The Marlins announced that reliever Enrique Burgos has signed a minor league contract with a non-roster Spring Training invitation. The 32-year-old makes it back to the affiliated ranks for the first time since he was released by the Tigers in March 2018.
Burgos, a Panama native, has some previous MLB experience. He was a frequent middle relief option for the Diamondbacks from 2015-16, combining for 73 appearances. Through 68 1/3 innings, the righty posted a 5.27 ERA with a strong 27.4% strikeout rate offset by a 12.7% walk percentage. While Burgos averaged north of 96 MPH on his fastball and missed plenty of bats, his inconsistent control and an elevated .339 batting average on balls in play pushed him off the roster.
A brief stint in the Atlanta organization was spent entirely at Triple-A in 2017. After failing to crack the Detroit roster out of spring camp the following season, Burgos has worked mostly in the Mexican League and winter ball over the past few years (along with a brief stay in the Atlantic League). He struck out 17 against five walks through 15 innings in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, apparently piquing the interest of Marlins’ scouts in the process.
Miami has mostly stood pat with its bullpen this winter. Cole Sulser was lost on waivers to Arizona, while JT Chargois was brought in from the Rays. Rule 5 selection Nic Enright will have to hold a spot or be placed on waivers and subsequently sent back to the Guardians. Dylan Floro, Tanner Scott, Steven Okert and Richard Bleier should have season-opening spots secured. Tommy Nance, Andrew Nardi, Eli Villalobos and Huascar Brazobán could battle for middle relief spots.
Burgos joins Chi Chi González, Geoff Hartlieb and Bryan Hoeing as non-roster invitees with some big league time. Given his lack of recent affiliated experience, the 32-year-old Burgos figures to open the season at Triple-A Jacksonville and will try to earn an MLB call during the season.
They need bullpen help. As a Marlins fan they never seem to take this issue seriously. At least take fliers on low risk guys. I don’t get it. With the last off-season moves though I really think the Marlins aren’t half as bad as everyone thinks!!
With Alex Reyes still out there, this is the guy we sign?
Yeah but I think they need kore than an injury prone player like Reyes. I think this should have been a top priority.
The Marlins should have been doing everything they could the last 3 years to add help
Yessir
I wish the Marlins and their fans nothing but success since Derek Jeter has left the franchise and his ownership after destroying the team. I feel bad for the fans and all the people he fired.
Is this 1 of the many different Closers we will use this year in our continued attempts to find a Closer from from career middle relievers?
So they’re just not going to address the bullpen, again…not only did they once again not add the 2-3 arms they need there, especially at least 2 guys that can pitch in high leverage situations, but they also lost a couple of potential options, and if the last few years has shown anything, they wont give looks to guys in the organization that should be looked at in that bullpen either…
31 blown saves last year…like 60 1 run losses the last 2 seasons, with about 30 more 2 run losses. Cant hold a lead to save anyone’s lives
Move your best player to a new more demanding position, coming off injuries, to trade 1 of your best SPs AND top prospects for a guy to “play” a position you have 7500 people at, and hope he sustains his fortunate profile, so nobody can drive him in, and nobody can hold down any lead they actually have
Ingenious asset management and strategic maneuvering that definitely avoids having to trade off pieces in the next year or 2, for sure
For what it’s worth, I think this will be Ng’s last season in Miami. I just can’t see Sherman ignoring the fan base to keep her past another failed campaign of decline founded on her refusal to bring in the pieces needed and refusing to let some of the young players try for key roles.
She’s essentially placed her job in the hands of this bullpen. With what they’ve shown, we need to start talking about who should be our next GM.
That money supposed to be spent in Gurriel must be spent on the bullpen instead. I think $10M can get you two solid relievers plus maybe a split contract (a la Smeltzer).
Chafin, Hand, Moore, Britton, Reyes, Leone, Knebel, Giles, Fulmer and others are all still available. Shift the focus to the bullpen, Kim.
It seems clear to me we are rolling the dice at a lot of positions. Sixto being tried as closer or late inning leverage compliment to Floro doesn’t seem at all far fetched this year
You are right, lots of improvisation on sight for next year.
Nevertheless, and only if he’s fully healthy, I would be OK trying Sixto as a closer: Deadly FB-CH combo, attitude, not clear path as starter, limited innings after the surgery… make sense in some ways.
But that possibility should NOT refrain the management for getting two relievers. I’m fine with Floro, Chargois, Okert, Sixto (again, if healthy) and maybe Brazoban, but all of the Scott, Bleier, Nance, Nardi, and the others, have more questions than answers as of today.
Three/Four bullpen spots still up for grabs, doesn’t it make you wonder about you might need help?
@Habeto
What’s frustrating is that so many among fans and media mention giving Sixto or one of the other young arms a shot at the Closer role, but Ng refuses to give one of them a shot and refuses to bring in a legit Closer. In fact, while she’s let so many legit options sign with other teams, she’s also let some of the young arms go elsewhere too… without relenting on her bullpen strategy. While we get upset at her not bringing in a proven Closer, she has also let guys like Elieser Hernandez, e.t.c go without even checking to see if they could even handle closing. Instead, it’s all these scrubs who are career middle relievers getting a shot to do what they failed to do with other organizations. I would have preferred giving someone like Elieser a shot at Closer all day long instead of Floro, Tanner Scott, e.t.c e.t.c.
Look at now. Nothing added to the bullpen – the biggest weakness the last two years. And we’re upset. However, if Ng came out and said she didn’t add anyone because she will give a shot to one of the guys that doesn’t secure a starting role, many of us would be ok with that. Seriously, would the be any complaint about possibly giving a shot to Sixto or even Trevor Rogers or Braxton Garrett?
But… we know it’ll be Floro and the cast of characters taking turns at seeing who can have a bigger implosion.
Anyone remember this from December 2020?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/marlins-trade-rumors-bullpen-free-agency.html