The Marlins are parting ways with director of amateur scouting D.J. Svihlik, per Barry Jackson and Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. Svihlik, who had been part of Miami’s front office since 2017 including six years in his current role as scouting director, did not have his contract removed following the 2023 campaign and is now set to join former GM Kim Ng in departing the organization. The move to part ways with Svihlik is hardly a surprise given Sherman’s previously reported discontent with the club’s amateur scouting and player development apparatus.
While very few of Svihlik’s draft picks have played a direct role for the Marlins at the big league level (with right-hander Max Meyer and catcher Nick Fortes among the best examples), Jackson and McPherson make the important point that many of the club’s highest picks in recent years have been used in trades to acquire key talents on the big league roster such as Jake Burger, Josh Bell, and A.J. Puk. The duo go on to note that the task of finding a replacement for Svihlik figures to be likely left in the hands of the club’s next baseball operations leader, the search for whom Sherman has already begun. Installing a president of baseball operations who would take control of the department and lead a restructuring of the club’s amateur scouting department was one of the key goals Sherman held for this offseason that led to Ng parting ways with the organization.
More from around the National League…
- As the Giants continue their search for a manager to replace Gabe Kapler, one potential candidate has withdrawn himself from consideration, per The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly: Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley. Baggarly added that Hundley spoke at length with longtime Giants catcher Buster Posey and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi regarding the position, but ultimately declined to interview for the role on account of family concerns. Hundley, 40, spent 12 seasons in the major leagues as a catcher, including the 2017 and 2018 campaigns in San Francisco. Upon retiring in early 2020, Hundley took a job in the commissioner’s office before eventually joining the Rangers in his current role of special assistant prior to the 2022 campaign.
- Cardinals left-hander JoJo Romero is in a good place following his season-ending knee injury last month, per Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Guerrero notes that Romero made progress regarding the injury throughout the month, but did not return to the big league roster in hopes of ensuring the injury was fully healed and his mechanics wouldn’t be impacted headed into the offseason. Romero was a revelation for St. Louis in the second half as he took over the closer’s role from Jordan Hicks, posting a 3.18 ERA, 35.8% strikeout rate and a 0.79 FIP in his final 17 innings of the season. His overall season numbers were also impressive, as well: the lefty posted a 3.68 ERA and 2.22 FIP across 27 appearances this season. Assuming he’s healthy in time for Spring Training, Romero figures to once again play a significant role for the Cardinals out of the bullpen next year.
DonOsbourne
I wouldn’t expect a lot of teams to be blowing up D.J.’s phone. But the Red Sox might have to keep him in mind.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Jeter has stated throughout his whole career that after retirement he would only be interested in having an ownership stake.
DonOsbourne
Sorry. D.J. Svihlik, not Jeter. I should have said that.
Poolhalljunkies
The red sox know who they will hire either breslow , levine or both..its been reported by sports illustrated among others in the past 24 hrs.might have been funny if not
Big Smoke
Any team that hires D.J. Svihlik shouldn’t expect any of their draft picks to pan out.
Blue Baron
Contracts are generally RENEWED, not REMOVED.
Stevil
Obviously an autocorrect issue that likely misled no one.
Jean Matrac
I knew what was intended, but it did cause me to stop and re-read that phrase. But still, it’s a clear example of the importance of proof-reading.
Stevil
That’s not really the point. Everyone makes mistakes, sometimes with the help of technology. It’s impossible to get everything perfect 100% of the time, even with proofreading, even with editors.
It’s far more annoying to see someone firing off with capitol letters to ridicule someone over something so trivial.
If a commenter is just here to pick people apart, they’re not offering anything of value to an actual baseball conversation.
YankeesBleacherCreature
That’s more than half of the regular commenters here.
Stevil
Yes, and that’s why I’m thankful for the mute option.
Lanidrac
No, it’s much more annoying to see such a mistake in the first place and a relief and not annoying at all when someone points it out! Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but people also need to correct them whenever they’re called out on them and then learn from them to avoid repeating those mistakes in the future.
MLBTR is now being very unprofessional by not looking through their comments and fixing their mistake in the article ASAP, even though it’s now been over a day since they’ve been informed.
