TODAY: Aguilar cleared waivers and has been released, as per the Marlins’ MLB.com transactions page.
AUGUST 26: The Marlins have designated first baseman Jesus Aguilar for assignment, general manager Kim Ng announced to reporters (Twitter link via Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald). All-Star Garrett Cooper is back from the injured list in a corresponding move.
Now that the trade deadline has passed, the only course of action for the Marlins will be to place Aguilar, 32, on waivers and hope that another club claims him. Given the $7.5MM guarantee on the struggling Aguilar’s 2022 contract, however, that appears quite unlikely. While Aguilar’s deal does carry a mutual option for the 2023 campaign, mutual options are rarely exercised, so teams will look at him as a pure rental.
There’s still about $1.6MM left to be paid out on the contract of Aguilar, plus a $200K buyout on that option. It’s hard to imagine a contending club dropping $1.8MM to claim a player who is hitting just .236/.286/.388 on the season as a whole — including a dismal .188/.246/.347 slash since the All-Star break. The overwhelming likelihood is that Aguilar will clear waivers and become a free agent — whether by being released or rejecting an outright assignment.
At that point, Aguilar would be free to sign a new contract with any team, and the new team would only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the MLB roster. The mutual option would no longer be a consideration, as he’ll have been released from the contract containing that clause. Aguilar would be postseason-eligible for a new club as long as he is signed (or, far less likely, claimed) prior to Sept. 1.
While a team isn’t likely to take a chance on Aguilar at the cost of his remaining salary, it stands to reason that several clubs would hold interest in signing him at the prorated league minimum. Aguilar hasn’t been himself in 2022, but as recently as 2020-21 he gave Miami a combined 726 plate appearances of .265/.336/.458 production, smacking 30 home runs and 33 doubles with an 18.3% strikeout rate against a solid 9.5% walk rate.
Aguilar doesn’t carry a significant platoon split, so at his best, he’s an above-average, everyday slugger with 30-homer pop … he just hasn’t been close to his best in 2022. His 23.2% strikeout rate is the highest it’s been since 2018, and Aguilar has seen his average exit velocity (87.7 mph) and hard-hit rate (35.4%) dip to career-worst levels in 2022.
Aguilar has generally graded out as a solid defender at first base, but he’s seen his typically solid grades take a step back in 2022, clocking in at -4 Defensive Runs Saved, a -1.4 Ultimate Zone Rating and zero Outs Above Average. He’s limited to first or designated hitter for the most part, with the lone exception being a few emergency appearances across the diamond at the hot corner over the years (27 career innings, including five in 2022).
Assuming Aguilar indeed clears waivers, teams in need of some offensive help at first base or designated hitter — or just a right-handed bat off the bench — could take a low-cost look in hopes of turning his season around. For the Marlins, they’ll use the remainder of the year to give a larger look to Lewin Diaz, who once ranked among the organization’s top prospects but has seen his stock tumble in recent seasons. The aforementioned Cooper also figures to see additional time in the lineup.
Interesting
Another Zaidi target
I could see a fit with the mariners. Ty France in august has absolutely fallen off a cliff. I believe France is still the best long term fit. A 35 game run n then postseason with Aguilar wouldnt kill them. And as we saw with the braves last year. Can pick up struggling hitters and they just absolutely light it up when it matters down the stretch.
Paging David Stearns
Yeah based on his less than stellar offensive numbers he’d fit right in. Only thing is he had a run with MKE and it ended under similar circumstances.
Oh, and his K rate is too low. Gotta be at least 30% to fit the Brewers approach.
Yeah Manny, I just don’t get the Brewers approach at this point. They have what they have and they’re standing pat, hoping everyone gets hot at the right time and get into the playoffs. Not sure what it would hurt at this point to bring up some kids and see how they do. Can’t get much worse from an offensive standpoint.
brewers were really exciting to watch a few years ago, then fell off in 2020 but last year was nice but they ran into a hottest team in. Yelich got hasn’t been the same since injury but they still could have made some other moves at deadline. It looks like the FO gave up and packed it in
Yelich hasn’t been the same since they stopped juicing the balls as much.
