Ely Sussman

And regarding Duvall, I would have absolutely topped that Braves offer and given him Avi's job.

Puk is the only player on the team who has significantly altered my opinion of him this spring. Until he arrived at camp, there wasn't a true way of gauging how useful his additional pitches would be (the pitches he shelved when working in relief). But now, he's showing that he can locate them and use them in complementary ways. The unknowable element is whether he can physically handle an extreme uptick in workload.

Marlins news roundup for 3/15/24 Fish On First is providing extensive coverage on location throughout Marlins spring training. Click here to keep up with our latest updates. 🔷 On Thursday, A.J. Puk and Sean Manaea started a sim game on the Marlins backfields, facing mostly Triple-A-bound Mets and Marlins hitters. Puk's final line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (threw somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 pitches). His build-up from reliever to starter continues to go smoothly. 🔷 Alex Carver details the professional development and burgeoning friendship between Noble Meyer and Thomas White. 🔷 Kevin Barral writes about why Mychal Givens signed with the Marlins and what made him an effective reliever prior to his injury-riddled 2023 season. 🔷 We asked Fish On First members to rank their top 30 Marlins prospects. Here's what they came up with. 🔷 Today's games: Marlins prospects (LHP Thomas White) vs. Cardinals prospects (RHP Tink Hence) in the seven-inning Spring Breakout showcase at 2:05 p.m., followed by the regularly scheduled Marlins (LHP Ryan Weathers) vs. Cardinals (LHP Steven Matz) Grapefruit League game at 6:05 p.m. Watch Spring Breakout on ESPN+ or MLB Network. The night game will be televised on Bally Sports Florida with Marlins play-by-play announcer Paul Severino on the mic for the first time this spring. You could also make the trip to Jupiter! I'll be in attendance. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Adam Duvall (1/$3M) signed with the Braves. It continues a trend of reputable veterans with plenty left in the tank having to settle for extremely cheap free agent deals. Duvall OPS'd .834 last season! Gerrit Cole's worrisome elbow injury will not need season-ending surgery, though he's expected to miss at least one-quarter of the regular season. 🔷 Sandy Alcantara has been an avid gamer for years and he'll have ample time for it throughout this season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Alcantara will now be streaming his gaming sessions via the @Sagamingg22 Twitter account. Marlins podcast episodes View full article

Here's who you think the top prospects in the Miami Marlins organization are entering the 2024 season. Ranked Prospects Noble Meyer Thomas White Max Meyer Victor Mesa Jr. Luis Cova Xavier Edwards Dax Fulton Jacob Amaya Troy Johnston Yiddi Cappe Karson Milbrandt Andrés Valor Dane Myers Jacob Berry Patrick Monteverde Jacob Miller Juan De La Cruz Anthony Maldonado Will Banfield Kemp Alderman Josh Simpson Javier Sanoja Fabian López Jancory De La Cruz Brock Vradenburg Tristan Gray José Castro Evan Fitterer Sixto Sánchez Ike Buxton

After what he's been through, how can you have any confidence in him being able to physically handle a starter's workload? That is the main reason for my continued skepticism. Even when he's performing well, how long will it last until his shoulder barks again? His most recent game does help legitimize the notion of him having enough stuff and command to get outs in real competition. I'd still insist on tempering expectations.

