Marlins add a pair of veterans on minor league deals

[Kevin Barral]

On Tuesday, the Miami Marlins made two minor league signings to bolster their bullpen and backstop depth. Both are set to report to Jupiter, Florida on Thursday.

Just in time to report to camp with the rest of the pitchers and catchers, the Miami Marlins have added pitcher Yonny Chirinos and catcher Curt Casali on minor league deals. It's the continuation of a trend—like several other offseason acquisitions, they are both former Tampa Bay Rays who overlapped with president of baseball operations Peter Bendix when he worked in Tampa Bay.

Chirinos, 30, had spent his whole career with the Rays up to this past season where he was claimed by the Atlanta Braves midseason. After Chirinos struggled with right elbow inflammation, he was placed on the 15-day IL and then transferred to the 60-day IL. He later elected free agency after being assigned to AAA towards the end of the season. In 2021, Chirinos underwent Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for that season along with almost all of 2022.

Before his Tommy John, Chirinos posted a 3.65 ERA, 4.13 FIP, 113 ERA+, 7.6 K/9 and a 2.2 BB/9 in 234 ⅓ innings pitched. Most of those appearances came in their starting rotation, so he is potentially another option for the Marlins if they ever need a spot starter, which at some point it may be necessary given that injuries always happen.

Chirinos' arsenal includes a sinker, slider, splitter and fastball. Most recently, Chirinos was sitting 93 miles per hour on the fastball and 92 on the sinker, which is slightly below average by MLB standards.

Curt Casali, 35, is more known for his defense. He has had seven seasons with a DRS either at the league average or above. In 2018, with the Rays, Casali put up an 11 DRS, marking a career high. He was also a major contributor during both Trevor Bauer's 2020 NL Cy Young season and the dominant 2021 regular season that the San Francisco Giants had.

During the Winter Meetings, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker emphasized the importance of having a catcher that pitchers like throwing to. Although the offensive profile isn't what you want to see (career 89 wRC+ and 27.6 K%), having someone like Casali is crucial to the organization.

As GM of the Rays, there were some extended periods where Bendix had three catchers on the active roster at the same time, so there exists the possibility that Casali could play alongside Nick Fortes and Christian Bethancourt this season.

Casali and Chirinos will join their new teammates for the first pitchers and catchers workout on Thursday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

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