Marlins hire one of their new TV analysts. Insight on Jeter departure and a Sixto update
J.P. Arencibia, a former big-leaguer who has impressed the Marlins and local Bally Sports executives with his broadcast work, has agreed to become one of the Marlins’ television game analysts this season.
Arencibia said Friday that he will call 50 Marlins games on Bally Sports Florida, alongside play-by-play man Paul Severino.
That number could be reduced if a chunk of the season is canceled due to the ongoing work stoppage; MLB commissioner Rob Manfred previously announced the cancellation of the first two regular-season series for each team.
According to sources, Bally has decided to alternate multiple game analysts this season after dumping analyst Todd Hollandsworth, whose contract was not renewed after five seasons.
As we reported previously, popular Marlins broadcaster Tommy Hutton remains a heavy front-runner to receive a significant package of games.
Gaby Sanchez and Jeff Nelson are among in-house options to work a package of games.
Arencibia, a former catcher and first baseman, produced 80 homers and 245 RBI in a six-year career with Toronto, Texas and Tampa. He last played in 2015.
He did good work as an analyst on some Marlins radio broadcasts last season.
“I’m excited,” Arencibia said about his new job. “I love teaching the game. I’m very much looking forward to this.”
The Marlins have used a rotation of analysts only one year this century - in 2016, after Hutton’s departure and before Hollandsworth’s hiring. That season, the Marlins used Eduardo Perez, Al Leiter, Preston Wilson and Jeff Conine.
Bally Sports Florida and the Marlins last year began a new multiyear contract that increased the team’s rights fee from $18 million or so annually to what is believed to be more than $50 million annually.
JETER FALLOUT
We’re told that Derek Jeter’s departure from the Marlins was more owner Bruce Sherman’s decision than Jeter’s.
Sherman had told an associate it would be difficult for him to publicly fire Jeter, even with Sherman’s unhappiness about low attendance numbers, among other issues.
So it was phrased a mutual parting.
Jeter had one year left on his contract and he wasn’t going to get an extension.
The Jeter camp is pushing the message that the team changed its mind about spending at least $10 million more this offseason, but a team source privately disputed that. Which side was accurate on that issue will become clear when the lockout ends and free agency resumes.
▪ Marlins pitcher Sixto Sanchez, who had shoulder surgery last July, isn’t expected back until around midseason, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
That could leave the Marlins’ rotation needing to fill two spots if they trade one of their starters (potentially Elieser Hernandez) for a bat after the lockout ends.
Sandy Alcantara, Trevor Rogers and Pablo Lopez headline the rotation, and the Marlins aren’t looking to trade any of them.
If Hernandez is traded (a possibility but hardly a certainty) and Sanchez misses the first few months, other in-house options to fill the last two spots of the rotation are Jesus Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, Paul Campbell, Braxton Garrett, Nick Neidert, Cody Poteet and Daniel Castano.
Two of the Marlins’ best pitching prospects - Max Meyer and Eury Perez - are expected to begin the season in the minors.
