2023 Marlins Season Review: David Robertson

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization.

This installment focuses on reliever David Robertson.

2023 Timeline

• July 29—traded to Miami from the New York Mets in exchange for Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernández
• July 30—made debut with Miami and collected a save
• August 28—lost closer role after blowing three saves

Overall season stats: 62 G, 65.1 IP, 3.30 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 1.2 fWAR

Marlins stats: 22 G, 21.1 IP, 5.06 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.59 WHIP, 0.4 fWAR

The Marlins' acquisition of relief pitcher David Robertson loudly confirmed that they would be buying at the trade deadline. A 15-year MLB veteran, Robertson had been one of the few bright spots on a stunningly mediocre Mets team. He was capably filling the shoes of injured closer Edwin Díaz, having recorded a 2.05 ERA and racked up 14 saves in 17 opportunities.

In exchange for the 38-year-old Robertson, the Marlins sent two of their most productive low-minors hitters to New York, Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernández (18 and 19 years old at the time of the trade, respectively). It was an uncharacteristically aggressive move considering Robertson's pending free agent status and the money still owed to him in 2023 (the final two-plus months of his $10 million salary).

That being said, Robertson addressed a very particular need for the Fish. A.J. Puk had been slumping after looking like a dependable closer during the first half of the season. The bullpen's best weapons were lefties Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi. There weren't any righties who manager Skip Schumaker could unconditionally trust in high-leverage situations.

Robertson made a strong first impression by pitching a clean ninth inning in his Marlins debut.

That turned out to be an anomaly. During the month of August, Robertson allowed 10 earned runs in 10 appearances and blew three saves in six opportunities. Marlins fans likened Robertson to 2016 trade acquisition Fernando Rodney and 2012 free agent signing Heath Bell, who likewise had subpar results in their short Marlins careers despite arriving with lengthy résumes.

Miami went 10-17 in August—their worst monthly record in 2023—and fell behind in the crowded race for an NL Wild Card spot. That forced Schumaker to make the tough decision to demote Robertson in the reliever pecking order.

Robertson quietly excelled in a less prominent role, mostly taking over in the seventh inning for Miami with a couple of appearances in the sixth and eighth innings here and there. In 11 games (10.1 IP) from that point forward, Robertson allowed two earned runs, both of which came in the same outing against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 15.

During the final series of the regular season against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Marlins could practically taste the champagne with their “magic number” to clinch a postseason berth down to two. Up 4-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, Robertson was called in for his highest-leverage spot since his demotion. He allowed a leadoff single, but induced a double play and a strikeout to hold onto the slim lead.

The Marlins won that game and clinched the following night.

While Robertson struggled with Miami, particularly early on, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the bad luck he faced. Despite his 5.06 ERA in Miami his fielding independent pitching was 3.49, which was actually an improvement over his 3.57 FIP with New York this year.

Not accounted for in those stats, Robertson also appeared in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR).

Future With the Marlins

Robertson didn't seem particularly thrilled to leave New York in the first place. In speaking with Newsday reporter Tim Healey prior to the trade deadline, he said, “I like it here. I’m not excited about it. It’s just what happens.”

“If it happens, it happens," Robertson added. "I’ll pack up everything and figure out where to go and figure out which hotel we’re going to live in and all that crap. Cars getting shipped. It’s just a mess. It’s a mess for a family.”

Between the Mets this year and the Yankees earlier in his career, Robertson spent 10 combined seasons in New York.

Robertson will be a free agent this winter and he figures to command a similar contract to one he had this past season. Considering his rocky Marlins tenure and the fact that the general manager who traded for him, Kim Ng, is no longer with the organization, expect this team to shop elsewhere for bullpen reinforcements.