The Marlins are acquiring right-hander Darren McCaughan from the Mariners for cash considerations, reports Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (X link). Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports (on X) that outfielder Peyton Burdick is being designated for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster.
McCaughan had been designated for assignment on Wednesday when Seattle claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Pirates. While the transaction log at MLB.com suggested that he’d been outrighted to Triple-A, MLBTR has confirmed that Seattle had not placed him on waivers and he remained in DFA limbo until tonight’s trade.
The Long Beach State product, who turns 28 next month, saw very brief MLB action with Seattle in 2021 and ’23. He has allowed 13 runs in 14 big league innings. McCaughan has spent most of the last three years working as rotation depth at Triple-A Tacoma. He started 25 games there a season ago, pitching to a 5.83 ERA across 139 innings. His 21.2% strikeout percentage was a little below average, but he kept his walks to a modest 7.2% clip.
A 12th-round pick in the 2017 draft, McCaughan has pitched parts of five campaigns at the Triple-A level. He has allowed 5.22 earned runs per nine in 460 1/3 innings with similar strikeout and walk numbers to last year’s marks. He’ll serve as rotation or multi-inning relief depth for the Fish. McCaughan still has a minor league option remaining, so Miami can keep him with their top farm team in Jacksonville for another year.
Adding some pitching depth squeezes out Burdick, whom the Marlins drafted in the third round in 2019. The Wright State product hit very well up through the Double-A level to emerge as one of the more interesting position player prospects in the Miami system. His offense has plateaued in Triple-A, though, and he hasn’t gotten much of a look in the majors. Burdick appeared in 46 big league games between 2022-23, hitting .200/.281/.368 while striking out 53 times in 139 plate appearances (a 38.1% clip).
The hit tool is the biggest question with Burdick, who possesses solid raw power upside. He hit 24 homers in 492 plate appearances with Jacksonville a year ago. Yet he also struck out almost 37% of the time, indicating that his pure contact skills remain a serious issue. His .219/.327/.448 Triple-A batting line was a little worse than league average.
Burdick has some experience in center field but is better suited for a corner outfield position. That puts a lot of pressure on his bat. He still has a pair of options remaining, so another team could keep him in the minors for the foreseeable future if they want to roll the dice on his power potential. Miami has a week to trade Burdick or put him on waivers.
The Mariners seriously lack starting pitching depth. Though I would argue their biggest remaining need is a clean-up hitting outfielder, like Bellinger, they have just 6 legitimate starting pitching options.
They’re going to add SP depth, I just wonder if it will be veterans on minor-league deals, or guys they think they can fix that other teams cut loose.
We may not know until the end of spring.
Maybe 7 , right? Depends on Voth.
I was going to argue but…. You’re correct. The depth is about as shallow as is gets. And…. We need bellinger… On a not so out of this world deal. Maybe a prove it, 2-3 year deal or incentive laden AF 5 year deal.
Eh, I think the depth is fine. Hancock would probably frontline a bad rotation and he’s their 6th starter. Also have Voth as a swingman, and they’re stretching out Thornton. Plus Tommy Milone is available as a free agent. Things will have to go very very wrong before the Mariners have to worry about bringing up their 9th or 10th best starting pitcher.
Jarred….weren’t you included in that trade with Atlanta….I seem to remember reading about a Beer Can To Be Named Later.
Disagree Mlb teams average 13 different pitchers as a starter in 2023. 8 was lowest, 23 the most . M’s have their 5, Hancock, Voth, Thorton, Kowar, Joyce, and VanScoter? You really comfortable using anybody long term other than Hancock? And Woo is almost certain to be on an innings limit.
I haven’t heard differently but isnt Dollard healthy going into this year? I think he and Joyce will be ready for a call up to if needed and would probably be better than McCaughan who M’s weren’t comfortable using last year. He pitched in relief when called up and they used Milone for the couple spot starts they needed.
Dollard had TJ in late June. Not an option this year.
Considering all that Seattle gave up was a guy who’d only get 1, maaayyyybe 2 starts at the MLB level in a dire emergency, whatever production he’d provide isn’t all that much better or worse than what they’ve already got in spots 6-10. The vast majority of teams only have 5 or 6 guys they can rely on as competitve starting pitchers, and hope that everyone after the top 6 can just get through 5 innings without getting too shelled. There’s a bunch of Darren McCaughan types all over professional baseball. The Mariners easily could grab a couple before spring training ramps up.
Dollard had labrum surgery, not TJ. I read that he’s should be available for 2024 season but I hadnt seen if he’s ready for Spring Training.
Wondering what cash considerations end up amounting to typically? See the term thrown around a lot.
Anywhere from one dollar to millions depending on the deal. In this case it’s probably not much.
Peyton Birddick could be a nice flyer for a team looking for that type of skill set.
I don’t think Burdick is a major league caliber player at this point, but perhaps a change of scenery may improve his odds.
“He has allowed 5.22 earned runs per nine in 460 1/3 innings”
I think that man has found his ceiling.
But what could the floor be?
A greeter at Wal-Mart?
He could sell KIAs someday!
Burdick hasn’t hit higher than .230 at any level in 5 years. I think he has found his ceiling as well. Both of these men have plenty of DFA’s in their future.
Great another pitcher as depth. Only have 8 starters on the 40 man roster with upside and MLB experience without a 6 era throughout the minors. This organization is a dam joke to point of after 31 years of being a diehard marlins fan they can kiss my ass
lol THIS is the final straw.
I don’t blame you. It’s incredible to me that they haven’t signed a single player this offseason, when they aren’t that far off from being a playoff contender. They were a perfect fit for guys like Gary Sanchez, Mitch Garver, Rhys Hoskins. A couple middle of the order bats and another mid-rotation starter, and they could have been pretty solid in 2024. But they’re just not even pretending to try to compete at this point. If it makes you feel any better, I’m a Red Sox fan. So I am currently just about equally as infuriated with my team!
I’m a lifelong Marlins fan as well. This is far from the most disillusioned I’ve felt lol. Not even close.
The Marlins look bad on this one. They had been asked about Burdick in many deals for some decent young players who are now in the majors. I wonder if someone claims him.
Worst Hot Stove ever. Gurriel 3/42 and Garver 2/24 were tough to swallow. Burdick can’t hit off speed pitches. That’s very tough to fix when you whiff almost 40 percent! Dave Kingman days are over. Too bad, I liked his raw potential but it’s time.
I sometimes wonder, why settle on a cash deal which can’t amount too much, when a player in return could be a better way to go. This Burdick feller is a possibility with an option to spare unlike Trammel who’s stay may be in question?
Seattle claimed Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Pirates with a full 40 man roster.
If they put Smith-Njigba on the roster then the count would be 41.
To get to the MLB limit of 40 Seattle had to remove one player from 40 man roster.
They had no room to receive a player of value in this situation from Miami as that would put the count at 41 again.
But yes I do agree, the cash amount will be little and a player could possibly change course in a new environment.
It’s unfortunate that Peyton Burdick hasn’t won two World Series like his brother Eli
Well, if what you say is true, the apples doesn’t stray to far from those other apples or something like that. I believe he might turn out good if circumstances change. Unless you think he might turns into vinegar..