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs... View full article

Marlins news roundup for 3/13/24 Fish On First is providing extensive coverage on location throughout Marlins spring training. Click here to keep up with our latest updates. 🔷 On Tuesday, Nick Gordon went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a great defensive play. Jesús Luzardo had a solid start despite a mediocre final pitching line (skewed because two of his inherited runners scored). The Marlins lost to the Astros, 9-1. 🔷 JT Chargois (neck spasms) made his 2024 Grapefruit League debut, but frankly looked awful doing it. Beyond just subpar fastball velocity, his slider wasn't breaking normally or being located well. Not particularly surprising that he is now going to see a specialist. A season-opening injured list stint seems inevitable. 🔷 Edward Cabrera has been diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement. Same injury that sidelined him for five weeks last season. My Marlins roster projection has been updated accordingly. 🔷 The Marlins made their third round of spring training cuts, most notably including Max Meyer (FOF's #3 prospect). He'll headline their Triple-A Jacksonville rotation. Troy Johnston (FOF #10) also got reassigned to minor league camp. 🔷 It was the Marlins' turn to be featured on MLB Network's 30 Clubs in 15 Days series. Here are all of the interviews they did with Tim Anderson, Luis Arraez, Peter Bendix, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Skip Schumaker. I found this TA quote to be the most notable: "(The Marlins) invested in me. Not just money, but teaching me things, offensively and defensively. I'm soaking it all up." 🔷 In advance of Spring Breakout, OF Victor Mesa Jr. reflects on the remarkable year he had, on and off the field (via Christina De Nicola, MLB.com). 🔷 Today's game: Nationals (RHP Jake Irvin) vs. Marlins (RHP Eury Pérez) at 1:10 p.m. Out of the bullpen, Sixto Sánchez is scheduled to make his third spring appearance (and first multi-inning appearance). No television coverage. 🔷 Join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET for a new episode of Fish On First LIVE streaming on YouTube/Twitter/Facebook. FOF LIVE is presented by Berger & Hicks! If you’ve been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, give them a call at (305) 670-7050. Marlins podcast episodes View full article

A couple weeks away from the Marlins' season opener, I'm projecting which 26 players are best positioned to make the Opening Day roster. This article was originally published early Wednesday morning under the assumption that JT Chargois (neck spasms) should be ready for Opening Day. It has since been updated with the news that he's not fully healthy yet. Ideally, you hope to see players on the roster bubble demonstrate tangible improvements during spring training to earn their place on the big league team. The Miami Marlins have had some of that. Unfortunately, the outcomes of spring competitions are more often dictated by injuries and the amount of control that the club can exert over particular guys. A clearer picture of the Marlins' initial 26-man squad is coming into focus mainly because of those factors. Look out for one more roster projection update before Opening Day. Position Players Catchers (2): Christian Bethancourt, Nick Fortes Infielders (6): Tim Anderson, Luis Arraez, Josh Bell, Jon Berti, Jake Burger, Vidal Bruján Outfielders (5): Jazz Chisholm Jr., Bryan De La Cruz, Avisaíl García, Nick Gordon, Jesús Sánchez Just missed: Xavier Edwards, Dane Myers Projected MLB IL: none These 13 selections are unchanged from my previous projection. Entering Wednesday, García has recorded only one extra-base hit in 30 plate appearances while striking out one-third of the time. I still doubt that the Marlins cut their losses until assessing him in regular season contests. An outstanding spring for Edwards—both offensively and defensively—could have potentially propelled him back to Miami. However, his OPS was only .462 through five Grapefruit League games, handling shortstop still looks like a pipe dream, and his playing time has been limited by a minor foot injury. Among Miami's non-roster invitees, Trey Mancini was best-positioned to make the team. He simply hasn't performed. Pitchers Starters (5): Jesús Luzardo, Eury Pérez, A.J. Puk, Ryan Weathers, Trevor Rogers Relievers (8): Anthony Bender, Declan Cronin, Bryan Hoeing, Anthony Maldonado, Sixto Sánchez, Andrew Nardi, Tanner Scott, George Soriano Just missed: Vladimir Gutierrez, Max Meyer Projected MLB IL: Edward Cabrera, JT Chargois, Braxton Garrett The Marlins rotation is set. These are the only five pitchers remaining in big league camp who are on the 40-man, injury-free and on track to be stretched out by Opening Day. A fascinating wrinkle: the arms occupying the final three spots combined to make only six starts for the 2023 Fish. Meyer would be the next man up while Garrett and Cabrera recover from their respective shoulder problems. Miami's relief situation is still very much in flux beyond the highest-leverage arms of Scott, Nardi, Bender and Soriano. I believed that Josh Simpson was well-suited for the role of third lefty 'pen weapon, but he has been betrayed by his elbow (last game appearance was Feb. 27). Huascar Brazoban (visa issues) remains unable to report to camp and we're past the point of him being able to make up for lost time. Hoeing gets the multi-inning mop-up man role and Maldonado has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. Chargois looked very rusty during Tuesday's relief appearance. I originally did this projection under the assumption that he'd get things straightened out in the coming weeks, but instead, he's meeting with a specialist to evaluate his neck/spine issue. Sixto Sánchez's revival has been a fun development! As explained here, he's still far away from being a viable MLB reliever. But given the lack of fully healthy alternatives and Sánchez's out-of-options status, this opportunity has fallen in his lap. View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs... View full article

He was performing great in his first few real games with the A's last season as well. Didn't last. I do believe he will have a lengthy professional career as a part-time/platoon guy.