I won’t accept or completely deny that as a possibility. But it’s a bit lazy as an excuse. He already had back issues prior to the big contract, in addition to the broken kneecap.
Before the kneecap he was an MVP caliber player for 2 seasons. When he returned he struggled, and has since become a slap-hitter and part time defender (partly due to physical issues, and partly due to becoming a bad defender seemingly overnight). Can’t blame the bad defense on juiced or unjuiced balls.
Once he clears waivers, I wouldn’t mind brewers taking a shot on a league min contract. Gotta try anything at this point while waiting to bring Turang and Frelick up.
Seems cold but I guess this is a better time for it to happen for the player as he may catch on with a contender and be post season eligible. He gave the Marlins 2 good seasons.
Don’t think he can play in post season, would have needed to not be on a roster all season I believe.
Negatory, he’s eligible as long as he’s in the system by August 31st and replaces someone on the 40 man roster who is injured.
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/postseason-roster-ru…
Kind of a surprise this late in the season.
Walsh is likely done for the season, maybe Angels?
Interesting… not sure where he fits best, but he’s always kinda gotten along with the Braves. If he’d be willing to take a minor league deal, I could see the Braves grabbing him and seeing what happens. (After he clears waivers). Otherwise, a trash team in need of either a dh or 1B even bench bat
Maybe. But the Braves have lots of DH ABs to spread around. RAJ, Grossman, Contreras, soon Albies/Grissom. It’s crowded out there!
Can anyone one of those guys play 1st if Olsen gets hurt?? More of an insurance policy at first if the Braves go after him.
Austin Riley has played first. You could put him there and play Grissom at third pretty easily (he played 3B some in the minors). Jesus Aguilar is a poor defender at first and a useless bat – I don’t see any value in adding him as a backup first baseman.
He’s not a free agent. He’s getting 1.8m for the rest of the season. There is no minor league deal option.
He’s 32!!! I thought he was a young player, 26 at most. At 32 years old and OPS under .700 as a 1b/DH, his big league career might be over. I’d look into Japan or Korea if I were him.
Someone will give him an opportunity. Decent pop and while 1B/DH types aren’t exciting several teams can use the offense. I feel like Aguilar might be someone Bloom targets to replace JDM if he doesn’t re-sign
Aguilar is actually old enough that he was once teammates with Jason Giambi.
2014 seems so long ago doesn’t it?
It would be nice for Detroit to give him an opportunity. With Torkelson in the minors and likely to start there next year, its got to be better than sending Harold out there almost every day. If it works, sign him cheaply for next season as a place holder.
Good fit for the Tigers to try him out.
Also a decent fit on paper for the Pirates, who really haven’t had a genuine first baseman since they traded Vogelbach. Won’t happen, though.
Great fit for the pirates
Would replace a barrel man with a big guy!
I would be ok with it if it was a platoon with Mason Martin. Not ideal since Aguilar defense is declining at first base. But maybe platoon with Martin who’s no better than Aguilar, would be an alternative until the Pirates come up with something more ideal
Why at this point would the tigers spend an extra 1.8m dollars on any player for this season?
With a 23% SO rate and a .240 OB % he could be an offensive slugger in Detroit!
The Marlins may have to eat his contract, but that’s only fair since Aguilar often looks as if he ate most everything else.
Another guy the clowns waited way too long to trade and end up with nothing. Good job
@formerlyz
Agreed. This is one of the moves and mishandled situations that will go in the negative column for Ng.
This offseason she’ll have to put up or calls for her firing will come strong next season.
f it was her move .
You can’t fire her. She’s a woman.
You can’t fire her. Will look bad for baseball because she’s a she.
@el rey: Non-men, non-“Whites”, non-Christians. Three of the four categories of people that are not allowed to be fired.
This dude kinda looks like Slimer from Ghostbusters.
You tryin’ to say that all round, sloppy eaters, who sweat goo profusely look the same?
With JESUS no longer on THEIR side in 2022, the Marlins do not have a prayer !!
if JESUS is that bad . he not great as claim or real at helping people.
i would not make fun of real JESUS if i was you.
