How Emmanuel Rivera can help the Marlins in 2024

Tuesday saw the Miami Marlins already in transaction mode, as the club acquired INF Emmanuel Rivera from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations, designating FOF #7 prospect Jacob Amaya for assignment in the process. With infield prospect Blaze Alexander making the club out of spring training, Christian Walker entrenched at first base and offseason acquisition Eugenio Suárez assuming primary duties at third base, Rivera became expendable for the defending National League champions, so he was recently being DFA'd himself ahead of Opening Day.

In 217 games across parts of three seasons, Rivera owns a .247/.304/.380/.684 slash line (89 OPS+), with his best stretch of offensive play coming in his 39-game audition upon being traded to Arizona from Kansas City in 2022. In that time, Rivera hit just .227, but his 6 home runs and 8 doubles made up for what his batting average would suggest, as evidenced by a 104 OPS+. 

A major thorn in Rivera's cap thus far in his big league career is his noticeably superior numbers against left-handed pitching. In 249 career plate appearances against southpaws, Rivera owns a .739 OPS, 83 points higher than his .656 mark against righties. Through their first 6 games of play, the Marlins have a collective .545 OPS against lefties (ranking 25th among MLB teams).

And though Miami would welcome the prospect of more offensive production in line with 2022 Rivera, where he appears best equipped to help the club is with the leather. 

While he has 94 big league innings under his belt at first base, the vast majority of Rivera’s defensive experience—and, for that matter, acumen— comes from his time spent at third. In 1,394 innings logged at the hot corner, Rivera has graded out as plus-nine defensive runs saved (DRS) and plus-eight total zone runs (Rtot).

Possessing the ability to man both infield corners, Rivera looks to potentially occupy a role similar of the recently traded Jon Berti. Berti—who put up 7.7 bWAR in parts of 5 seasons with Miami—saw time at six defensive positions, leading the NL with 41 stolen bases in 2022. On March 27, the eve of Opening Day, the Marlins traded their utilityman to the New York Yankees in exchange for OF John Cruz in a three-team deal with Tampa Bay that also saw Miami acquire OF Shane Sasaki. 

Rivera's presence will help to provide some defensive stability to a starting infield that features four suspect defenders: first baseman Josh Bell has amassed minus-33 defensive runs saved at the position and has graded out as below-average in each of his 8 seasons played; Luis Arraez is generally viewed as a bat-first player at second base; newly-minted shortstop Tim Anderson posted the worst DRS among infielders in 2023 (minus-16); and Jake Burger, like Bell, has consistently graded out as below-average. Rivera would allot Burger the opportunity to see more time at first base, a position he's already appeared in 3 games at in 2024, and relegate Bell to the lion's share of DH duties. 

Speaking to the media before Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Angels—which saw the team fall to 0-6 for the first time in franchise history—manager Skip Schumaker said he expects Rivera to see time across the infield upon joining the club.

Not yet eligible for arbitration, Rivera is inexpensive for the Fish in 2024 and potentially under club control through the 2027 season if his production continues to merit an active roster spot.