Veteran first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini has opted out of his minor league deal with the Marlins, manager Skip Schumaker told the Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson and other reporters. Catcher Curt Casali has also been told that he isn’t making the Opening Day roster, but Casali has yet to decide on whether or not to exercise his own standard opt-out clause as an Article XX(B) free agent.
Mancini joined the Cubs on a two-year, $14MM free agent contract last offseason, and since the Cubs waived him last August, any team that uses Mancini on a big league roster is only obligated to pay him a minimum salary (with Chicago still on the hook for the rest of his $7MM salary for 2024). This made Mancini even more of a flier than your standard minor league signing, though the Marlins didn’t see enough in Mancini’s Spring Training performance to give him a roster spot. Mancini hit an unspectacular .257/.333/.371 over 39 plate appearances this spring.
After missing the 2020 season due to a battle with colon cancer, Mancini made a triumphant return in 2021 and won Comeback Player Of The Year honors while batting .255/.326/.432 over 616 PA with the Orioles. His longtime tenure in Baltimore ended when the O’s dealt Mancini to the Astros at the 2022 trade deadline, and while Mancini earned a World Series ring with Houston, he didn’t contribute much at the plate during the regular season or in the playoffs. The struggles continued with the Cubs in 2023, as Mancini hit only .234/.299/.336 over 263 PA.
Mancini just celebrated his 32nd birthday earlier this week, and now again finds himself at something of a crossroads in his career. His track record and reputation as a clubhouse leader should land him another minor league deal in another organization, though Mancini’s most recent results aren’t particularly encouraging.
Casali was another minor league signing for the Marlins this offseason, brought in as catching depth behind Miami’s planned tandem of Christian Bethancourt and Nick Fortes. Since that isn’t exactly a proven set of backstops, Casali might well choose to pass on his opt-out decision and stay at Triple-A in the hopes of receiving a call-up at some point. That said, any number of teams could have catching vacancies opening up due to injuries or end-of-spring cuts, so Casali find be able to find a more preferable opportunity elsewhere.
A veteran of 10 MLB seasons, Casali has hit .220/.314/.380 in 1454 PA. Casali has been a few impressive years at the plate as a part-timer with the Reds and Rays, but the 35-year-old hasn’t hit much in the last three seasons and is generally known more for his defense and game-calling prowess.
Hard to believe Casali couldn’t help the Rays?
You never know they might go scoop him up now if he does trigger that opt out
Casali will make a great manager someday, if he is so inclined.
Hard to believe that Pablo (“Panda”) Sandoval is playing for the Giants today!
Is Kris Bryant injured yet? When that inevitably happens, picking up Mancini could make sense.
Thankfully Cubs didn’t resign Bryant or Baez WHEW!!!
Check back in a few hours.
I’ll take Baez back if Detroit eats the contract,
Wheeler dealer…Sold!
I agree that KB could get injured any minute, but I would sooner play Toglia than Mancini.
Mancini is finished. There is little to nothing there. Of course Bryant has been a collasal bust. The Rockies gor Borassed like the Angels with Rendon.
When a man can’t beat out Avi Garcia for a job, your career seems to be at an end.
Orioles could use a veteran righty power hitter to help Mountcastle take on the depth & height of OPACY LF wall. Pass on Mancini? He’s on record in 2022 saying he doesn’t like the new wall dimensions. It’s in his head. Yes? Stay away? Yes? Like CJ Cron.
I’d love to see Mancini as an Oriole again, but I’m not sure there’s a spot for him on the roster.
@Fred There isn’t as things currently stand. Trey will never have to pay for a beer in Baltimore ever again…but the only way he suits up for the O’s again is if things go seriously sideways from here.
The only way Mancini suits up for the O’s is if it is a one game contract to retire.
This is joke, yes?
@sg13; nope not a joke. That new left field dimension has gotten in the heads of the best of them. Even Aaron Judge has gotten his 2 cents worth in on it. Orioles young guns like righty power hitter Mayo are not ready for that mind game.
Team needs a righty grizzled veteran with some pop in his bat that could give a crap about ballpark dimensions. Someone like the well traveled Cron could fit the bill?
Cron looks terrible these days. Grizzled but cant hit.
@robw5555; liked “grizzled but can’t hit”. Good to know.
Yea I might agree with you if Trey could still hit but he can’t. It’s sad but Trey is probably done.
Point taken UJ. You’ve got me rethinking this. Had a blind eye to the switch hitters contributions. Cheers!
Oakland, please pick him up….andujar is out..
Can Mancini play 3B? He can help the Yanks
What worries me about the plethora of marginal vets and AAAA wannabe types out there, with no where to go , someone is gonna use that as case for expansion. Hope not. Watered down enough.
Yeah what could be more exciting for a city like Nashville than to see Mancini and Casali get 500 AB’s over the summer?
Expansion will definitely happen. It will be years from now. Could be a while.. Owners get a huge check, so they favor expansion. With Oakland moving and some other teams needing stadium, it will be a while for expansion.
Mancini is a sad “what could have been” but he luckily made enough money that he won’t need a day job to pay his bills going forward in life. He can stick around baseball or pursue his own passions and keep a roof over his head, with retirement funds and a decent pension.
I know that’s kind of a dry take but for guys who had the potential he did and flame out, it’s nice to see them exit in the game well compensated for that potential and years dedicated to the sport.
And in addition, he is a first class guy.
He made enough that he’s not struggling financially. Even minimum wagers at MLB have a very good life…if they don’t blow their money.
I’m pretty sure that all players that are established, like Mancini has been, are covered by MLB’s insurance and their team’s insurance, which is like one of the best in the world. I could be wrong on that though in the case of cancer. It would be interesting to know if the coverage handles that because, while the Average Joe’s insurance wouldn’t, professional athletes are covered on a way higher spectrum than the Average Joe.
And of course, they don’t make chump change, no matter who they are. Even guys that spend a cup of tea in MLB have a nice chunk of change in their bank accounts – again, if they didn’t blow it.
Good luck to Trey Mancini. If the Marlins need to call up a 1st baseman, Troy Johnston should get the call. I’m looking forward to it.
I also think Will Banfield should get a call if a catcher is needed.
I’m liking this comfort with the idea we might be alright if we have to call up a position player. I haven’t been that realxed about it for such a long time
@UKPhil
Amen, brother. I’ve been saying the same thing all winter long. Unlike recent years, we now have a decent number of excellent position players at AAA Jacksonville – guys who are ready to make an impact on the major league level. Especially Troy Johnston and Dane Myers. Anyone doubt how good they are? Go check out their stats. They’ve been torching minor league pitching for years and have nothing left to prove.
Since Tommy Pham thinks he’s now a superstar, plus who really wants him back anyways. Padres should totally pick up Mancini.
No surprise here with these guys.
Now, Avi DFA Watch continues.
What’s the over/under on June 1st as the day? Maybe that’s not a challenge. How about the over/under for May 1st as the day?