they haven’t given Neidert any time to shine. Spot relief appearances here and there. Guzman and Holladay seem like they are destined to be power pen arms. They need to right the ship with Stanek (thought he was out future closer when we got him) and see what they can get out of Steckenrider. We have Yimi and hopefully Kinztler.
The rotation should absolutely be Sandy and Pablo at the top. I think Castano showed enough to be the fifth starter. Mattingly seems very high on Elisier. So the fifth spot should obviously be Sixto but who knows maybe we give him more time. Like I said I want Neidert, Dugger, and Cabrera to be treated like starters to see what they can do. Maybe give Sixto another month to work on it. By then you know who can do what. Maybe Dugger becomes a power pen arm. Maybe Neidert becomes a legit starter. Or one of them look good starting and you trade a couple for a bat or a real arm that can help. And while I agree Meyer should be looked at as a future starter I think right now he can help in the pen to get his feet wet. It all depends when they think he is ready
Aka we don’t want to pay him the 4 million team option so we’ll give him the 250K buyout. Teams are going to be very cheap this winter with free agents. Unless you are a top tier free agent expect to be making a lot less $$$.
We liked him as a Twins player
The saves, ERA, & GB% are all pretty shiny.
But, man. A 5.18 K/9 with a 4.07 BB/9 seems… untenable.
Was thinking the same thing. Hard pass
Think of him more as a righty version of a Zack Britton. No, he’s not anywhere near as good, but he’s still good. Walk rate higher than wanted, but he’s a ground baller. Won’t generate high K’s, but he will get DPs. FIP is not a fan of someone like Kintzler, but real-life baseball is.
Seeing as the Marlins have a $4M team option on him for next season, saying they “hope” to retain him seems like kind of a funny way to put it. Like either they retain him (if they want) or they don’t — it seems pretty straightforward. $4M for a guy who posted a 2.22 ERA seems like a pretty obvious option to pick up – and unless it’s actually a mutual option or something he doesn’t have any leverage to get more $ or anything like that. So if the Marlins “hope” to retain him… all they have to do is exercise the option… seems really straightforward.
If they “hope” to retain him at $4M, they don’t belong in MLB. He’s a bargain at that price tag after what he provided this past year. Would wish someone with disposable cash would just step up and buy the Marlins so they aren’t the minor league system for some of the teams out there.
$4mil for a reliever is too much for this AAAA organization.
Calling a playoff team a AAAA team is a surefire way to let people know you don’t actually follow the game.
Come up with some newer insults because these jokes have been around since Loria was owner. Jeter came on board, and, yes, traded away some good players to start fresh. It’s called a rebuild and teams do it all the time, especially when a new ownership groups comes aboard.
The simple fact is that Jeter an co. is not trading away prospects for 1-year rentals like Loria’s team used to do. The Marlins have changed since their last title, so maybe so should you poor attempt at a joke.
That’s hilarious. “Hope” to keep a player they have an option on.
Well, I got some good news for you, Marlins.
They were hoping we wouldn’t check.
Didn’t have to read in very far lol (2nd sentence of article): “The team has a $4MM option for next year”.
I hope Brandon isn’t reading, because this might be the Marlins way if saying we’re not picking up your option! We do like you, but not in a $4M kind of way, but at $1.5M, you’re the bee’s knees.
Kintzler was a leader amongst the Nats relievers when he was here. Nevertheless, GM Rizzo abruptly deep-sixed him when he strongly suspected him of being a complainer who undermined Martinez during his first season as manager. Both things can be true. I wish Kintzler well in the remainder of his career but I don’t miss him as a Nat.
Then, pay him.
Next question.
If you want to ensure you keep him, exercise your team option.