Top innings-eaters still available for the Marlins in free agency

[Kevin Barral]

With another rotation spot now open, the Marlins should be looking at free agents who have track records of pitching full seasons at the major league level.

The Miami Marlins will be without starting pitcher Braxton Garrett during the 2025 season as he recovers from UCL revision surgery. In his absence, the Marlins still have Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers and Edward Cabrera in their projected Opening Day rotation, but there are a lot of question marks beyond that. Max Meyer and Adam Mazur have had mediocre results against MLB competition, Valente Bellozo's rookie season was encouraging though likely unsustainable, Eury Pérez is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and their other internal options have even less experience. Only Alcantara has ever gone through a full-length MLB season as a starter before.

With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to Jupiter in one week, "the Marlins are considering adding a veteran starter or two" to address their lack of rotation depth, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. They should be focused on veterans attainable on short-term deals who can be trusted to eat innings.

As of February 5, these are the available starters who threw the most innings in 2024 while still being in Miami's price range.

 

LHP Patrick Corbin

2024 workload: 174.2 IP

After a great 2018 season, the Nationals signed Corbin to a six-year, $140 million contract. It's safe to say that it didn't pan out. Corbin allowed the most earned runs in Major League Baseball in 2021, 2022 and 2024, allowed the most hits in 2020, 2022 and 2024, and led the majors in losses for three straight seasons (2021-23). Even including his initial success with Washington, Corbin had a 5.11 ERA overall with the franchise.

With that being said, if there was one thing Corbin provided, it was innings. In every single "normal" season of that contract (excluding 2020), he surpassed 150 innings pitched. He never missed time due to injury.

Corbin's fastball has maintained the same velocity deep into his 30s, averaging 91-92 mph. Last season, his slider was his most-used and most effective pitch—hitters had a .216 batting average against it and whiffed 35.4% of the time.

 

LHP José Quintana

2024 workload: 184.2 IP (regular season and postseason combined)

Quintana would be a best-case scenario for the Marlins. He's coming off a two-year, $26 million deal with the New York Mets where he lived up to expectations. In 2023, a left rib fracture limited him to 75 ⅔ innings pitched, but when healthy, he posted a 3.57 ERA and 3.52 FIP. This past season, Quintana pitched to a 3.75 ERA, 4.56 FIP, 7.1 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 through 170 ⅓ innings pitched. He also played a huge role in getting the Mets to the National League Championship Series.

At this stage of his career, Quintana is known for pitching to contact. His sinker, which had a plus-12 run value in 2024, is the key to that. His 47.4% groundball rate at age 35 was a new personal best.

Quintana already knows what it's like to be moved at the trade deadline (2017 and 2022), so he'll be prepared for that possibility if the Marlins go in that direction once they feel their younger arms are ready to be tested in the majors.

 

RHP Kyle Gibson

2024 workload: 169.2 IP

After Gibson posted a 4.24 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 8.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 30 starts, the St. Louis Cardinals declined his club option for 2025. He could still be a valuable addition for the Marlins. The 37-year-old pitches to contact, doesn't walk many batters and has only ever been a negative fWAR player once in his career (as a rookie in 2013).

Gibson was an All-Star in 2021 and led the majors in 2023 with 33 starts. The tall right-hander has reached the postseason three times in his career (2019, 2022 and 2023). He uses a very deep pitch mix, leaning most of all on his sweeper for strikeouts (41.2% whiff rate).

A young clubhouse would benefit from Gibson's experience.

 

RHP Chris Flexen 

2024 workload: 160.0 IP

As mentioned by Christina De Nicola in her recent newsletter, Flexen would make sense for Miami. In 2024, he posted a 4.95 ERA, 4.80 FIP, 6.9 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. At 30 years old, he's by far the youngest of the free agents on this list, but also the least successful historically.

Flexen's best season as a starter came in 2021 with the Seattle Mariners where he posted a 3.61 ERA through 179 ⅔ innings pitched. He continued to outperform his FIP in 2022, but over the course of his career, that hasn't been repeatable (4.95 ERA vs. 4.93 FIP).

This past season, Flexen used a five-pitch mix. He tries to keep hitters off balance with a slow, loopy curveball.

In terms of price, Flexen should be much cheaper than Quintana and Gibson, but likely more expensive than Corbin.

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[Slacker Mills]

Well, Jesus Luzardo has a higher ceiling than any of them and will likely be cheaper. His trade was inexplicable, especially since he would have likely increased his market value as well.

[rurrusuno]

None of these guys really scream to me as a long-term fit. Corbin and Flexen lose way more games than they win. Quintay would be the ideal fit from those pitchers on this list, but he carries a heavy price tag. However, Gibson would probably be someone the Marlins take a look at. His veteran presence would indeed help mentor the clubhouse and has a track record of reaching the postseason. 

[MarlinsfromBroward]

I mean I would rather see Jose Urena on an NRFI could be a fun reunion and a small gift the fans.

[Slacker Mills]

Seriously, what was Bendix's job at Tampa Bay? It couldn't have had anything to do with what was happening on the field. I want David Samson back.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Although he doesn't have the career of the others listed, Oller was already here and obviously quite I n expensive.

[Miami Italiano]

What the Marlins need is an ownership group that doesn't treat nickels like manhole covers. I mean, why is Miami seen as a "small market" for MLB? The largest Cuban-American population in the country, a huge Puerto Rican heritage population and a large Dominican heritage population. What is the biggest sport in those lands? Baseball! Sell this franchise to a wealthy person (or group) that understands in order to attract fans to the ballpark, you need to buy top players.

[BMK3]

The marlins need someone.  Quintana is clearly the best on the list.  Use him and move him.

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I am OK with Patrick Corbin. He finished strong last year.

The Marlins have to spend some money sometime, don't they? Might as well be Quintana.

[Slacker Mills]

I'd go with Luzardo any day.

[BMK3]

3 hours ago, Slacker Mills said:

I'd go with Luzardo any day.

Luzardo is gone.  Take a deep breath

[1993 fan from start]

 I can see Patrick Monteverde scraming to be on this list .  4 minor season  360.0 innings  4.60 ERA  22-17 age 27  in 2025 .  Would put Andrew Heaney, LHP on this list also . 

[1993 fan from start]

On 1/11/2025 at 6:07 AM, Slacker Mills said:

Seriously, what was Bendix's job at Tampa Bay? It couldn't have had anything to do with what was happening on the field. I want David Samson back.

David Samson back. would be fun but  with this owner  maybe would not work.