Miami Marlins eye affordable pitching options
The Miami Marlins made it clear in their off-season press conference that the team will not be pursuing the big ticket items in free-agency. That being said, that doesn’t mean that the Fish can’t find some good value over on the clearance racks. While Zack Grienke or David Price may be out of the realm of possibility for the Marlins, here are five viable pitching options for the Fish to pursue.
Yovanni Gallardo: Texas Rangers: Gallardo had a renewing season in Texas after a change of scenery from Milwaukee. A one-time ace, Gallardo recaptured his old form and was a catalyst in the Rangers end of season comeback and playoff push. In 184.1 innings, Gallardo posted a career low 3.42 ERA over 33 starts and remains a viable option for the 2016 Miami rotation.
Wei Yin Chen: Baltimore Orioles: As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. This goes for Orioles pitcher Wei Yin Chen. He won’t be cheap, but he has a solid skill set and is only 30 years old significantly young than many of his counterparts. Chen could slide into the Marlins rotation as a third or fourth starter. Chen’s best statistical season very well could have been 2015. He threw 191 innings and posted a career best 3.34 ERA. Will the Marlins open up the check book for this quality starter?
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The Marlins free agency strategy will ultimately come down to what they do on the trade market. If Marcell Ozuna is pawned off for a young, controllable starter, the Marlins demand for a starting pitcher will be significantly lower. Meanwhile, if the rumors of the Marlins trading Jose Fernandez come to fruition, the Marlins demand for a quality starter will skyrocket.
Next: Marlins Moving Jose Fernandez?
Only time will tell what the Marlins front office plans are for the offseason. But, if the Fish decide to go in the direction of signing a free agent starting pitcher, there’s plenty of good ones available.