The Marlins announced that they have signed right-hander Cal Quantrill to a one-year deal. Left-hander Braxton Garrett has been transferred to the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move. Quantrill’s deal reportedly guarantees him $3.5MM, though the Excel Sports Management client can potentially earn another $500K via incentives.
Quantrill, 30, just finished a season pitching for the Rockies. After a few years pitching for the Guardians, he was flipped to Colorado and had to navigate the challenge of pitching at altitude in 2024. Given the conditions, the results were passable. He made 29 starts and logged 148 1/3 innings, allowing 4.98 earned runs per nine. His 16.8% strikeout rate was subpar but pretty normal for him. His 10.5% walk rate was a bit higher than average while his 44.4% ground ball rate was right around par.
The Rockies could have brought Quantrill back for 2025, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a $9MM salary, but they opted to non-tender him instead. That sent him to free agency without being exposed to waivers, which made him available to work out this deal with the Marlins.
He has had some better numbers in the past. Over the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Cleveland, he worked a swing role, making 54 starts and 18 relief appearances. Over those campaigns, he posted a 3.16 ERA with an 18% strikeout rate, 6.8% walk rate and 42.6% ground ball rate. He benefited from a .274 batting average on balls in play and 77.9% strand rate in that time, which were both on the lucky side. His 4.10 FIP and 4.50 SIERA over that span were perhaps better reflections of his performance but still solid numbers for a back-end starter or swingman.
In 2023, things regressed for him a bit. He spent some time on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation and was only able to make 19 starts. He had a 5.24 ERA and was designated for assignment after the season, which led to his trade to Colorado.
The Marlins are likely looking for Quantrill to serve as a steadying force in a rotation that has talent but is in flux. With the club rebuilding, they have had a strong willingness to deal players over the past year. In the rotation, they traded Trevor Rogers to the Orioles at last year’s deadline and then Jesús Luzardo to the Phillies in this offseason. Garrett is also going to miss the 2025 season while recovering from surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. Eury Pérez is recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn’t slated to return until around the All-Star break.
As of now, the on-paper rotation consists of Sandy Alcántara, Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer, with plenty of uncertainty in those remaining options. Alcántara is returning after Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2024 campaign. Even if he’s successful in coming back healthy, he will likely be in trade rumors this summer. Weathers had some good numbers last year but spent a decent chunk of time on the IL due to a finger strain and still hasn’t thrown 100 innings in an MLB season. Cabrera has also never hit the 100-inning plateau and has walked 13.3% of opponents in his career. He’s also been in plenty of trade rumors and could be flipped if he shows some hints of improvement. Meyer missed the 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and came back last year to make 11 big league starts with a 5.68 ERA.
The Fish have some depth options like Valente Bellozo, Adam Mazur and Connor Gillispie, but those guys all have options. Quantrill can take a rotation spot and bump those guys down to the Triple-A rotation, at least until an injury or a trade opens up an opportunity. If Quantrill pitches well, he’ll likely end up on the trade block himself.
RosterResource currently pegs the Marlins for a competitive balance number of just over $83MM, which should jump to around $86-87MM once Quantrill’s deal is factored in. It has been reported that they may need to get up to $105MM to avoid being subject to a grievance from the MLBPA, in relation to the use of their revenue-sharing funds. If the club plans to get to that number, then perhaps they will look to make further upgrades to their roster in the coming weeks.
 Alden González of ESPN reported that the two sides were in agreement prior to the official announcement. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald first reported the $3.5MM guarantee. Robert Murray of FanSided reported that Quantrill can earn as much as $4MM on the deal, suggesting that there are potential incentives worth $500K.
The Marlins can sign free agents?
It’s a miracle!
I feel stupid for voting for the Mets in the Offseason Winners’ poll now.
This comment killed me haha
Marlins make their moves, errr, sorry, move. Ahahahahaha!
We’ll put the signing on the fridge to show how proud of them we are. Such big boys!
Solid pickup for a rebuilding team
Cy young
How much?
I mean I guess Ryan weathers needs an extra days rest.
Unfortunately, as Spring Training gets going injuries will happen. Gibby probably gets a contract at first sign of trouble for a team’s rotation.
I assume they’re already trying to shop him
He’s available
I’ll be interested to see the scores when the Dodgers play teams like the Marlins, White Sox and Rockies. I can see the headline now, “Dodgers score 30 on the strength of a 15 run first inning”
I’d you do the math, the difference between a guy hitting .230 and .280 is only 1 hit in 20 plate appearances. 5 per 100. Or, maybe 30-35 hits in a season. Think about that. One hit every 5 games is the line between .230, or, pretty poorly regarded, and, .280 and likely considered among the best at your position.
