The Marlins have announced a number of designations on Rule 5 protection day. Right-handers Elieser Hernandez, Nick Neidert, Jeff Brigham, José Devers and Lewin Diaz for assignment (h/t to Joe Frisaro). In corresponding moves, Miami added George Soriano, Josh Simpson and Eli Villalobos onto the roster.
Brigham threw 24 innings of 3.38 ERA ball out of the Marlins’ bullpen this year, posting solid strikeout (27.7%) and walk (9.9%) rates. Those are decent enough results that should leave Brigham with options for 2023, but the 30-year-old was arbitration eligible and a likely non-tender candidate, so the Marlins opted to cut him loose in favor of a freed up 40-man spot. Neidert and Hernandez are the others pitchers Miami cut loose. Neidert only appeared in one game for the Marlins this year, but had a 1.96 ERA at Triple-A in 46 innings. Hernandez struggled mightily in the big leagues, winding up with a 6.35 ERA across 62 1/3 innings.
Miami also parted ways with hitters Devers and Diaz. Devers appeared in 21 games as a middle infielder, slashing .244/.304/.317 without a home run. Diaz has struggled in parts of three seasons in the big leagues for Miami. The first baseman hit just .169/.224/.288 with five home runs in 174 plate appearances this year. He did grade out well defensively, but his lifetime .181/.227/.340 line was never going to be enough from a bat-first position.
The Marlins used the open spots to add a trio of intriguing arms to their 40-man roster. Villalobos blew away Triple-A hitters in 17 1/3 innings this year, striking out 26 and posting a 1.04 ERA. Simpson did the same, striking out 23 batters in 12 1/3 innings after being called up from Double-A. Soriano didn’t post any big strikeout numbers, but the 2.49 ERA he wound up with over 47 Triple-A innings was certainly enough promise to earn him a spot on the 40-man. All three are now a chance to feature in the Marlins’ bullpen in 2023.
Kanye approves
I’ll notify the press, “Kanye Approves”
Ye, gotta respect the name change
Ye, Skete says “Hi!”
Jose Devers was the last remaining piece from the Giancarlo Stanton trade.
Getting rid of that albatross of a contract was at the time, presently and in the future a masterpiece of fleecing the marlins put in the Yankees.
Now all that’s left is the Marlins $3 million annual payments haha
But the back loaded contract has the Yankees paying close to then over 30 mil for a guy who has managed 515 PAs only once in 5 seasons. Ouch.
Hernandez should get picked up. Looked really good when he came up
Not sure about really good but he has value
Dodgers get Hernandez…another Prior Project…like Anderson and Heaney!
Hernandez fell from guy a lot of people thought would be picked up by a contender at the trade deadline to likely waiver claim hoping to secure a 40 man roster spot
I’ll never forget when a person from the Marlins front office told me to my face they traded Zac Gallen b/c they have Nick Neidert, and think he is better, and didnt want to trade him when given the choice between the 2
Great job not trading Hernandez last year when you had the chance, as I had said they should, in another great decision to wait too long to move people, and/or get less value on everything and everyone you can
Great deal with the Yankees, paying them $30 million to get the 4th and 5th guys you would get back in a Stanton deal, if you traded him, talking about Devers like the greatest thing in existence, and being left with nothing, to then spend close to $90 million on OFers/DH that you dont need, trying to add power to the roster…
You mean Lewin diaz did turn out to be exactly what he seemed like he would be when he was in A ball? Shocking…to be fair though, they did mess around with him a lot
Marlins desperately need bullpen help, but left certain guys in the minors for so long anyway, without taking at least a look at them. They’ve had issues there the last few years, but continue to give away their only useful options, or not give guys in their organization an actual look. Brigham has had injuries, but now that he finally had something going, they get rid of him. Definitely hope to see some of these other guys get looks, but they have to figure out at least 3 bullpen arms this offseason, and it would be nice to also add a closer/high leverage guy on top of that/or as at least 1 of those guys
I’ll at least add that to be fair, Neidert has had some injuries that hurt him, and he had good command in the past, and if he finds the velocity he lost on his fastball, and gets that command back, he will be something. I feel like his delivery isnt what it was, and that could be from those injuries
Devers also had injury issues, but he never made much impact with his bat, despite being a guy that made a lot of contact in the lower minor leagues. When he started striking out more, that obviously didnt help him, and then we never really got to see him play SS much, and they had/have similar guys to him in their system
Why do i not doubt the Neidert/Gallen story? I get that its a different regime now, bit rumors were years ago that the Marlins had their choice between Syndergaard over Justin Nicolino in that massive Jays trade. Some things never change, This regime is just as inept as the previous one.
The Marlins have long been very smug. They really think they know better than everyone else. This is why its believable, but I will also say that it unfortunately did 1000% happen, and I told them how ridiculous it was, and they doubled down on it at the time
Red Sox should claim Devers.
Kim Ng with another masterwork transaction.