No new positive COVID-19 tests, but Isan Diaz opts out and Marlins trade for a pitcher
For the first time since Sunday, the Miami Marlins did not have a member of their traveling party test positive for COVID-19 in their latest round of testing, a source confirmed Saturday.
But that doesn’t mean their roster reshuffling came to an end. Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz informed the team Friday night that he is opting out of the 2020 season. The team also announced Saturday morning they traded for Baltimore Orioles left-handed relief pitcher Richard Bleier.
The Marlins view Diaz, 24, as their second baseman of the future. They acquired him as part of the Christian Yelich trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2018 and were pleased with his development in spring training following a lackluster MLB debut in 2019 (.173 batting average, five home runs, 23 RBI, 17 runs, 19 walks, 59 strikeouts in 201 plate appearances over 49 games). Diaz went 2 for 9 and scored two runs over the Marlins’ three games in 2020 before their season was put on hold through at least the weekend due to an outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the team that so far has resulted in 18 players and two coaches testing positive.
“This has been a tough week to see so many of my teammates come down with the virus, and see how quickly it spreads,” Diaz wrote in an Instagram story post. “After much deliberation and thought, I have made the difficult choice of opting out for the remainder of the 2020 season. This has been a decision that I have discussed with my family, and I feel it’s the best one for me and my overall well-being. I will deeply miss my teammates and competing on the field. I wish my brothers the best and look forward to taking the field again with them soon!!”
Meanwhile, the 18 players who tested positive bused out of Philadelphia on Friday and have arrived in South Florida, where they will remain quarantined, according to a source.
The Marlins acquired Bleier in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Bleier, a Davie native who played at South Plantation High, has a career 2.99 ERA over 177 1/3 innings spanning 166 games with the New York Yankees (2016) and Orioles (2017-2020). He made two appearances this year, allowing just one hit while striking out four in three innings.
“@orioles fans I just wanted to say thanks for the support over the last few years! It’s been an incredible journey with ups and downs but I appreciate every moment,” Bleier wrote Saturday on Instagram. “It’s was truly an honor to be able to represent the city of Baltimore on the field. I’m excited for the next chapter of my career heading home to Miami!”
Bleier, 33, is the latest bullpen reinforcement the Marlins have acquired over the past week in order to stockpile their pitching staff following the wave of positive COVID-19 tests that have hit the team. In addition to Bleier, the Marlins claimed Justin Shafer, Josh D. Smith and Mike Morin off waivers and are signing switch-pitcher Pat Venditte pending a physical.
What’s next for Marlins
A round of all-negative COVID-19 tests is good news, as is the fact that MLB has now given the Marlins clarity about their immediate future.
MLB announced Saturday the Marlins will play the Baltimore Orioles from Tuesday through Thursday at Camden Yards. One of those three days will include a doubleheader, and the Marlins will serve as the home team in two of those four games.
From there, the Marlins will stay on the road and face the New York Mets at Citi Field and then Blue Jays in Buffalo as originally scheduled.
The Marlins’ originally scheduled series against the Phillies will take place at a later date.
The healthy members of the traveling party remain in their team hotel in Philadelphia and likely will stay there through the weekend.
The organization also planed to hold a workout at its alternate training site in Jupiter on Saturday until weather from Hurricane Isaias becomes an issue, according to a source. Jupiter is supposed to start getting rain late Saturday afternoon. The Jupiter training site, which contains mostly prospects and low-level veterans that the Marlins will pick from to restock their active roster when they resume playing, hasn’t practiced since Tuesday out of precaution.
This story was originally published August 1, 2020 at 8:32 AM.
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