Albies is on his knees right now tugging Uncle Alex’s pants asking him to bring his best friend over to Atlanta.
He can still play. Nicknamed the Big guy by me. I know he can play, just not on the brewers. We already have barrel man #2 in our lineup. last year we had Vogelbach as well. He was barrel man 1. Only room for one barrel man in Milwaukee!
Both of those guys kind of Cost themselves alot of Money, by not staying in better shape and adding more Defensive value to their Player profiles. Hiring a personal Chef for $100K could have led to Millions more in Salaries.
So, why is it that Aguilar was kept past the trade deadline? We seriously couldn’t trade him for a 27-year old Single A “prospect”?
Dear goodness, how many of us Marlins fans have been calling for Aguilar to be moved at the deadline, and then pointed out that it made no sense to keep him when we wanted Lewin Diaz to get playing time the rest of the season so we could see what we have there with him for offseason decisions? How many ABs did Aguilar take away from Lewin since the deadline? How much inconsistent playing time has Lewin had since the deadline because of Aguilar?
There’s a concept that when you are sucking, it’s better to suck with young, cheap, and upside players than it is to suck with prime or aging, more expensive, all they’ll ever be players. Sheesh! This isn’t rocket science!
It’s not even just that. Encarnacion should have been called up 4 months ago. Over the last 2 years, there were many opportunities to move Aguilar, and especially at this deadline, him still being on the roster was unacceptable at the time, and I said the same over and over again. Nothing against him. It just never made sense for him to still be here, among others
In all seriousness, He does have a reputation as being a great guy and teammate. he does have a place in BB! I wish the big guy good luck! I think Miami botched it big time. But,who cares, they have no fans anyway!
You got that right about botching this up. Dear goodness, I hope this wasn’t Kim Ng that screwed it up by herself. I thought that Mike Hill was bad, but this may be part of Kim Ng trying to out Mike Hill more then Mike Hill goes into the front office and Mike Hills everything.
Nothing sexist, but is She the first GM in baseball, that is female. She had a good career previously in Baseball. A good background; but a swing and a miss on this one!
So true. She has one final offseason to prove she can do the job.
I think you were expecting too much too soon from this team. I’d give her a couple more years, Marlins have a good future but their present has been overrated.
It isn’t so much that we expected too much, It’s more about the common sense moves that have not happened.
After last year, there was no doubt that the Marlins needed a legit Closer. Most Marlins fans felt that they needed a Closer in the 2020-21 offseason, which Ng thought she got it done with Anthony Bass (zoinks!) She didn’t add one this past offseason. Two straight years of many many many leads being blown in the late innings.
There is also the issue of the Marlins only having space for one corner OF last season, but they added two (Garcia and Soler). That failure was amplified by the fact that Garcia has failed miserably this year, Soler has been hurt, and the money that was squandered by adding two could’ve been to sign or trade for a Closer (Jansen, Kimbrel for instance).
Then this trade deadline came and only one trade was made when it was clear that there were a few pieces they needed to move. And here we are now with one of the pieces that should’ve been moved being released for nothing. Aguilar is no superstar, but he’s got to be worth a low level prospect to take a shot on. The questions will continue as Ng lets go of other pieces for nothing that she should’ve traded at the deadline.
The starting pitching is nearly ready to contend. The offense needs the right pieces. The bullpen needs a Closer. Is Ng the one to make the moves? This year’s trade deadline made her look really bad.
But even with those moves you mention, they still would not be a contending team so I still say to hold off judgement for at least another year or two. Let her wait for the iron to become hot before she strikes, so to speak.
Chaim Bloom time! Sign him cheap and let him play first with Hosmer out and then split time with Hosmer with Dalbec getting a chance as a versatile infielder.
Lewin Diaz defense alone provides more value than everything this guy does on the field collectively. This was like 4 months overdue. Not trading him at the deadline was as boneheaded a mistake as there is. Listened to a former executive the other day say the worst thing about a gm is one that is afraid to make a deal because they’re afraid of making a mistake. She obviously froze at the deadline and this was the outcome. Unfortunately, the mistake was exacerbated by the fact she may need to release Cooper as well now. What a disaster.
