Marlins’ trade addition dealing with injury. And former announcer Geffner lashes out
Reliever A.J. Puk, who early in camp had impressed Marlins officials in the wake of his acquisition from Oakland earlier this month, has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game because of a leg injury, the Marlins announced Tuesday.
The injury is being called slight tightness in his adductor, which are muscles in the inner thigh.
Puk is one of three relievers the Marlins announced as having injuries, the others being Tanner Scott (slight discomfort in left biceps) and Tommy Nance (slight discomfort in right shoulder). Infielder Charles Leblanc also has back stiffness and is being treated as day-to-day.
Puk and Scott both played catch on Tuesday. If the injury doesn’t limit them, the hope is they can return to their normal throwing schedules very soon.
“I’m not too concerned,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “If it was a starter who had to get built up, that’s a whole different story. But the relievers, I think that’s a little easier.”
“We’re being cautious,” Schumaker added. “It’s Feb. 28.”
The Marlins acquired Puk for outfielder J.J. Bleday on Feb. 11 after the left-hander had a breakout 2022 season in which he posted a 3.12 ERA, struck out 76 in 66 1/3 innings and held batters to a .217 batting average and .311 on-base percentage.
But there was one concern with Puk: During the past five seasons, he has undergone two significant surgeries on his throwing arm (elbow/shoulder). He missed the 2018 season after Tommy John surgery that April. He had shoulder surgery in September 2021 after experiencing discomfort.
Puk had been throwing well early in camp and had made an early case for high-leverage work. Schumaker appears inclined to use several relievers in late-inning situations instead of opting for one specific closer.
If Puk is sidelined into April, most of those late-inning opportunities early in the season could go to Dylan Floro — who had 15 saves for the Marlins last season — and Matt Barnes, who had 24 saves for the Red Sox in 2021 and eight for Boston last season.
There’s at least one open bullpen job available on the 26-man roster, potentially two if Puk misses extended time.
Right-handers Floro, Barnes and JT Chargois (acquired from Tampa Bay) and left-handers Scott (20 saves last season) and Steven Okert will very likely be on the team. Puk will be too, when he’s healthy.
That could leave one or two jobs among right-handers Nance, Sean Reynolds and Huascar Brazonban and left-hander Braxton Garrett, who could be a swing starter/reliever.
Lefty Andrew Nardi and right-handers Eli Villalobo and Enrique Burgos also are competing for jobs.
The Marlins are expected to keep at least five right-handers in their bullpen.
Brazoban was being counted on as one of the primary right-handed arms out of the pen, but has been in the Dominican Republic waiting for a Visa, which finally has been approved. The Marlins said Tuesday they are hopeful he will be able to travel to Jupiter on Wednesday.
The club believes Brazoban can still be part of the opening day roster, but time is running out.
Reynolds, a converted position player, also looked good early in camp and bears monitoring.
Right-handed reliever Nic Enright, Miami’s Rule 5 selection, is progressing in camp following treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma; he’s appreciative of the organization’s support. He will likely open the season on the injured list and continue to build up his arm strength in Jupiter.
PERSONNEL NOTES
▪ The Marlins are considering what to do with the backup first base job behind Garrett Cooper, who has been on the injured list eight times during his five seasons with the team.
Miami made a one-year, $3 million proposal to veteran first baseman Yuli Gurriel but pulled the offer after he waffled for a week.
The Marlins are still willing to bring Gurriel to camp as a non-roster invitee if he’s interested.
For now, the Marlins want to take a look at catcher Nick Fortes and second baseman/shortstop/third baseman Jordan Groshans as backup options at first. Groshans played first base during Monday’s game.
Miami can also slide second baseman Luis Arraez over to first and start Jon Berti at second to give Cooper time off when needed. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli raved about Arraez’s work at first base in 65 appearances at the position last season.
▪ There are still several free agents on the market, including Gurriel, Jurickson Profar, Gary Sanchez and Brad Hand, among others. Diamond Sports, which owns the Bally Sports regional networks - including the two in Florida — is expected to declare bankruptcy in the weeks ahead.
But that hasn’t affected the Marlins’ ability to sign free agents, at least not yet, according to a source. Diamond Sports made its most recent rights payment to the Marlins.
The Marlins’ $103 million payroll projects to be the second highest in franchise history. Marlins owners Bruce Sherman has maintained if the club is the postseason mix at the trade deadline, he would add to the club’s payroll.
GEFFNER LASHES OUT
Radio announcer Glenn Geffner, whose contract was not renewed by the Marlins in November after 15 seasons with the team, is lashing out at the franchise.
What set him off? In a Miami Herald piece last week about the Marlins’ promotion of Kyle Sielaff to Geffner’s former job, it was noted that the Marlins preferred a radio play-by-play announcer who had a more conversational approach and wasn’t as reliant on statistics. That was from a reliable source.
In a text message, Geffner defended his work and said the Marlins dumped him because of money.
“Anyone who listened to the work I did with a rotating cast of analysts the last two seasons knows the unattributed assertion that the ‘Marlins wanted a conversational approach to the broadcast’ is laughable,” Geffner wrote.
“The broadcasts the last two years were HUGELY conversational as I bent over backwards to play up the unique strengths of each of the six analysts with whom I worked.
“The ‘too stats-intensive’ narrative is absurd as well. Yes, I brought a lot of information and perspective to the broadcast. I’ll put my daily preparation up against anyone in the industry.”
Then Geffner referenced Jason Latimer, the team’s senior vice president/communications, asserting that Latimer “himself told me in September of 2021 that, in his words,’No one brings more to the broadcast on a daily basis than you do.’ That was nearly four years after he told me, in our introductory meeting, that he knew nothing about broadcasting…”
Geffner maintained that “my broadcasts featured stories and history. There was institutional knowledge and insight gleaned over more than three decades in baseball from players, coaches, managers, executives and others around the game. When I use stats, they are stats that help tell the story of the game and add texture and context.”
Then Geffner insisted this was entirely a financial decision by the Marlins.
“Let’s be real,” Geffner said. “This was a decision made to save money, like so many other decisions this club has made over the last five-plus years. Good for them. They save a few bucks, and the product suffers.”
Neither Geffner’s 2022 salary — nor Sielaff’s 2023 salary — could be confirmed.
Lastly, Geffner said: “I leave with my head held high because I know the level at which I performed over 15 seasons, and I know — and am incredibly grateful for — the respect I earned among the people with whom I worked, my colleagues in the industry, and especially Marlins fans.”
It’s unusual — but not unprecedented — for an announcer to lash out publicly after being jettisoned by a team. The Marlins dropped two previous play-by-play announcers, Rich Waltz and Roxy Bernstein, and neither publicly criticized the team in the aftermath. Neither did analysts Tommy Hutton — who was eventually brought back — nor Todd Hollandworth or mostly recently, J.P. Arencibia after their dismissals.
Latimer, in response to Geffner’s comments, took the high road: “We are appreciative of Glenn’s contributions during his time in the Marlins radio booth and wish him well in his next venture. We are excited for this next chapter of the Marlins radio as we continue to invest in enhancing the fan experience in the ballpark and for those fans tuning in at home.”
Geffner recently created a business offering “1-on-1 play-by-play coaching for high school and college students and young professionals.”
Miami Herald sportswriter Jordan McPherson contributed to this report.
Herald senior baseball correspondent Craig Mish hosts Fantasy Sports Today from 11 a.m. to noon and Newswire from 2 to 3 p.m. weekdays on Sportsgrid. Follow him on Twitter at @CraigMish. Follow Barry Jackson at @flasportsbuzz
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 2:00 PM.
