Miami Marlins Sign Pedro Alvarez, 10 Others

The Miami Marlins were busy on Monday, making 13 moves towards building the 2019 Opening Day lineup.

Pedro Alvarez

First baseman Pedro Alvarez joins the Miami Marlins after splitting most of the last two seasons between the Baltimore Orioles and their triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. His career batting slashline (.236/.310/.447) is nearly what B/R projects for him in 2019 (.231/.308/.429). A 2013 all-star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he led the National League in that season with 36 home runs. Alvarez signed a minor league deal, got an invitation to Spring Training, and was assigned to the triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes.

Victor Victor Mesa

The subject of season-long speculation, outfielder Victor Victor Mesa signed with the Miami Marlins a few weeks ago. He was also invited to Spring Training, although he’ll probably begin his career in affiliated ball with either the double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp or the Baby Cakes.

B.J. Lopez

After coming up through the Arizona Diamondbacks system, catcher B.J. Lopez spent the 2018 season hitting .185/.269/.206 in 60 games between the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers and the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads. He was also extended an invitation to Spring Training, as a non-roster player.

Sharif Othman

Catcher Sharif Othman, who will turn 30-years-old just prior to Opening Day, spent seven of the last eight seasons in the Miami Marlins system. In 59 contests last year between the Shrimp and the Cakes, he slashed .190/.275/.275. Othman will join the others at Spring Training as a non-roster player.

Brian Moran

Left-handed relief pitcher Brian Moran was signed to a minor league deal, assigned to the Baby Cakes, and invited to Spring Training. He has yet to pitch in the major leagues, and has spent 10 seasons in the minor league systems of the Seattle Mariners, the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Colorado Rockies.

Gabriel Guerrero

Gabriel Guerrero, a centerfielder by trade, went three-for-18 with the Cincinnati Reds last season in his first look at the major league level. Currently assigned to the Baby Cakes, he’s a non-roster Spring Training invitee.

Rodrigo Vigil

Catcher Rodrigo Vigil was signed to another minor league deal, invited to Spring Training, and assigned to the Jumbo Shrimp. Vigil has been in the Miami Marlins system for nine seasons, and has a career slashline of .248/.299/.316.

Bryan Holaday

Catcher Bryan Holaday spent the 2018 campaign as the Miami Marlins backup catcher. He led the majors with a 45 percent cutdown rate of runners trying to steal, and hit .205/.261/.258 in 61 games. B/R projects a .224/.282/.336 line in around 300 plate appearances. Assigned to the Baby Cakes, he was also invited to Spring Training.

Mike Kickham

Left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham is 0-3 with a 10.98 ERA in 30 1/3 innings of major league action with the San Francisco Giants. He has spent most of the last two seasons split for the Miami Marlins between the Baby Cakes and Jacksonville, and signed for a third. He’s officially assigned to the Cakes, and will also be at Spring Training.

Dixon Machado

Dixon Machado is a middle infielder out of the Detroit Tigers system. He’s played 172 contests at the major league level for them over the last four seasons, hitting .227/.285/.295. After getting non-tendered, he signed a minor league deal with the Marlins.

Deven Marrero

Deven Marrero is a third baseman who played last season for the Diamondbacks. In 158 major league games, he hit .197/.250/.283. He’s a Spring Training invite, and a current member of New Orleans.

Jon Berti

Jon Berti, a second baseman, went four-for-15 in his first look at the major league level last season for the Toronto Blue Jays. He’ll be 29-years-old at the start of the 2019 campaign.

R.J. Alvarez

R.J. Alvarez hasn’t played in the majors since 2015. In 31 games between the San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics, he pitched to a 1.714 WHIP and struck out 32 batters in 28 innings.

Harold Ramirez

Outfielder Harold Ramirez hasn’t gotten to the majors yet, spending the last seven seasons in the minor league systems of the Pirates and the Blue Jays. In 44 games with Caracas, of the Venezuelan Winter League, he’s put up a .381/.459/.556 slashline against pseudo-triple-A level talent. He could turn out to be a real steal for the Miami Marlins.

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