I’m pretty sure that Cooper can get something in a trade.
As far as cutting, there’s a good chance that she’ll have to non-tender Bryan Anderson who will then be some other team’s low-risk/high-reward addition.
And it will look bad when she has to cut Okert after she had the chance to move him at his highest value at the deadline.
She has a very intense offseason coming up to where she’ll have to fix what she didn’t fix last offseason, or the calls for her firing will be loud and clear next season.
She failed to add a Closer two offseasons in a row, even though it was clear after last year that we needed one.
She failed to add a CF last offseason.
She misused funds to sign a second corner OF when the Marlins didn’t need one, instead of using those funds for the biggest need mentioned above – Closer.
She failed at the deadline this year.
This offseason, she will need to come away from the offseason with a legit Closer, and a functional lineup depending on adding a stable bat or two to cleanup and lead the failed bat in Garcia and the all-or-nothing bat in Soler she added last offseason. They’re supporting cast, not centerpiece players or lineup stabilizers.
I think she might actually need to release Cooper and a few others because there are going to be too many folks on the 40 man roster. But even if she doesn’t, he’s been terrible since the all-star break and should have been traded at peak value. He’s not good enough to have been held onto. He’s a complimentary player, so I’m not sure what her fascination was with Cooper and Aguilar. Frankly though, her signing of Soler was enough for me to get rid of her. I’m not sure what she was thinking giving a guy over 40 million for a career 0 WAR.
part of these move was not her . it was the guy was let go . he had to have 100% cntrol. let go cause he refuse to report to owner what they ask him.
release Cooper lol
but Aguilar, was a bad move . this team need a 1b hitter . if it not Cooper .
Aguilar also an exuberant personality — said the CEO Derek Jeter to provide veteran leadership for the Marlins’ many young players.
it was also jeter who traded for Cooper .
what she did after jeter left on her . but everything was run through him before he left not on her.
Every team needs supporting player. If you don’t have them, you are this years White Sox, or last years Yankees. Even the Dodgers have supporting players, i.e. Max Muncy, Chris Taylor. Dumping Cooper would be an idiot move.
Every team also needs superstars. The Marlins don’t really have any on the position side of the diamond. 9 Coopers aren’t going to get you anywhere. Cooper isn’t terrible, but you can’t have a team made up of supporting cast. That’s what they have now and they can’t win. Also – everyone keeps talking about how it’s stupid to release the guy, but these guys have a ton of younger talent and players they’re gonna have to protect and they can’t keep all of them. They’re going to end up having to release or non tender a few guys this off season that folks are gonna be up in arms about
agree when he has trade value for on.
Miguel Rojas being one also . marlins dont have better ss hitter than him in minors . something wrong . defense maybe a drop should not be much.
Miguel Rojas move to 1b i be ok with that . if that mean bad Lewin Díaz is move 244 ab 181 avg.
Closer??? According to marlins broadcast few weeks back they said Scott was a gem and the Os were fools for trading him to them. Lol the broadcast team needs to be fired first before Kim goes.
Paul Severino agree gone. miss ritch waltz .
too musch sent 2018 giving other teams credits and jinxs the marlins.
marlins dont have the worst broadcast . if he gone. rays best right now.
cant sand mets broadcast .
Kim this be her first full year after jeter running everything. everything after jeter on her. not before. this offseason be her first . i think she should be given a change.
1 to more years at best.
@BmoreBallistics
You know, I have to agree that there are some issues with the broadcast team. This year they are starting to sound like the Mets broadcast team.
I remember a time when broadcast teams were covering the team, being informative, and being realistic. Somewhere along the line, now every broadcast team is starting to cater to blind homers. It’s ridiculous, and not to mention insulting to knowledgeable baseball fans. I’m sick of our broadcast team comparing Scott to Billy Wagner. It’s embarrassing. I’m tired of our broadcast team talking about how other teams lineups are having good performances or were due when they’re taking BP against our bullpen. Those same hitters aren’t hitting our starting pitchers much. And it’s laughable when we’re talking every team…including the worse ones. And I’m tired of our broadcast teams talking about how certain pitchers are just pitching well when they’re facing the Marlins. Guess what, I probably can get out there and throw 6 quality innings against them!
