Headlines

  • Pirates Trade Adam Frazier To Royals
  • Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson
  • Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September
  • Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft
  • 2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results
  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Marlins Sign Albert Almora Jr. To Minor League Deal

By Steve Adams | January 27, 2025 at 10:30am CDT

The Marlins announced a slate of non-roster invitees to major league spring training Monday morning, and in doing so revealed that they’ve inked outfielder Albert Almora Jr. to a minor league contract.

Now 30 years old, Almora was once one of the top prospects in the game during his rise through the Cubs’ system. The No. 6 overall pick back in 2012, Almora spent the better part of a half decade dotting top-100 lists around the industry due to his combination of standout tools in high school and excellent grades for makeup, leadership and other intangible elements of the game. He tore through the lower minors and reached the big leagues as a 22-year-old for a 2016 Cubs team that went on to win the World Series. Almora was a bench player during that postseason run and didn’t collect a hit, but he still got into nine games as a late-inning defensive replacement thanks to his prowess in the outfield.

In 2016-17, Almora indeed looked ticketed for a prominent role in the Cubs’ future. He didn’t immediately break out as a star but posted a better-than-average .292/.330/.448 slash in the majors over 440 plate appearances between those two seasons — his age-22 and age-23 campaigns. Even in 2018, when his offense (namely, his power output) took a step back, Almora hit .286/.323/.378 and drew flat-out elite defensive grades in center field (12 Defensive Runs Saved and 12 Outs Above Average alike). His bat tanked in 2019, however, and he hasn’t returned to even a semi-regular MLB role since.

Almora hit just .236/.271/.381 during 2019, which is even more anemic when considering that was the year of a clearly juiced MLB ball. By measure of wRC+, he was 38% worse than an average hitter that season. From 2019-22, Almora has posted a .219/.265/.344 slash in 686 trips to the plate at the MLB level.

Almora didn’t play at all during the 2023 season but spent the 2024 campaign with the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, slashing .292/.349/.438 (97 wRC+) with nine homers and 20 steals in 576 plate appearances. His 7.3% walk rate was below average, but his 14.1% strikeout rate demonstrated that his consistently excellent contact skills remain intact.

Miami has next to no certainty in its outfield mix, where Jesus Sanchez, Kyle Stowers, Derek Hill, Griffin Conine, Dane Myers and Victor Mesa Jr. are the only outfielders on the 40-man roster. Sanchez is the only one who’s established himself at all in the majors, but he’s a corner bat with roughly average offense. Almora will have to play his way into a roster spot, but given the dearth of center field options on the 40-man roster, he’ll garner some consideration if he shows well in spring or in Jacksonville early in the season.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Miami Marlins Transactions Albert Almora

Angels Still Seeking Multiple Relievers
Main
Poll: Will Jack Flaherty Or Pete Alonso Sign First?
View Comments (16)
Post a Comment

16 Comments

  1. BigBopper

    6 months ago

    He hit a foul ball that injured a fan. Never was able to find his bat again.

    1
    Reply
    • Cynic81

      6 months ago

      That was horrible for the kid and family and you could tell it was traumatic for Almora. That was one of the last incidents before they mandated the expanded netting, if I remember correctly.

      2
      Reply
    • avenger65

      6 months ago

      BigBopper: That foul ball is what instituted the netting around each ball park. Almora was in tears, devastated about what that inadvertent foul ball did to that girl.

      2
      Reply
    • TribeFan88

      6 months ago

      That foul ball at Minute Maid Park is the first thing I think of when I see Albert Almora Jr’s name too

      Reply
      • Cmurphy

        6 months ago

        Yeah, me too. Wish it could more associated with scoring the tie breaking run in the WS but it is what it is. He was never the same hitter after that.

        1
        Reply
      • sosaspelledbackwardsisasos

        6 months ago

        First thing I think of is him scoring the go ahead run in the top of the 10th in Game 7 (obvious Cubs fan here). But yea… second is that for sure!

        1
        Reply
    • quonset point

      6 months ago

      Whenever I see a post about AAjr, this comment always comes up. He was a poor hitter before the incident, was on a micro hot streak at the time of the incident, then continued his cold hitting since. A tragic, gruesome moment for sure, but to think it ruined his career is incorrect; it punctuated it.

