Offishial news, 12/25/23: Merry Christmas; Garver signs with Mariners

Here's what you should know with 94 days to go until Marlins Opening Day...

• The MLB Competition Committee approved several subtle rule changes for the 2024 season, most of them geared toward further speeding up the pace of games. The runner's lane from home plate to first base has also been widened to include the dirt area between the foul line and the infield grass. Mitch Garver (2/$24M) is signing with the Mariners. Garver would've been a good fit for the Marlins, splitting time between catcher and designated hitter. This development seemingly makes it less likely that Seattle gets Jorge Soler, who they were previously linked to.

• On Friday and Saturday, Xavier Edwards held his sixth annual baseball skills camp in Coconut Creek. "I think there’s a misconception with kind of waiting until your name gets bigger and waiting to get to the big leagues to have a camp," Edwards told Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. "I don’t believe that. I think there’s always somebody you can help and give back to."

• The Marlins denied Victor Mesa Jr.'s request to play for the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation in next month's Intercontinental Series, according to Francys Romero. Mesa defected from Cuba in 2018 and hasn't had an opportunity to represent his country is a baseball competition since then.

• Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors reflects on Braxton Garrett's emergence as a staple of the Marlins rotation.

• Brian Dunleavy of Marlin Maniac makes the case that Soler is "too limited" to fully fill the hole in Miami's lineup.

• With 43 BBWAA ballots entered into Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame tracker, former Marlin Gary Sheffield has received 69.8% of the vote (needs 75.0% for election). I’ll continue updating his status in Offishial News as more ballots come in.

• I'll fill up this space throughout the day with Christmas-themed social media posts from notable Marlins players and personnel. Enjoy the holiday!

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