Marlins may need to get creative to address needs at Winter Meetings
A veteran starting pitcher, first baseman and perhaps a second baseman.
Those are three areas the Miami Marlins will monitor during Major League Baseball's winter meetings this Sunday through Thursday in San Diego.
When ace Jose Fernandez underwent Tommy John surgery in May, the Marlins failed to find an arm to eat up innings as the fifth man in the rotation. An established name would help take pressure off the young staff of All-Star Henderson Alvarez, Nathan Eovaldi, Jarred Cosart and Tom Koehler. Fernandez isn't back until the second half, so this person would need to provide stability both before and after that happens. There's no telling how Fernandez will look when he does return to the mound.
Although Garrett Jones lived up to his career trajectory in 2014 (.246/15 HR/53 RBI), the numbers still fell below the eight other National League qualifiers at the position. Miami couldn't sign former Washington Nationals Gold Glover Adam LaRoche, who took more money from the Chicago White Sox. That was a huge miss as an upgrade. The Marlins may need to get creative at first base and switch existing pieces around, or find someone through a trade.
While there are internal candidates to man second base -- Donovan Solano, Enrique Hernandez and Derek Dietrich -- the Marlins could seek someone from the outside. But the free-agent options are slim and may not be worth a signing.
What remains to be seen is whether the Marlins will dabble in free agency, trades or both. The organization's strength will always lie in its farm system. It is tough to outbid other teams on players. That could actually work out better this winter with mediocre first-base and second-base classes.
President of baseball operations Michael Hill said the organization isn't seeking moves just to make one. Though there have been multiple conversations "on a lot of fronts," the Marlins aren't "near the finish line on anything." By the same token, things often quickly develop during winter meetings.
"Our situation, we're never going to be a high-revenue, high top-of-the market payroll-wise club, so we have to be mindful and protective of our inventory," Hill said on Friday in a teleconference. "Also know that we have to win games. That's what we're trying to balance and make the right decision that helps us both in the near term and in the long term."
Below are some names (in no particular order) that have already been -- and could still be attached -- to the Marlins in the rumor mill...
STARTING PITCHING
1. RHP James Shields
2014 stats: 14-8, 3.21 ERA, 34 starts with the Kansas City Royals
2014 salary: $13.5 million
Shields is the crown jewel of this year's free agency class of pitchers. "Big Game" James may have struggled during the 2014 postseason, going 1-2 with a 6.10 ERA, but he is a front-end starter. Over each of the past eight seasons, the 32-year-old has made at least 30 starts. He does have a Marlins connection: General manager Dan Jennings was the scouting director when the Tampa Bay Devils Rays drafted him in 2000. Shields, however, is probably out of Miami's pay range as he will command upwards of $20 million a season.
2. RHP Jake Peavy
2014 stats: 1-9, 4.72 ERA, 20 starts with the Boston Red Sox; 6-4, 2.17 ERA, 12 starts with the San Francisco Giants
2014 salary: $14.5 million
Earlier in the week, Peavy's name came up as a possible target of the Marlins. A change of scenery did the 33-year-old good in his 13th big-league season. Although he couldn't close out the World Series in Game 6, he proved he could still pitch after experimental lat surgery in 2010. Of his five 200-plus-inning years, two have come since 2012. His first eight seasons were in the National League with the San Diego Padres until being dealt to the Chicago White Sox. He fits the mold of a veteran pitcher to guide the young staff.
3. RHP Jason Hammel
2014 stats: 8-5, 2.98 ERA in 17 starts with the Chicago Cubs; 2-6, 4.26 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) with the Oakland Athletics
2014 salary: $6 million
Hammel fits the description of what the Marlins would like: a veteran arm (nine seasons) who will pitch every five days. The 32-year-old has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in two of the last three seasons. Since 2009, he has started at least 27 games four times. In those seasons, his innings total sat in the 170s. Another option, but one who would come at a heftier price, is righty Brandon McCarthy. After being traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the New York Yankees, the 31-year-old went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts. He reached the 200-inning mark for the first time in his nine-season career.
4. LHP David Price/RHP Rick Porcello
2014 stats: Price -- 15-12, 3.26 ERA in 34 starts between the Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers; Porcello -- 15-13, 3.43 ERA in 32 games (31 starts) with the Tigers
2014 salary: Price -- $14 million (arbitration eligible, free agent in 2016); Porcello -- $8.5 million (arbitration eligible, free agent in 2016)
Seems a bit far-fetched, no? Yet FOX Sports' Jon Morosi is reporting that the Marlins have inquired about pitchers who wouldn't come at a bargain. Price is a four-time All-Star who spent seven seasons with the in-state rival Rays before being traded at this year's deadline. He matched a career high with 34 starts in 2014 and new marks of 248 1/3 innings and 271 strikeouts. The 29-year-old won the Cy Young in 2012. Porcello, who turns 26 this month, is coming off a career year. He reached 200 innings for the first time in six big-league seasons, pitched three complete game shutouts and notched his most wins and lowest ERA as a big leaguer. The decision here lies in whether it is worth the Marlins giving away inventory for a year rental.
Hill's assessment: "We definitely revisited a lot of those discussions (from last trade deadline), but we've also looked at the more veteran type of pitcher as well as someone that is a little more consistent, more stable. Someone who can be a stabilizer to go along with our other quality arms."
