The Marlins announced Monday that they’ve designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera for assignment and optioned righty George Soriano to Triple-A Jacksonville. Their roster spots will go to right-hander Adam Oller and second baseman/left fielder Connor Norby, whose previously reported promotions to the big leagues are now official.
Acquired in exchange for cash after the D-backs designated him for assignment, Rivera appeared in 96 games for Miami and tallied 229 plate appearances. He hit just .214/.296/.269 in that time, clocking in 39% worse than a league-average hitter, by measure of wRC+. The 28-year-old provided plus defense at third base, as he’s done with the Royals and D-backs throughout his three prior MLB seasons, and he filled in occasionally at first base as well. The slick glovework at the hot corner was no longer enough to outweigh a trio of slash stats all sitting shy of .300, however.
Rivera is out of minor league options, so the Marlins didn’t have the ability to send him to the minors without removing him from the 40-man roster. Rivera will reach three years of big league service time tomorrow, while he’s in DFA limbo, so he’d have been arbitration-eligible and due a raise this offseason had the Fish opted to keep him on the roster. That would’ve made him a non-tender candidate anyhow, but Rivera will now be available to the other 29 clubs via waivers. If he clears, he’ll have exactly enough service time to reject the assignment in favor of free agency.
With Rivera jettisoned from the roster and Norby on the way up, it seems quite possible that defensive-minded second baseman Otto Lopez will now slide over to third base, with Norby taking frequent reps at second base. Lopez has graded out brilliantly at second base but provided scant offensive production. However, Lopez is younger, more versatile, more controllable and still has a minor league option remaining, so of the two defensive-minded righty-hitting infielders it’ll be Lopez rather than Rivera who keeps his spot on the roster.
NOOO!! NOT EL PULPO!!
@MickeyTheMod
That doesn’t make any sense, bot.
Marlins will move to Vancouver
Rays will move to Mexico city.
Within 15 years. Book it
Look at Nostradumbass over here
Is mickeythemod for real?
Emmanuel Rivera, please report to ATL immediately where you’ll be subbing for Austin Riley for two weeks or so.
I was thinking the same thing his plus defense could be huge for Atlanta; even if he is not the starter for late inning replacement
When will they give De Los Santos a shot?..no team like the marlins should have a 21 year old kid in triple A with 30+ hr 100+ rbi and what appears to be solid enough obp and hit tool . Nothing against bride hes fine but hes 28
September is less than 2 weeks away, and then guys like him and Troy Johnston will finally get an opportunity
Rosters only expand to 28 nowadays, barring multiple roster moves, you’re not going to see as many of these guys as you may think.
Smh mickey, bait used to be believable
Uhhhhh what? Shohei is like 30. Should the Dodgers replace him too? Bride is statistically one of their three best hitters right now.
So lets be clear you are comparing jonah bride who until this year has essentially been not quite a 4a player in his career to shohei ohtani.. Arguably the best player in a generation? Get real dude..cut bride yesterday and go with the kid..bride wont start on most any other team..hell oakland let him go
That’s awesome, but your comment said nothing about talent dude. You just said to replace a guy who is absolutely raking because he’s 28 for a guy who is not doing as well at a lower level.
They DFAd the Best Beard in MLB!
ITS ABOUT TIME
Raking? Come on dude he isnt even hitting 300 since hes been given regular at bats not to mention his 5 home runs all season..if thats your definition of raking id hate to see what you accept as average.. the marlins are clearly rebuilding and a 28 year journeyman does not warrant pt over much younger talent that actually has a chance to be around next time the marlins contend.