The addition of Curtis Granderson is a big win for the Marlins

The addition of veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson, who signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday will prove to be a steal this upcoming season.

In the past wek, the Miami Marlins have added both outfielder Curtis Granderson and first baseman Neil Walker, two veterans who give the young organization a boost of veteran leadership it may need this coming season.

The announcement of the Granderson’s signing, which according to Kevin Kraczkowski  here at Marlins Maniac, was done during a flurry of moves which included trading pitcher Nick Wittgren to the Cleveland Indians and removing outfielder Isaac Galloway from its 40-man roster. It could also prove to be one of those under-the-radar signings that pays off dividends this season. While Granderson is not the same he once was now that he is 37 years old, it’s the experience and advice he can lend to a cluttered outfield that may be more invaluable.

“Granderson has hit 332 home runs through his 15-season major league career, between the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Milwaukee Brewers,” Kraczkowski wrote.“He has a lifetime .252/.340/.470 slashline through 1,919 major league games, along with 153 stolen bases. He once hit 23 triples in a season, but speed is no longer a major component of his game.”

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Personally, I like the move.

By adding both Granderson and Walker, the Marlins are taking a different approach to the 2019 season, with a more mature look. There is still plenty of youth on this roster and within the organization. Sometimes, however, a steadying influence is what is needed to more past the losing a onto a clearer path for success.

I’m not saying the Marlins, 63-98 last season, are going to contend for a playoff berth, but they could be better just from mental stability. Getting past last season, having neophytes on the roster with more experience and veterans who know both sides of the record book, could make things a little easier for manager Don Mattingly, who spent a majority of the 2018 season tinkering with the lineup and trying to get the most out of an injury riddled pitching staff.

With the flurry of moves this week, especially in the outfield, the numbers still remain uncertain who will make the 25-man roster on opening day. When Walker was signed, it was expected that he would share the bag with Peter O’Brien. Garrett Cooper, who was expected to compete with O’Brien for the starting spot in the infield would now move to the outfield and compete there for one of four or five roster spots.

Now, with Granderson signed and Galloway off the roster, the competition still remains tight, with Austin Dean, potentially third baseman Brian Anderson and others in the mix. Will Cooper become the odd man out because of too many quality players and too few spots open?

In years past, Mattingly has kept 13 pitchers on the roster, with eight coming out of the bullpen. Will the Granderson signing effect the Marlins decision to keep 12 pitchers and add another player on the bench for depth?