Miami Marlins adding to their outfield depth by signing Corey Dickerson
The Miami Marlins already made a couple improvements to their offense by acquiring infielder Jonathan Villar and first baseman Jesus Aguilar.
But they didn’t want to stop there in picking up impact bats for their lineup.
The latest addition: free agent outfielder Corey Dickerson.
As first reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman on Saturday, the Marlins are expected to sign him to a two-year deal pending a physical. The deal is worth $17.5 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. It will be the first multi-year contract the Marlins give to a free agent under the Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter ownership group.
The team this week also came to agreement on a contract with veteran catcher Fransisco Cervelli. Once both deals are finalized and made official, the Marlins will have to make corresponding moves to put both players on their 40-man roster.
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.They also needed to add some pop to the middle of their lineup that was among the worst in baseball last season.
The Marlins finished last in slugging percentage (.375), on-base plus slugging (.673) and home runs (146) in 2019 while also finishing second-to-last in runs scored (615).
Signing Dickerson is another step to fixing that.
Dickerson, 30, has hit .286 with 115 home runs and 370 RBI through 776 career games. He split time last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies, hitting a collective .304 with 12 homers, 59 RBI and 33 runs scored in 78 games while earning $8.5 million. A right shoulder strain and fractured left foot sidelined him for more than half of the season.
Dickerson will complement a Marlins lineup that, barring injury, will be centered around third baseman/right fielder Brian Anderson, shortstop Miguel Rojas, catcher Jorge Alfaro, Villar and Aguilar. The Marlins hope Isan Diaz will improve upon his rookie-year struggles to become a mainstay at second base.He also adds an extra left-handed bat to the lineup.
His signing also means the Marlins can give top prospects Jesus Sanchez and Monte Harrison extra time to develop should the team feel neither is fully ready to crack the Opening Day roster out of spring training.
Jon Berti, Lewis Brinson, Harold Ramirez, Magneuris Sierra and Austin Dean will also be outfield contenders for roster spots throughout spring training. Berti can play anywhere in the field except first base and catcher. Garrett Cooper can also play in the corner outfields but is expected to be a spot starter at best in 2020.
Matt Kemp will also be with the Marlins in spring training on a minor-league deal.
This story was originally published December 28, 2019 at 3:35 PM.
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