Offishial news, 12/8/23: Ohtani decision imminent; Mets sign another ex-Marlin

Marlins Podcast Episodes

• Thursday's winter ball notes: In the Dominican Republic, 2B Vidal Bruján went 0-for-4. In Venezuela, LF Javier Sanoja went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases.

• Elsewhere around baseball, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that Shohei Ohtani's free agent decision could be coming "as early as today." Jorge López (1/$2M) signed with the Mets. López lasted barely a month with the Marlins, allowing 29 baserunners in only 11 ⅔ innings of relief. Here is an update on the whereabouts of last season's Marlins players, only four of whom have landed with new teams for the 2024 season:

• No home yet for Jorge Soler. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that former Marlins hitting coach Brant Brown "grew fond of Soler" last season and might vouch for him as new Mariners bench coach and offensive coordinator. However, it's not his money to spend—Seattle has limited payroll flexibility, already making two trades this offseason to dump contracts.

• Kevin Barral wrote about the rumor that the Marlins are in pursuit of free agent Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Most fans don't seem enthused!

• Embedded at the top of the page, Dan Noffsinger had a fascinating conversation with Joe Frisaro that included stories from his tenure in the Marlins front office. During the 2000s and early 2010s, Noffsinger led the franchise's previously non-existent analytics department. He recalls that then-team president David Samson wrote the framework of Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million contract extension on hotel stationery and barely had to change anything when negotiating with Stanton.

• Marlins prospects Breyias Dean, Cherif Neymour and Toby Simmons are participating in the Don't Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. Jazz Chisholm Jr. won't be in the derby, but two months since undergoing turf toe surgery, good to see him moving around well.

• Lastly, I think you'll enjoy this extended Pablo López interview with Nick Pollack of Pitcher List, taking you inside an All-Star pitcher's mind and the intent behind every pitch he threw during a start.