FIRST BASE
1. Mark Reynolds
2014 stats: .196 BA, 9 2B, 22 HR, 45 RBI, 130 games with the Milwaukee Brewers
2014 salary: $2 million
Reynolds, put together a bizarre stat line with the Brew Crew as he returned to the National League for the first time since 2010. The 31-year-old has at least 21 homers in seven of his eight big-league seasons, though the numbers haven't been anywhere near his ridiculous 44 in 2009 and 37 in 2011. He has led the league in strikeouts four times, but not since 2011. Like any decision the Marlins must make at first, will it be considered an upgrade? A platoon of Jones and Jeff Baker may end up as productive as signing the right-handed Reynolds, who likely would find it more difficult to hit homers at Marlins Park.
2. Mike Morse
2014 stats: .279 BA, 32 2B, 16 HR, 61 RBI in 131 games with the San Francisco Giants
2014 salary: $6 million
The World Series champion had a memorable Game 7 performance, driving in two of the three runs as the Giants clinched their third title in five years. Morse, who turns 33 in March, is a local from Fort Lauderdale's Nova High School. He can play both first base and the outfield, but has appeared in 100-plus games just three times in his career (2011, '12, '14). His breakout year remains 2011 with the Nationals -- 31 homers and 95 RBI in 146 games. Also a right-handed hitter, Morse may not be worth a deal.
3. Brandon Moss
2014 stats: .234 BA, 23 2B, 25 HR, 81 RBI in 147 games with the Oakland Athletics
2014 salary: Second-year arbitration eligible ($4.1 million; free agent in 2017)
Earlier this week, a rumor sprouted up involving the A's and Cleveland Indians in a deal for Moss. It seems like a foregone conclusion. But why not the Marlins? He would provide a lefty bat in the middle of the lineup for Giancarlo Stanton. The 31-year-old has averaged 25 homers and 73 RBI over the past three seasons. Prior to this three-season stint in Oakland, Moss never recorded double-digit homers or steady playing time. Starting pitching prospects are aplenty for the Marlins, and Andrew Heaney doesn't appear untouchable anymore. Perhaps Oakland's Billy Beane wants to replenish the system?
4. Chase Headley
2014 stats: .243 BA, 20 2B, 13 HR, 49 RBI in 135 games between the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees
2014 salary: $10.525 million
Headley, a Gold Glover and Silver Slugger in 2012, is a third baseman. Should the Marlins pursue him (they are according to several reports), Casey McGehee would move across the diamond to first base. After struggling in San Diego for 77 games, the Padres dealt him to the Yankees where he rebounded over the next 58. The 30-year-old won't come cheap, though. Other than 2012 (31 HR/115 RBI), Headley has never hit more than 13 homers or driven in more than 64 runs.
Hill's assessment: "I don't think one (extra arm or bat) is more pressing than the other. We're working on both in log step. We've had multiple conversations on both fronts, but we have someone fine who can play at first base. We have very capable pitchers that can fit in the rotation, so as we work through it as I said we want to make sure whomever we move forward with is someone who fits with what we're trying to do."
SECOND BASE
1. Asdrubal Cabrera
2014 stats: .241 BA, 31 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 61 RBI in 146 games between the Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals
2014 salary: $10 million
Cabrera has rare pop for a second baseman. The 29-year-old was traded from Cleveland, where he spent his first eight seasons in the big leagues, to Washington at the deadline. Over the past four years, the switch hitter has at least 14 homers and 31 doubles. At Marlins Park, his home-run numbers would likely go down but his doubles and triples would go up. His defense can be a liability at times (14 errors at short, one at second in 2014). He could fill in for Adeiny Hechavarria if he ever needs a spell. His cost, however, may be too high for a position where the Marlins could go with internal candidates.
2. Emilio Bonifacio
2014 stats: .259 BA, 17 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 24 RBI in 110 games between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves
2014 salary: $2.5 million
Would the Marlins bring back a fan favorite? His return would help shape the top part of the order as the switch hitter in the leadoff spot before Christian Yelich and Stanton. Though he hasn't matched his career year in 2011 with the Marlins (5 HR/36 RBI/40 SB), the 29-year-old could be a catalyst at second and on the basepaths. Miami ranked 13th of 15 teams in the National League with just 58 steals. He could also serve as a backup outfielder. Once again, internal candidates seem to be a better fit here.
3. Alberto Callaspo
2014 stats: .223 BA, 15 2B, 4 HR, 39 RBI in 127 games with the Oakland Athletics
2014 salary: $4.875 million
Callaspo has blasted double-digit homers four times in nine seasons. The 31-year-old would be a cheaper option because of a down year. In 2013, he hit .258 with 10 dingers and 58 RBI. His strikeout-to-walk numbers were impressive (50-40) in 2014. This is the case of whether an older version of existing internal candidates is worth signing.
4. Howie Kendrick
2014 stats: .293 BA, 33 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 75 RBI in 157 games with the Los Angeles Angels
2015 salary: $9.5 million (Free agent after 2015 season)
How strange would it be if the big-spending Angels traded away their second baseman to a small-payroll club like the Marlins? This probably won't happen, but the Marlins could package together a deal Los Angeles likes. The 31-year-old, who grew up in northeast Florida, has double-digit homers in four seasons, 30-plus doubles in four of the last five seasons and at least 54 RBI over the last seven years. But he would only be available for a season before signing a large contract elsewhere. The payoff doesn't seem worth it for Miami, who doesn't appear to be drastically going "all-in" like the Toronto Blue Jays. Rather, the Marlins are building for sustained winning with an existing core and complementary pieces.
Hill's assessment: "It's not a very rich market. That's why I think we were very fortunate to acquire Kike at the deadline. It's not something where there are numerous options ready and available that we feel are significant upgrades over what we already have. It's something we continue to monitor, but I wouldn't say it's at the forefront of our goals."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
