Marlins pitchers generate interest on trade front. And Bally finalizes announcer lineup
The Marlins likely will need to part with pitching in a potential trade for a center fielder, but there are some players off limits.
When other teams have asked for Trevor Rogers, the Marlins say that’s out of the question. Sandy Alcantara is also untouchable.
Though a Fox report mentioned Pablo Lopez as potentially being available, the Marlins have not made him available. They likely would consider dealing him only for an established All-Star position player. Lopez has three years of team control remaining.
Nor are the Marlins looking to trade Eury Perez, who has become arguably their best pitching prospect.
Four other pitchers continue to generate interest on the trade front: Elieser Hernandez, Edward Cabrera, Max Meyer and Zach McCambley.
It would take a lot for the Marlins to deal Cabrera or Meyer, and the Marlins also would want a solid return for Hernandez and McCambley to entertain dealing them. Hernandez certainly remains very much in play, as do others with more limited trade value: Braxton Garrett, Daniel Castano and Nick Neidert, among others.
Trading two injured pitchers — Sixto Sanchez and Jake Eder — would be more complicated, because they wouldn’t get maximum value with Sanchez’s status uncertain and Eder out this season due to Tommy John surgery.
Meyer could be in play if the Pirates entertain trade offers for outfielder Bryan Reynolds, whom the Marlins have pursued. So might Dax Fulton, the left-hander selected in the second round in 2020.
Jesus Luzardo also has generated some interest, despite his disappointing work for the Marlins (6.44 ERA in 12 starts).
TV BOOTH FINALIZED
Per a source, the Marlins and Bally Sports Florida will split TV analyst duties among five people: Tommy Hutton, J.P. Arencibia, Gaby Sanchez, Jeff Nelson and ex-Tigers and Diamondbacks announcer Rod Allen, who was a former hitting instructor in the Marlins organization from 1992 to 1995.
Those five replace Todd Hollandsworth, who was dropped after five seasons. Paul Severino returns on play-by-play.
Hutton, 75, was immensely popular during his long tenure as the Marlins TV analyst from 1997 to 2015. But his contract wasn’t renewed after that season, leaving Marlins telecasts diminished.
Credit the Marlins for suggesting to Bally — then Fox Sports — in 2018 that they bring Hutton back for a studio role, a position he held for the past four seasons, splitting duties with several other former players. And credit Bally for bringing him back to the booth.
Hutton will be in the TV booth for about 50 games, all home games; his first regular-season series is April 19-21 against St. Louis. Arencibia previously said he expects to be in the TV booth for about 50 games.
Sanchez (a former Marlins and Miami Hurricanes player), Nelson and Arencibia have been involved in Marlins TV studio coverage and radio game coverage. All three will continue to do games on radio alongside Glen Geffner, with Kelly Saco also getting some games alongside Geffner. Saco also does Marlins studio and reporting work for Bally Sports Florida.
Geffner will work a full schedule of games. With Dave Van Horne retiring, Kyle Sielaff might call a few games on radio if Geffner is off.
The view here: Bally and the Marlins are making a good move by splitting the package. It’s difficult to find someone who has enough compelling things to say to fill three to four hours of air time 162 games a year.
Alternating analysts offers more diversity of opinion and perspective, and makes it less likely that viewers will hear the same thoughts expressed repeatedly.
▪ A source close to free agent Nick Castellanos (34 homers, 100 RBI for the Reds last season) said the Davie native had great interest in signing with the Marlins — and ex-CEO Derek Jeter wanted him — but the Marlins apparently are focusing their free agent efforts elsewhere. (Perhaps Castellanos could be revisited if he lowers his asking price - both in terms of years and money.)
The Marlins already have two corner outfielders (Avisail Garcia and Jesus Sanchez) and believe they need a natural center fielder. Castellanos is exclusively a corner outfielder. Garcia has played some center, but the Marlins prefer not to use him there every day.
The Marlins appear disinclined to give an outfielder a five- or six-year contract because they don’t want to block the young outfielders in their system (JJ Bleday, Peyton Burdick, etc.) for the next half decade.
The Marlins are willing to spend. But if they’re going to take on big money for an outfielder, the preference would be a shorter deal, not a long commitment that would block prospects until late in the decade.
The Marlins continue to explore trades for a center fielder. They have also checked in on several corner outfielders available in free agency, including Jorge Soler, who hit .223 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI for Kansas City and Atlanta last season.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 2:49 PM.
