Marlins fortifying offense by claiming a power-hitting first baseman off waivers
The Miami Marlins took the first step to improving one of the worst offenses in Major League Baseball.
As first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the club on Monday claimed former Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jesus Aguilar off waivers, adding a power bat to their lineup and providing depth at a position where they are lacking.
It was the first of two moves on Monday by the Marlins, who also acquired infielder Jonathan Villar from the Baltimore Orioles.
The Marlins, heading into Year 3 of their latest rebuild, knew they needed to bring in some reinforcements this offseason to supplement the work they have done improving their minor-league system.
And in claiming Aguilar, the Marlins have a low-risk, high-reward power hitter with two years of team control who can fortify the middle of their lineup that was among the worst in baseball last season.
The Marlins finished 2019 last in slugging percentage (.375), on-base plus slugging (.673) and home runs (146) while also finishing second-to-last in runs scored (615).
Aguilar, a 29-year-old right-handed hitter from Venezuela who the Rays designated for assignment last week, had a .236 batting average in 2019 with 12 home runs, 12 doubles, 50 RBI and 39 runs scored in 131 combined games split between the Milwaukee Brewers and Rays. He slashed .261/.336/.424 in his 37 games with Tampa Bay.
For his career, Aguilar has a .256 batting average, 63 home runs, 215 RBI and 161 runs scored over 448 games with the Cleveland Indians, Brewers and Rays.
He was an All-Star for the Brewers in 2018, a year in which he belted out 35 home runs and drove in 108 runs while hitting .274.
Aguilar will complement a Marlins lineup that, barring injury, will be centered around third baseman/right fielder Brian Anderson, shortstop Miguel Rojas and catcher Jorge Alfaro. The Marlins hope Isan Diaz will improve upon his rookie-year struggles to become a mainstay at second base as well.
Aguilar’s main competition at first base will be Garrett Cooper, who has power potential in his own right but has also been plagued by injuries to this point in his MLB career and is able to play other positions.
Cooper, 28, posted a .281 batting average with 15 home runs and 50 RBI in 107 games but missed 55 games with three separate injuries. He played in just 14 games in 2018 after being sidelined by a pair of wrist injuries. First base is Cooper’s primary position, but he can also play in the corner outfields.
Aguilar’s presence will also allow the Marlins time to develop top first base prospect Lewin Diaz, the No. 12 overall prospect in Miami’s minor-league system obtained at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins.
Diaz is a power-hitting lefty who hit 27 combined home runs between between Class A Advanced and Double A.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 6:40 PM.
.JPG)