40 Man (Pt. 1)

 With the 2021 Campaign coming down to it's final days for our Marlins, a lot of Player moves are forthcoming as it pertains to the 40 Man Roster mere days after Season's end. This is a traditional practice for all Clubs who aren't going to be part of Postseason play and even for some who will be playing deep into October. Shedding guys off the Roster who will not be part of Teams' plans moving forward, while at the same time scooping up Players that a Club values differently than others on Waivers, is something that goes unnoticed every Fall. Here at Son Los Marlins we will break up the 40 Man Roster in half's. Today we'll start on the Pitching side of things and what the Marlins may or may not think of it's Team moving into the Off-Season.

Remember, someone like Sixto Sánchez who has been Injured virtually all year long, means the Marlins will have to add him again to the Active Roster at Season's end. Speaking of Injuries, in order to make space on that Roster for someone like Sanchez, Jeff Brigham has pitched a total of 1 Game in the last 2 Years for the Marlins and will be Outrighted to Triple-A at the conclusion of the Season. In order to revive his Big League Career someone like Brigham would have to go a Drew Steckenrider route and latch on with a Team on a Minor League Deal during the Off-Season. While a journeyman like a Luis Madero will too be Outrighted after Sunday in order to create Roster space.

Tougher decisions lay within the Marlins 40 Man Roster. For example what to do with Rule 5 guys Zach Pop & Paul Campbell?? It's hard to envision the Fish exposing both Pop & Campbell to waivers after both secured Roster spots all Year long through the Rule 5 Draft. The Marlins have gone this route before however, as Brett Graves spent the entire 2018 Season with the Club, only to be Outrighted early in the Off-Season of '18/'19. Pop certainly has more talent than Campbell, who was busted with a P.E.D suspension early in the Year, however both guys are certainly on the raw side. Interesting decisions coming there.

Speaking of interesting decisions, it was a bit disappointing to not see much of Braxton Garrett & Nick Neidart this Season. Though both were passed over for Big League chances, both will remain with the Marlins during the early portion of the Off-Season, as one would assume there is Trade value for Starting Pitchers. We know the Organization is high on Jordan Holloway, though he certainty profiles more as a Reliever than a Starter. Cody Poteet and Jorge Guzman are 2 interesting cases. Poteet, a non-Prospect (which does not help his cause), opened eyes in the Starting Rotation (which is Big) before landing on the I.L with knee issues. Guzman (Acquired in the Giancarlo Stanton deal with the Yankees all the way back in 2017), has still not put anything together, weather through health or inconsistency, but throws 100 MPH. Consistency was also an issue for Rookie Sean Gunther, who has a good breaking-ball/Fastball mix from the Left hand side, but has gotten shellacked in quite a few outings. 

Consistency was found in Zach Thompson, Steven Okert, and to even some degree Dan Castano. For the Marlins, it would be nice to see if these gentlemen can find a home in the Bullpen during Spring Training. The rest of the Pitching department will stay in play in Miami, that is until Trades get underway 😉.