Offishial news, 1/9/24: Davis returns; spring training ticket prices

Here's what you should know with 79 days to go until Marlins Opening Day...

• Monday’s winter ball notes: In the Dominican Republic, 3B Vidal Bruján went 0-for-4 and RHP Anderson Pilar pitched in relief (1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K).

• The Marlins re-signed Jonathan Davis to a minor league deal. Davis was something of a good-luck charm last year, playing regularly during the hottest stretch of Miami's 2023 season despite merely putting up replacement-level production himself. He missed the second half of the campaign while rehabbing from meniscus surgery. The Marlins don't have a conventional backup center fielder on their 40-man roster, so Davis has a potential path back to the majors if he impresses in spring training.

• Single-game tickets to Marlins Grapefruit League games have gone on sale to the general public. The standard price is $42 per ticket for reserved box seats at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, but it's juiced to $56 per ticket when the Yankees and Phillies come to town. That seems inflated compared to last spring, doesn't it? For context, there are literally thousands of Marlins Opening Day tickets available for less than $42.

• Elsewhere around baseball, the Cardinals hired Chaim Bloom as an advisor to the president of baseball operations. It figures to be a short-term gig for Bloom—who was previously chief baseball officer for the Red Sox—until he pursues another opportunity to run his own front office.

• With 129 BBWAA ballots entered into Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame tracker, former Marlin Gary Sheffield has received 76.7% of the vote (needs 75.0% for election). I’ll continue updating his status in Offishial News as more ballots come in.

• Episode 6 of "The New Standard" reflects on Jazz Chisholm Jr. hitting grand slams in consecutive games.

• Show your Miami Dolphins pride during their NFL playoff run by shopping for new gear from our partners at FOCO.

Marlins Podcast Episodes

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