TODAY: Rojas hit the 500-PA threshold last night, so his $5.5MM salary is officially guaranteed for 2022.
SEPTEMBER 17: Two years ago, almost to the day, Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas inked a two-year, $10.25MM extension that bought out his final arbitration year and first free-agent season. The contract carried a $5.5MM vesting option for the 2022 season, and as the Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson points out, that option will likely vest this weekend — perhaps as soon as tonight. Rojas’ $5.5MM salary for the 2022 season becomes guaranteed if he reaches 500 plate appearances in 2021, and he’ll enter play tonight at 496 plate appearances on the year.
The contract looked plenty affordable at the time and has been nothing short of a bargain for the Fish, as Rojas has improved at the plate and continued to play high-end defense at shortstop. In 160 games over the life of the contract, he’s hitting .278/.342/.421 with a dozen homers, 39 doubles, four triples and 17 stolen bases (in 20 tries). The rate stats are a bit inflated by an uncharacteristic power surge in last year’s shortened season, but even this year’s .270/.327/.400 mark is a bit better than league average, by measure of wRC+ (102).
On the defensive side of the coin, Rojas has been excellent. He’s committed just 13 errors in that span of 160 games, and newer defensive metrics all agree that he’s been sharp. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Rojas has been credited with six Defensive Runs Saved and a hearty 9.3 Ultimate Zone Rating. Statcast’s Outs Above Average isn’t quite as bullish put still rates him as a positive defender at plus-1.
When Rojas’ option does officially vest, he’ll become only the second player on the Marlins with a guaranteed contract for the 2022 season, joining reliever Anthony Bass, who’s set to earn $3MM next year. Miami has some players in line for arbitration raises, which will add to that modest total.
Right-handers Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Elieser Hernandez are among the team’s first-time eligibles in arbitration. Dylan Floro, Garrett Cooper and Brian Anderson are all up for their second arbitration raises. Richard Bleier and Jesus Aguilar are up for their third and final raises. Aguilar figures to be the most expensive, as he’s due a raise on a $4.35MM salary. That said, even he doesn’t seem likely to eclipse $7.5MM or so, making it a relatively light class on the whole.
Suffice it to say, while the Marlins aren’t ever going to be mistaken for a high-payroll club, they’ll have some money to splash around with this winter. Miami spent roughly $63MM payroll in 2021, per Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez. The combination of Rojas, Bass and that arbitration class shouldn’t clock in at much more than $40MM. Second-year general manager Kim Ng ought to have some resources to strengthen this club via free agency or by taking on some salary on the trade market.
Turning back to Rojas, he again made clear to McPherson that he hopes to play in Miami well beyond the 2022 campaign — a stance he’s expressed in the past. That’ll be up to the front office and ownership, of course, and while Ng declined to discuss any possible extension talks with McPherson, she had nothing but positives to say about Rojas and what he means to the club.
“He really does embody all the things that we look for in a player to represent the organization, to represent the sport and that is a big compliment,” Ng said of Rojas. “…If all players had Miggy’s character and outlook, we’d be ecstatic.”
Are all comedians fans of the Mutts?
Wow you said Mutts instead of Mets. Well, we know who the clever and original one is around here. It’s you! Me? I’m the sarcastic one. Have a nice day.
Mutts
They’d still be, well, the Mets.
Meant for Metsfan-22.
You guys are fascinated with this dude
It’s Creepy
I’ll give 22 his props, he’s set a goal, and achieved it with flying colors. All the while you guys remain pawns on his chessboard
I hope he stays with the marlins lol. They will never be better than than the Mets
I’ll take the Marlins projected pitching staff next season than the Mets anyday. If their offense is even average, they’ll be a really formidable team.
Last I checked the Marlins have won two WC’s since the Mets. And I’m a Mets fan. And if Seaver’s not injured in 1986, there’s no grounder through Buckner’s legs. That series was decided completely by pitching depth. Seaver’s loss was very consequential. 1969 is a solid win. Swept away a great Orioles team.
why the Mets are a dysfunctional mess. Their owner is an embarrassment. Their President makes extremely questionable hires. Their payroll is thrice that of thr Marlins and neither one will make it to WS.
Agree on Seaver. But just think how many more rings the Dodgers would have won had Koufax, at age 30, not blown his UCL out in 1966 (with TJ Surgery having been not been developed).
“And I’m a mets fan.”
Well, hell, @whyhazee.
I was somehow convinced that you were an Indians/Guardians fan. That’s why I found all the effort you put into bashing/trolling the Yankees & our fans so strange.
But: a petty & insecure mets fan makes Complete Sense. Don’t know if this will matter or not, but Yankee fans care Very Little about your team. You guys are not our “bitter rivals”. Not even close. Hell…you don’t even play *in the same league*!
Man.
All that time & effort (including watching every game we play! Was grouse opener today; you saw more of the Yanks than I did!) all over some imaginary injustice & slight. So. Why don’t you troll teams that actually do care about your crummy little ballclub? Meaning: at least narrow it down to the right damn League.
A mets fan. So obvious.
At least being a super weird dude from Cleveland was semi-interesting. Now you’re just a run of the mill stereotype.
How disappointing.
That’s pretty funny considering the Marlins, who only became an expansion team in 93, have won the WS twice since the Mets last win
I was there at the old YS watching one of their WS title wins. Soul-crushing.
Ronk325: He said Marlins have 2 WC (World Championships) in his first sentence.
My comment wasn’t directed at whyhazee nor did I see his comment when I made mine
Marlins have won the same amount of Championships as the Mets
Except for last year. Lol
Miggy is great but the Marlins would be better off getting a better option and pushing him to a super utility role. I personally would love to see them sign a guy like Marcus Seimen but don’t expect them too given their lack of willingness to sign Starling Marte to a modest deal.
It’s time for them to open the checkbook and raise the payroll to 75-80 million. They have the resources to do so. This team is badly In need of 2-3 impact bats in addition to a closer.
For $5.5m and being a vet, he’s the perfect fit for Fish as they continue rebuilding.
Very underrated player
This is great news…. As a Mets fan….
Traded a half eaten piece of gum and $7 FAAB for Thor in fantasy.
Feel like I overpaid. Fingers crossed
You know, I thought of you as kind of a bully for picking on a rebuilding team so much when the Mets are “playoff contenders”. I mean, you don’t see fans of the Rays, Blue Jays or Yankees getting all down on the Orioles like they’re some kind of rival to them this season.
But maybe I was wrong. Maybe the Marlins ARE an appropriate rival to the Mets. After all, the Mets are worse than they should be and the Marlins are better than we thought they would be.
I think your rascally band of underachievers found an appropriate rival though maybe not much longer. I don’t know what the Mets are going to do when the Marlins rebuild starts emerging into a playoff competitive team.
Didn’t think he would be able to hit enough when he was on the Dodgers. He put together a decent career in Miami
Good for him, and kudos to the Marlins for allowing that to transpire. He’s a solid player.
Miguel Rojas reached the vesting threshold for breaking the Phillies balls about four seasons ago. Tough player.