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Marlins Rumors: K-Rod on the radar?

By Travis Honeycutt |

The Miami Marlins might not be done adding after all. According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, the Fish have reached out to free agent relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez.

After presumably coming up short in the James Shields sweepstakes, the Marlins could still have some money left to bring another piece or two into camp in a couple weeks. And that seems like exactly what the team wants to do:

The Marlins won their arbitration case against Mat Latos on Thursday, which will save the club another $1 million. Latos filed at $10.4 million but the Marlins won the case and will instead pay their new pitcher $9.4 million in 2015.

That could potentially open the door for a cheap signing of K-Rod as an insurance policy for the bullpen. Miami’s projected ‘pen should include A.J. Ramos, Bryan Morris, Mike Dunn, Preston Claiborne and closer Steve Cishek. Aaron Crow, Carter Capps, Andre Rienzo and Sam Dyson should also compete for the last couple spots.

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Francisco Rodriguez was an All-Star last year with the Milwaukee Brewers. He had a 3.04 ERA, 4.50 FIP and 44 saves in 66 games. He owns a 10.8 K/9 for his career and would be a solid addition to any bullpen. The Marlins are familiar with K-Rod’s work after facing him often from 2009-11 when he was a New York Met.

The Marlins have a surplus of pitchers who will be vying for a limited number of roster spots in Spring Training. In addition to the names I mentioned earlier, the team will also have Brad Hand and David Phelps in big league camp. Both can start games or work out of the bullpen, and could make things interesting down in Jupiter. Hand is out of options and depending on where Dan Haren ends up, he projects to either be the team’s number five starter or make the team as a reliever, or else the Marlins risk losing him to the waiver wire if he is sent down. Phelps was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Nathan Eovaldi trade, and the Marlins likely see him as a staple in Miami in 2015.

Frisaro also floated Rafael Soriano‘s name out there.

Soriano is another talented pitcher that surprisingly remains a free agent this close to Spring Training. He made $11 million last year with the Washington Nationals, but at this point would probably have a significantly lower price tag. Whether the Marlins would actually make a push for Soriano remains to be seen, but he’s one more available option if the team decides to add another name to the bullpen mix.

Next: Zero hour for a James Shields decision?

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