Offishial News, 2/7/24: Marlins make a trade, "celebrate" anniversary of another

[Ely Sussman]

Here's what you should know with 50 days to go until Marlins Opening Day...

🔹 Tuesday's Caribbean Series scores: México defeated Nicaragua, 5-2; Dominican Republic defeated Curacao, 2-0; and Venezuela defeated Panamá, 5-4. Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Panamá have secured berths in the semifinals. Curacao will face Puerto Rico today at 10:30 a.m. to determine the last semifinalist.

 🔹 The Marlins acquired infielder Jonah Bride from the Athletics for cash considerations. It's a glorified waiver claim as Bride had been designated for assignment by the A's last week. Bride has been sub-replacement level in 98 career major league games thus far, but in 2023, he had MLB's widest gap between actual weighted on-base average (.237) and expected weighted on-base average (.321). Much better than the results would suggest.

  🔹 Jordan Groshans was designated for assignment in a corresponding move to make room for Bride on the 40-man roster. Not sure whether or not this was intentional on the Marlins' part, but Groshans will remain in DFA limbo through February 13, while most MLB teams won't be eligible to use the 60-day injured list until February 14. That will keep rosters crammed and give Groshans a solid chance of clearing waivers and remaining in the organization.

🔹 Elsewhere around baseball, Jose Altuve (5/$125M) signed an extension that could keep him with the Astros for the rest of his career and Clayton Kershaw (coming off shoulder surgery) signed a two-year deal (player option for 2025) to remain a Dodger.

🔹 Join us for a new episode of Fish On First LIVE streaming at 7:00 p.m. ET on YouTube/Twitter/Instagram. FOF LIVE is presented by Berger & Hicks! If you’ve been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, give them a call at (305) 670-7050.

🔹 The 2024 PECOTA projections have been released. As of Wednesday morning, the Marlins are projected for a 80-82 record with a 29.0% chance of making the postseason.

 🔹 Effectively Wild is one of my favorite baseball podcasts (I'm sure that's true for some of you as well). Delighted to share that Fish On First's Kevin Barral was selected as the Marlins reporter for their annual season preview series!!! The episode is embedded below.

🔹 On this day five years ago, the Marlins traded star catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies for Sixto Sánchez, Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart and international bonus pool money. One of the biggest intradivision trades in franchise history, and at the time, I do recall thinking that the Marlins got a good haul under the circumstances. Needless to say, it's been a disaster, with Realmuto performing like an elite catcher for much of that half-decade and Sánchez's balky right shoulder derailing his promising career.

 🔹 In our forums, Sean McCormack details why Maikel García would be a great trade target for the Marlins.

 🔹 Glenn Geffner's View from the Bleachers continues a series on all-time Marlins uniform numbers, covering No. 31-60.

🔹 Happy birthday to Fish On First's own Noah Berger, who turns 24 today. Easy way to show him some b-day love would be following the new media Twitter account that he created last month.

🔹 Congrats to Jill and Jon Berti on the birth of their daughter, Gia Quinn.

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Marlins Podcast Episodes

 

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[Slacker Mills]

Ah, the JT Realmuto trade. All Star Austin Riley and future All Star William Contreras could easily have been the return instead of Sanchez and Alfaro ... if only the Marlins had a competent scouting staff.

[Slacker Mills]

And the scouts showed their moxie with Berry over Brooks Lee in the draft when every other scouting department had Lee in the top eight and Berry nowhere in sight. 

[Slacker Mills]

Good general discussion by Kevin on Effectively Wild. 

Now, the elephant in the locker room was ignored. It's the final contract year for both Arraez and Scott. Don't know what Ng's intentions for the two were, but it would not be the Tampa Bay way to extend either player. Not happening! Fortunately, there is a very competent (I'm admittedly guessing) replacement for Arraez in Xavier Edwards. Due to his weak arm issues, 2B is the only logical position for him. Therefore, Arraez should be traded now.  Same for Scott. Between Nardi, Puk, Maldonado, Meyer, etc., there is a closer by committee (again the Rays way) just waiting to happen. Big budget contenders would be interested in Scott.