The Offishial Show—Episode #215 The Marlins could potentially have an elite starting rotation in 2024, thanks in part to a pair of under-the-radar trades made the previous year by the previous GM. With A.J. Puk and Ryan Weathers excelling this spring in the competition for Miami Marlins rotation spots, Ely Sussman revisits the trades that brought them here in the first place. Former Marlins general manager Kim Ng gave up very little for the talented lefties who could wind up having a massive impact on the team in the post-Ng era. Days prior to the beginning of 2023 spring training, Ng acquired Puk from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for outfielder JJ Bleday. Weathers arrived from the San Diego Padres on trade deadline day, with the Fish sending away pending free agent Garrett Cooper and reliever Sean Reynolds. Thanks to SuperSub Stanley J Makowski for inspiring this episode. Find The Offishial Show on the Fish On First YouTube channel, our new-look Apple Podcasts channel and wherever else you get your pods. FOF's audio programming also includes Fish Unfiltered, Big Fish Small Pod, Swimming Upstream and more. The Fish On First podcast is now being presented by MPT College Consulting! They pride themselves on helping clients navigate the college application process. This includes preparation for standardized testing, guidance through high school, assistance with essays and applications, and choosing the right college. Visit them today at mptcollegeconsulting.com to learn more about their services and schedule a free consultation. Follow Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs... View full article

Marlins news roundup for 3/11/24 Leading off this article, I'd like to share that I'm flying down to Florida today and spending the next week in and around Jupiter. Reach out if you want to meet in person! 🔷 It was an active Sunday for the Marlins. Facing the Astros in West Palm Beach, Ryan Weathers shoved five scoreless innings. Moments before facing the Cardinals in Jupiter, Edward Cabrera was removed due to right shoulder tightness. The relievers who followed him (and the defense behind them) were horrible, including Tanner Scott, who has stunningly allowed 14 baserunners this spring while completing only 1 ⅔ innings. Josh Bell homered. The Marlins won on the road, 3-0, and lost at home, 12-8. 🔷 To be clear, Cabrera's shoulder tightness episode puts his availability for the start of the season in serious doubt. Even the most minor shoulder-related issues typically require pitchers to refrain from throwing until all discomfort goes away. For the latest updates on Cabrera and other Marlins players with health concerns, check out our injury/rehab tracker. 🔷 The Marlins agreed to terms with veteran reliever Mychal Givens on a minor league deal. Givens enters his age-34 season with a 3.47 ERA and 3.76 FIP in 425 career MLB appearances. Knee and shoulder injuries wiped out practically his entire 2023 campaign. Expect Givens to be initially assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville. 🔷 Marlins OF/1B Norel González retired. The Cuban defector posted a .260/.344/.447 slash line in 253 career minor league games (all at the Double-A and Triple-A levels), but never got a taste of The Show. 🔷 The uniform No. 7 holds a special significance to Tim Anderson. Jesús Sánchez had been wearing it for the Marlins prior to Anderson's signing, but gave it to him without expecting anything in return. TA says he's going to eventually get Sánchez something to show his appreciation (Christina De Nicola, MLB.com). 🔷 Today's game: Marlins (LHP Trevor Rogers) vs. Mets (RHP Tylor Megill) at 6:10 p.m. Max Meyer is slated to pitch most of the innings in relief of Rogers. It's being televised by the Mets on SNY (available to stream via MLB.TV). 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the Dodgers announced that Mookie Betts will primarily play shortstop in 2024. Ryne Stanek (1/$4M) signed with the Mariners. 🔷 Happy 44th birthday to Dan Uggla. The bulky second baseman joined the Marlins via the Rule 5 Draft and went on to have one of the best MLB careers of any former Rule 5 selection. A great run producer for the Fish from 2006-2010, he ranks second only to Giancarlo Stanton on the franchise's all-time home run list. Marlins podcast episodes View full article

Well, that's because you are rational. In my observation, there are plenty of fans excited about the potential for Sixto to become some kind of high-leverage weapon who can still deliver dominance in small spurts. I wanted to make it clear that he is still a complete wild card (and that's being generous).

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins games. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs... View full article