      Reply
  2. Unclemike1526

    6 months ago

    I always wondered what happened to him. I liked him for awhile. Then poof he just faded away. He could be a diamond in the rough if he figures out ML pitching. Good luck Albert.

    2
    Reply
  3. Bluesman99026

    6 months ago

    Had it not been for a very smart and sweet bit of base running, they quite possibly could have still been looking to break that curse! Good luck to you Albert!!

    9
    Reply
  4. آلي مكبيل_.._.بيتزا بيبيروني آشتون كوتشر

    6 months ago

    Some other obscure and forgotten players who should get at least a depth contract are Socrates Brito, Dwight Smith Jr., and Bobby Bradley. I would throw Austin Dean in there, but he resigned overseas.

    Reply
  5. Acoss1331

    6 months ago

    Albert Almora will forever be part of Cubs lore for helping break the curse in 2016, good luck in Miami!

    4
    Reply
  6. cosmo1

    6 months ago

    He tagged up and took 2nd base on a fly out in the 10th inning–not many base runners would have been able to do that. That prompted Cleveland to walk Rizzo, and the rest, as they say, is history.

    4
    Reply
  7. Jump 84

    6 months ago

    Forever a Cub, forever a Champion. Chicago still loves you , Albert. Good memories.

    Reply
  8. UKPhil

    6 months ago

    He’s from Hialeah. Maybe some home cooking will bring him more time in the Bigs. He’s very close to 5 years service time. He may be able to outshine Derek Hill, but I think Dane Myers should have the measure of him.

    1
    Reply
  9. MARLIN POWER 18

    6 months ago

    @UKPhil

    Agree with you about Myers. IMO, the CF starting job is his to lose.

    Reply
  10. BobinTexas

    6 months ago

    The starting lineup that the Marlins will field on opening day is an absolute embarrassment. On top of that, any of their pitchers that have some early success will surely be traded by the deadline.

    They are one of the headline teams for the “not even trying” label.

    1
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

  • Top Stories
  • Recent

Pirates Trade Adam Frazier To Royals

Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson

Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft

2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results

Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

Astros Promote Brice Matthews

Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Bobby Jenks Passes Away

Braves Release Alex Verdugo

Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

Marlins Acquire Michael Petersen From Braves

D-backs Expected To Target Young Pitching At Deadline

Rangers Place Jake Burger On Injured List

Buxton On No-Trade Clause: “I’m A Minnesota Twin For Life”

Poll: Which Team Had The Most Impressive First Half?

Bruce Zimmermann Opts Out Of Brewers Deal

A’s Select Carlos Cortes

Trade Deadline Outlook: Arizona Diamondbacks

Orioles Claim Elvin Rodriguez

Marlins Designate Rob Brantly For Assignment

MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

Latest Rumors & News

Latest Rumors & News

  • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
  • Luis Robert Rumors
  • Alex Bregman Rumors

 

Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

MLBTR Features

MLBTR Features

  • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
  • Front Office Originals
  • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
  • MLBTR Podcast
  • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
  • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
  • Contract Tracker
  • Transaction Tracker
  • Extension Tracker
  • Agency Database
  • MLBTR On Twitter
  • MLBTR On Facebook
  • Team Facebook Pages
  • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

Rumors By Team

  • Angels Rumors
  • Astros Rumors
  • Athletics Rumors
  • Blue Jays Rumors
  • Braves Rumors
  • Brewers Rumors
  • Cardinals Rumors
  • Cubs Rumors
  • Diamondbacks Rumors
  • Dodgers Rumors
  • Giants Rumors
  • Guardians Rumors
  • Mariners Rumors
  • Marlins Rumors
  • Mets Rumors
  • Nationals Rumors
  • Orioles Rumors
  • Padres Rumors
  • Phillies Rumors
  • Pirates Rumors
  • Rangers Rumors
  • Rays Rumors
  • Red Sox Rumors
  • Reds Rumors
  • Rockies Rumors
  • Royals Rumors
  • Tigers Rumors
  • Twins Rumors
  • White Sox Rumors
  • Yankees Rumors

Navigation

  • Sitemap
  • Archives
  • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

MLBTR INFO

  • Advertise
  • About
  • Commenting Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top

Register

Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version