Three Moves that Sunk the Miami Marlins in 2015 and Beyond

By Ehsan Kassim | Jul 30, 2015

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Jul 21, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Kolek over Carlos Rodon? Why?:

Entering the 2015 MLB amateur draft, it was almost a guarantee that Carlos Rodon would go #1 or #2. As we got closer to the draft, it was rumored that the Astros had talked to Brady Aiken, to cut a deal and work out a more manageable signing bonus for the number 1 pick. What happened next with Aiken is a long-story and does not concern us, however.

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With the Astros likely going the Aiken route, it seemed like a forgone conclusion Rodon would be drafted by Miami. , Rodon, a Cuban by nationality, would have been the perfect fit next to ace Jose Fernandez as not only a 1-2 punch, but as marketing for the faces of the Marlins franchise, in a Cuban-heavy population of Miami.

Instead, the Marlins stunned the world and took Tyler Kolek number 2 instead Carlos Rodon. This shook the entire baseball world and Marlins fans alike.

The team that was supposedly planning on going all in to win took a guy that would not be ready for the majors for 4/5 seasons, instead of a guy that could have slotted into their rotation by this season.

Kolek owns a 4.15 ERA and a 4.83 FIP in 84 2/3 innings in Low-A Greensboro. He has struggled missing bats, walking too many hitters, and the reports of his 100 MPH velocity before the draft don’t seem to be the case this year. While Kolek, just 19-years old, still has time to turn things around, he still has a considerable ways to go.

Rodon, on the other hand, owns a 4.09 ERA and a 3.63 FIP in 77 major league innings for the Chicago White Sox. While he’s struggled with nearly 5 walks per game, he’s striking out almost 10 per nine, as a rookie.

Right now, Rodon would be a huge boost to a Miami Marlins rotation that has struggled for much of the season. He’d also be a vastly superior option to the guys the Marlins currently have in their farm system.

Drafting Kolek over Rodon made little sense to me on draft day, it makes even less sense today.

Next: The Cosart Trade

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