Seriously, I miss the days when Tommy Hutton would call things out when they weren’t going right and players weren’t performing. One of his greatest meltdowns about poor player performance was when Kevin Gregg and Renyel Pinto were tag-teaming to take the Marlins out of Wild Card contention one year…and after Gregg blew a 5-run lead after blowing a 4-run lead earlier in the week, Hutton stated it clearly on the air that “if the Marlins want to contend, they can’t keep sticking Kevin Gregg out there!” That’s how I want my broadcasting. Not this BS of making excuses or using euphemisms or Kool-Aid distribution efforts to pacify fans that need to be entertained in ways more than just enjoying the game of baseball.
We see what’s happening out there! We’re not stupid! When pitchers continue to come in with ERAs above 5 and pitch 6 or 7 innings of only giving up one run, that’s our lineup isn’t getting the job done. When a hitter who’s batting below .200 with an OBP below .240 comes in and starts raking against our bullpen, it’s because our bullpen sucks!
While you don’t want to be negative and pessimistic all the time… you do also have to call a duck a duck when it looks and quacks like one. It may just be that broadcasters have to shift with are declining culture.. and everyone is great and fantastic. You know those “buzzwords.” You’ve given alot more examples then I did. Thank you I appreciate it.
agree with you 100%
it hard to listen to at times.
it not like the past like you said.
-0.2 war .165 1 hr in 79 ab 2922
240 ab .183 avg career im glad Lewin Diaz has some friends who can back him up. to the bitter end. i cant cause this is the pro. we should know that by now . what happen to couple player. and jeter told us this.
Ng, just an amazing GM. We’ll be in the Series in no time you just wait…..
For her to be a amazing general manager she needs to start locking her players up long term like Atlanta and the players the core who won’t sign long term she needs to ship out.
Not a Marlins fan, but quite funny seeing so many comment on why he wasn’t traded at the deadline for something and then the news breaks that he went unclaimed on waivers. Whoops.
Whoops is right, but the whoops is on your part. Teams are not inclined to claim a guy no matter how much trade value he has. When there were two trade deadlines, it was common for star players with large contracts to be placed on waivers before the second deadline to see if anyone would take the player and contract off their hands. For waivers, that’s what teams are avoiding. Far different thing than making a trade for him because, by clearing waivers, you can get him on the cheap, and let the team that released him pay the rest that’s owed.
Whoops indeed! And you’re right, it is funny. You’re comment gave me some good chuckles.
Mariners could use a guy with France being hurt
I look at the list of injured: I see Britton I see France
The Os would grab him if he was a lefty
Hell back back in Milwaukee in no time
Just in time to not make the playoffs.
I think there is a good case to be made that the trade deadline is too early in the season; they need to bring back the old waiver wire trade deadline. After the trade deadline any player designated for assignment just results in a salary dump.
The old trade waiver period deadline added a degree of excitement to the game. Imagine a scenario like with Aguilar where a division leading team needed either a designated hitter or first baseman and a team chasing the division leader had to claim Aguilar and his contract to block the division leader.
There are so many scenarios that could have occurred under the old waiver wire period that could have helped both teams. In the past the Braves and Marlins could have worked a deal with Atlanta attaching a prospect and / or money to Ozuna and trading him for Aguilar. Braves could be done with Ozuna and marlins could have gotten a prospect
Jesus was designated for assignment almost 2,000 years ago
Giants
Mets should sign him, you can never have enough power bats, they have Vogelback and Naquin from the left, how about Ruf and Aguilar from the right ?
Be ok if you had a 30-man roster. Cannot have all DH,1b, on bench. Need someone to play defense!
Problem is the team becomes flooded with 1B/DH types: Alonso, Vogie, Ruf, Aguilar & don’t forget you still have Dom in AAA.
Probably isn’t a free agent for long.
Jesus is no superstar. Jesus is just alright.
Someone will acquire Jesus Aguilar by August 31.
man, i hope braves scopp him up..he already seems to be friends with our caribean players and he would be big upgrade over what braves were trying to find with mike ford earlier this year..go braves!