Miami Marlins sign veteran reliever to add bullpen depth to roster pool
The mysterious final spot for the Miami Marlins’ 60-man roster pool is in place. Miami left three slots open when it submitted its initial list to MLB on Sunday. One is going to right-handed pitcher Max Meyer, the team’s first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Another is saved for veteran infielder and Miami native Sean Rodriguez.
Spot No. 60? That’s going to right-handed relief pitcher Nick Vincent, who Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said Monday the Marlins are signing to a minor-league deal.
Vincent, 33, is an eight-year MLB veteran who had previous stops with the San Diego Padres (2012-2015), Seattle Mariners (2016-2018), San Francisco Giants (2019) and Philadelphia Phillies. He has a career 21-21 record and 3.32 ERA with 379 strikeouts against 94 walks in 376 2/3 career innings.
The 5-10, 185-pound righty appeared in 32 games last season, posting a 4.43 ERA and striking out 47 in 44 2/3 innings.
“As we looked at, at the 60 man, it was a great exercise for us to go through just the number of prospects that we have but also making sure that Don Mattingly and his staff have everything potentially that they will need over the course of a 60-game season,” Hill said. “So much will depend on pitching and making sure that our pitching is healthy, and we’re keeping it fresh that we have answers whenever the need arises. [Marlins pitching coach] Mel Stottlemyre does have experience with Nick Vincent, and we felt like it was a perfect opportunity to bring in an experienced amazingly major-league bullpen arm to put him in the mix to compete for one of our 30-man roster spots and and worst case to know that if you didn’t make the 30 that you add an experienced veteran piece available to you when the need arose.”
The bullpen was one of the Marlins’ biggest questions when spring training stopped due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Should Vincent report to the team’s main training camp at Marlins Park as expected, the team will have 12 pitchers at camp who could contend for bullpen spots: Brad Boxberger, Jeff Brigham, Adam Conley, Ryan Cook, Yimi Garcia, Brandon Kintzler, Aaron Northcraft, Josh A. Smith, Ryne Stanek, Drew Steckenrider, Stephen Tarpley and Vincent. Starting pitcher candidates Elieser Hernandez, Jordan Yamamoto and Robert Dugger could also be used in long-relief roles if they don’t win a spot in the rotation.
Boxberger, Cook, Northcraft, Smith and Vincent are not part of Miami’s 40-man roster, so roster moves would need to occur if they crack the Opening Day roster.
This and that
▪ Hill said everyone who is part of the 60-player pool is injury-free. That includes Brigham, who didn’t pitch during spring training while dealing with a right biceps issue.
▪ The Marlins still plan to use Jonathan Villar in center field but are going to be flexible when it comes to positional defense.
▪ Most of Miami’s starting pitchers have already worked their way up to between 60 and 75 pitches.
▪ The Marlins on Monday announced the creation of the Marlins Lager, a craft beer formulated in partnership with Biscayne Bay Brewing Company. The beer is available at select Publix, Winn-Dixie, Milam’s Market, Total Wine & More and Whole Foods locations around South Florida. A portion of proceeds from each Marlins Lager sale will go toward the Marlins Foundation’s Home Plate Meals program.
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