Lanidrac
To be fair, the only reason Romero, and Hicks before him for that matter, was the closer in the first place was due to Helsley being hurt at the time. Even if Romero hadn’t gotten hurt himself, Helsley probably still would’ve regained the closer’s job upon returning from the IL like he did and Helsley will still be the obvious first choice to be the closer starting next year
DonOsbourne
Hicks was given the closer role out of desperation. They really had no idea what else to do with him. It was a low risk move that worked out. The results were a mirage. Any team who gives him big money this offseason will regret it.
JoeBrady
many of the club’s highest picks in recent years have been used in trades to acquire key talents on the big league roster such as Jake Burger, Josh Bell, and A.J. Puk.
===========================
Was that supposed to be a compliment? They gave up their #1-16, and #1-4, to pick up Burger and a couple of spare pieces.
Jean Matrac
I have to respectfully disagree. Getting Puk for Bleday has been a win for the Marlins so far. Segura had been awful, and the trade allowed them to upgrade from him to Bell.
Big Smoke
Wow, they traded their first round busts for a couple of consolation prizes. Very sustainable way of building a winner.
Maybe the Marlins should be hitting on those picks instead of having to scramble to trade them away later after they realized they f’d up?
briar-patch thatcher
People on refuse to believe Kim Ng did anything wrong. She was a terrible GM. Her parting gift was Schumaker, that’s the ONLY thing she got right.
MarlinsFanBase
Ng getting Schumaker and Jeter “gifting” Stanton to the Yankees really did a greatdeal of good for the Marlins.
MarlinsFanBase
I’m focused on the DJ part. I’m curious where all the posters that say everything the Marlins do is wrong.
eznod
8th inning for Romero.
Lanidrac
It depends on how well Gallegos pitches next year. He was an excellent setup man for years until his off year last year. Unlike many of the scrubs the Cardinals threw out from their bullpen this year, Gallegos has a good MLB track record and could easily rebound.
Stevil
The Giants have a huge question mark at SS, the Cardinals need a handful of starting pitchers….
This is going to be an entertaining offseason. Lots of teams have multiple needs, free agency offers little apart from pitching, and most teams don’t have clear areas of strength from which they can really afford to trade from.
But something has to give.
Lanidrac
In that sense at least, the Cardinals have an advantage, as pitching is the only thing they need (albeit needing a lot of it), and they do have clear areas of strength among their position players from which they can afford to trade.
For example, the Giants need a shortstop? Would they be willing to give up a good bullpen arm and a prospect or two for Tommy Edman?
RobblyDobs
Good luck getting the Cards to trade Edman for crap like that
JRG347
This sure isn’t a good time for the Marlins to be without someone at the helm. They need a shortstop, a catcher and at least one other starter. Plus Soler is likely to opt out, so there goes one of their big bats. The trade season starts right after the WS, so who’s minding the ship?
brewsingblue82
Assistant GM’s most likely
frankpr21
I will take Nasim Nunez, SS, 22, Double-A over anyone right now.
Nunez cracked the .300 mark in SLG last year, but power is not the name of his game. He is a throwback type player, think a leadoff guru that could sit around a .400+ OBP. Pair that high OBP with his speed and you have a table setter in the making. I have Nunez higher than a lot of other sites because I think his proximity to the majors and his position make him an excellent call up candidate should his success from Pensacola 2022 carry over into 2023. Everyone is always looking for speed.
Also Campusano will be a good option. Willing to give up Cabrera for him. Otherwise the kid in double A has very good defensive skills, hit about 20 homers and can be a good backup at least for now. No need to waste money or give up prospects because there are not many uptions out there. Oh! if Detrit make Baez available for about 25 millions the because of his defensive skills I would consider him. Otherwise Nuñez make the Marlins a way better team.
dpsmith22
Smart move Nick. No way would I bring up my kids in SF. Both financially and socially it’s a nightmare. Stay in Texas where it’s safe and you keep your money.
Old York
Romero’s knee injury is a bummer, but honestly, he’s just one player in a league filled with injuries. Teams have to adapt, and the Cardinals will have to find a way to fill the gap in the bullpen.