Should the Miami Marlins keep Dan Straily?

The Miami Marlins have tough decisions to make regarding its pitching staff for the 2019 season. Will the team retain the services of veteran pitcher Dan Straily or will they trade him before Spring Training?

I have always thought the only way a pitching staff can be successful is to have a balance of veteran arms and youthful pitchers. Sans the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s, that has held true. The Miami Marlins have an overabundance of pitchers in their minor league system. At the same time, they must decide what to do with their veterans. One, in particular, Dan Straily, could be dealt before the end of the Hot Stove season.

I believe he should stay in South Florida.

It might be a tougher decision to make for the front office than it looks in plain view. Miami has several top-line young pitchers who are still developing. Records alone fail to show the progress of Trevor Richards, Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, and even Jose Urena.

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Straily, the veteran of the rotation this season, has dealt with injuries at the front of 2018 (forearm inflammation) and at the end of his campaign (a left oblique strain). These were the first two instances in his career where he was placed on the disabled list.

Regardless, the team can still use his presence on the mound to balance the remaining four starters, who can be erratic at times. In his two seasons in Miami, Straily has posted a 15-15 record. Urena over the past two seasons is 23-20.

Should they both remain on the team’s roster come April, manager Don Mattingly could be choosing between the two as the Opening Day starter.

The Marlis must also decide if they will tender a contract offer to both Straily, 29, and Urena as both are eligible for salary arbitration. This is Straily’s second season of eligibility.

Per spotrac.com, “Straily signed a 1 year / $3,375,000 contract with the Miami Marlins, including $3,375,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $3,375,000. In 2018, Straily will earn a base salary of $3,375,000, while carrying a total salary of $3,375,000.”

He could receive more from an arbitrator based on what he meant to the organization when healthy, especially in the second half of 2018 when he was an innings eater on a very young staff that used 29 different pitchers last season.

If Straily is dealt, there are teams that have already shown interest in a crafty veteran who can fit into the backend of the rotation. There were reports prior to the MLB trade deadline Oakland and Milwaukee – two playoff teams – were interested in his services, but no deal was ever made.

Both teams could look to acquire him this offseason or another potential playoff team needing a steady arm and innings eater.