Offishial News: Full Marlins squad assembles, Sherman and Bendix to speak

[Ely Sussman]

Marlins news roundup for 2/20/24

Here's what you should know with 37 days to go until Marlins Opening Day...

Fish On First will have boots on the ground for today's Marlins spring training workout. Follow Isaac Azout, Alex Krutchik and Alex Carver for live updates from the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex and check out our staff's 2024 Spring Training Journal (new entries every day).

🔹 Per Skip Schumaker, 59 of 62 players have reported to Marlins big league camp. The exceptions are Huascar Brazoban, José Devers and Jhonny Pereda.

 🔹 Schumaker also shared his plans for the designated hitter spot: "Without that just-DH kinda guy, I think you're gonna see a rotation there." In 2023, the Marlins had 10 different starters in the DH spot, but the majority of the plate appearances went to Jorge Soler, who's no longer with the club.

🔹 It's been announced that Bally Sports Florida is carrying spring training broadcasts on February 24, March 3, March 10, March 15, March 16, March 20 and March 22, though only the March 16 and March 20 games will be fully produced by BSFL with Marlins announcers. The others will either be shared with Bally Sports Midwest or direct feeds from the Cardinals broadcast. Every Grapefruit League game will have Marlins radio coverage with the exception of a few split-squad games.

🔹 Elsewhere around baseball, rehabbing right-handers Brandon Woodruff (two-year deal) signed with the Brewers and Liam Hendriks (2/$10M) signed with the Red Sox. David Peralta and Dom Smith took minor league deals with the Cubs. The Orioles traded cash considerations to get Kaleb Ort from the Phillies. Their corresponding roster move? Designating Peyton Burdick for assignment. If the Marlins could reacquire Burdick for cash, I'd be all for it.

🔹 This morning, Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman and president of baseball operations Peter Bendix will be formally addressing the media for the first time since camp began. We'll add their press conferences to our YouTube playlist as soon as possible.

 🔹 In a candid conversation with our own Alex Carver, Troy Johnston says it was "kind of heartbreaking" to be denied a 40-man roster spot this past offseason despite putting up extraordinary numbers in the upper minors.

 🔹 Noah Berger identifies Josh Simpson as a sneaky contender for an Opening Day job in the Marlins bullpen.

 🔹 "The Marlins need talent in uniforms, not in suits," Greg Cote of the Miami Herald writes in criticizing the team's "do-nothing offseason."

🔹 FanGraphs identified 61 potential breakout prospects for this year. None are current Marlins, but a league source nominated OF Byron Chourio, who was seen as a mere throw-in piece when Miami included him in the Luis Arraez trade.

🔹 Happy 20th birthday to Marlins INF Jesús Hernández. Last season in the Florida Complex League, Hernández slashed .262/.403/.381 (116 wRC+) in 50 games split between third base and shortstop.

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