Bull🐂Pen, sorry PETA 😉

 As much Roster turnover as say, the Marlins Lineup has had over the last few months, with the additions of Avisail Garcia, Jorge Soler, Jacob Stallings, and Joey Wendle. Not to mention the additions by subtractions of Lewis Brinson, Jorge Alfaro, and Isan Diaz. The Marlins Bullpen has pretty much stayed the same since the end of last year, and that may not necessarily be all that of a bad thing.

With the volatile nature that is Relieving from 1 Season to the next at times in Major League Baseball, the Marlins decided to allocate more of their Payroll recourses in upgrading the Offense this Off-Season, true. But don't discredit the fact that the Club retained a couple of their most reliable Veteran Relievers either.

Groundball machine Richard Bleier and the Marlins came to terms yesterday on a 2 Year Contract extension that'll cover the Ballclub's most reliable Lefty's final year of Arbitration, as well 1 Free-Agent year. Total of the Deal was $6 Million Dollars and includes a Club Option for 2024. 

Many forget how the Marlins acquired the 6 Year MLB Lefthander Bleier. A Trade with the Baltimore Orioles for Minor Leaguer Isaac De Leon was made out of necessity by the Fish when they were absolutely ravished by Covid in 2020. Bleier would go on to get many a big out for the Playoff bound Marlins and followed that up with another impressive 2021.

Dylan Floro and the Marlins avoided Arbitration yesterday as well by agreeing to a $3 Million Dollar Salary for 2022, Floro's second Year through the Arbitration process. The Marlins acquired the 31 Year Old Right Hander from the Dodgers prior to Spring Training 2021 and he could very well begin the Year as Florida's Closer in '22, after yet another solid Campaign in the career of Floro a Season ago.

Joining both Floro & Bleier in the Pen will be excommunicated Closer Anthony Bass and a $3 Million Dollar Salary of his own, looking for a redemption Season in 2022. Along with another Anthony, as in Anthony Bender, looking to build off what turned out to be a magical Season ('21) for the Reliever with probably the best stuff in the Marlins Bullpen. Bender could very well be next in line to Close in Miami at some point. 

Speaking of 'Stuff', add Zach Pop as someone who will be looking to build off his Rookie Year, while possibly being entrusted into more leverage Roles in Don Mattingly's Bullpen in 2022. Same can be said of Steven Okert, who's large frame/Breakingball can give many a Lefty Batter a tough time in the N.L East throughout the Season.

Don't discredit under the radar additions (Some on the 40 Man Roster, some not) here at Marlins Camp. Louis Head has quite the Slider/Fastball mix that can tell you why his numbers were so solid in Tampa a Season ago. Head was Traded from the Rays to the Marlins in November.

Yoan Lopez was claimed off Waivers last week from the Diamondbacks. Lopez is known for velocity, which allowed him to have a pretty successful 2019 in Arizona.

 

Non-Roster Invitees/Former Baltimore Orioles have looked good early in Marlins Camp in the forms of Jimmy Yacabonis and Shawn Armstrong. Yacabonis is coming off a fine Season at Triple-A in the Mariners system a year ago, he's impressed me with a hard Fastball that has Cutter like action to it. While you can see how Armstrong's over the top Delivery/Fastball Velo has allowed him to reach the Majors each of the last 7 Season (including a very impressive 2020).

 

News out of Marlins Camp today was that Nick Neidert would battle for a Bullpen spot to kick off 2022. While Shawn Guenther continues to compete for a Lefty Reliever J.O.B. After all, that's what Spring Training is for, competition.

Could the Fish use a little more Veteran presence in the back end of the Pen, sure, what Team couldn't. But don't forget the abundance of Starting Pitching that could find roles in that Bullpen throughout the Season. Just ask Neidert & Cody Poteet today.