Other teams may lack the big name star power but the dodgers aren’t just going to walk away with most games they play. Anyone in mlb has some decent skills to begin with just to get there, and it’s such a fine line
What got me thinking about that is the teams in the ALC last season were like 13-1, 12-1 and 11-2 (roughly, without remembering exactly) versus the White Sox. And they are way worse than LA is. I’m sure LA will have a similar record against Colorado this season.
Makes one wonder what the betting line on Dodger/White Sox games will be in ’25. July 1-3 in LA. They should do a ‘guaranteed win night’ promo during that series. If they lose the players will go out on the field and apologize to all the fans.
I think Quantrill for 3.5mil is a steal. I wish my team would have signed him.
It is. Quantrill is a competent healthy major league starting pitcher. Total steal.
There will be a lot of jokes, but this is a very good signing, stability in the rotation and perhaps a trade chip at the deadline, well done.
So far, Peter Bendix has not impressed me with his body of work.
You mean the one body he worked to get just now, right?
Dudes been averaging 150ish innings the last few years. At this price, he is a steal
1 year 3.5 is a pretty good deal for both.
As a proud Dodgers fan, I’m happy to see the Marlins develop. They are a cool franchise, and it would be great to see them improve.
They were almost a powerhouse a few years ago. Thier outfield was Ozuna, Stanton, and Yelich. Realmuto was the catcher and they had some good pitching. They were a player or two away from ruling the NL East. Then they blew it all up.
Jose Fernandez died, and they had made some really abhorrent trades from 2014-2017 that tanked the farm system, and made it impossible to move forward without trading people…I would have kept Yelich, Realmuto, and Stanton, and got rid of everyone else. The Marlins told me to my face the reason they moved Yelich the way they did is b/c he asked…like, you have him for 5 years, who cares? Regardless, they had no way to add the pitching they needed
They spent the last few years pulling an instant replay of 2014-2017, so they had to move people again, and this time, they’re hopefully in the right direction, b/c even though asset management could have been better, it was still a lot better than last time
If he can sustain the success he had early with the Rockies last year, the Marlins might be able to flip him for a good prospect or two at the deadline.
Just when I thought the marlins couldn’t be a worse of a franchise, they go and do something like this…..and totally redeem themselves!
Huh, no mention of deferred money when teams not named the dodgers sign players
Umm not true, all teams have the ability to and do defer money ..example the corbin burnes contract signed with arizona this winter contains 75 million in deferred payments should he stay the full 6 years…hell the red sox will make the final payment to manny ramirez this summer on a contract he signed in 2001 …im no dodger fan but do a little research before proving your ignorance on a subject
I’m not a Dodgers fan, but they’re not the only team deferring money. Toronto deferred some of Santander’s money.
mad1, why are you consistently one of the biggest whining Shieces of Pits on this website?
Cal will be on the mound opening day and then dealt at the deadline.
Nice move Fish! Grabbing a guy ‘projected’ to make 9M a year for just 3.5M is quite the bargain, not to mention he could probably net a prospect or 2 at the deadline when they are one of the few sellers come late July! 😉
It would be one thing if he was from Miami or near Miami but he’s a Canuck. Why would he want to go their just to get traded in July (maybe sooner) just to pack up and move to a new city.
I was disappointed when Colorado non-tendered Quantrill, but I understood since he was projected at $9 million. But why in the world couldn’t Colorado have used him for $3.5 million? I don’t mind my team losing, I’m used to it, but I really hate when I see them not even trying.
Had to wait until Pitchers and Catchers reported for the team ink a free agent! Making me wait
Was hoping that the Padres would pick him up. Quantrill would the inning eating starter at back end of the rotation the Padres need.
the marlins are going to SUCK this year
This move makes even more sense if the Marlins are thinking of starting the season with a 6 man rotation
He had the worst K%-BB% (6.3) of all qualified pitchers. He offers no value.
He is actually pretty solid. Remember half his pitching stats are from Coors Field. He will have many QS for the Fish.
The Marlins are rebuilding a rebuild.
He was on my list of possible options going into the offseason, so there’s that…Hopefully he can give them innings, surprise some people, and potentially be flipped
I’m still holding out for a couple of people, but it seemingly isn’t going to happen