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Miami Marlins: One non-tendered reliever to consider signing

By Matt Melton|
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 21: Richard Rodriguez #48 of the Atlanta Braves during a baseball game against the against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 21, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 21: Richard Rodriguez #48 of the Atlanta Braves during a baseball game against the against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 21, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The MLB non-tender deadline has now officially passed meaning that there are a few notable players around baseball that are now free agents. Could the Miami Marlins potentially have interest in any of those players?

To recap the Marlins moves from Tuesday, Miami tendered a total of 10 players a contract for the 2022 season, each of whom are listed below.

  • 1B Jesus Aguilar
  • RHP Pablo Lopez
  • INF Joey Wendle
  • C Jacob Stallings
  • 3B Brian Anderson 
  • OF Garrett Cooper
  • RHP Dylan Floro
  • RHP Elieser Hernandez
  • LHP Richard Bleier
  • INF Jon Berti

With those 10 players tendered contracts, could the Marlins be interested in signing any of the other notable players who were non-tendered around baseball on Tuesday?

The Miami Marlins should consider signing Richard Rodriguez

If there is one non-tendered player from Tuesday that the Marlins should consider signing, it’s right-hander Richard Rodriguez.

The Marlins will likely be looking for bullpen help as one of the their next notable moves, and when looking for experienced late-inning options who will likely be fairly cheap, there are arguably few better than Rodriguez.

The 31-year-old right-hander was non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday afternoon after being acquired by the club at the July 30th trade deadline. Pitching a total of 26 innings with Atlanta from August to the end of the regular season, Rodriguez posted a 3.12 ERA with the Braves before being left-off Atlanta’s postseason roster.

Acquired from Pittsburgh at the deadline, Rodriguez served as the Pirates closer for the first-half of the 2021 season posting a 2.82 ERA with 14 saves across 37 appearances. Holding a career 3.28 ERA across five major league seasons, Rodriguez is second-year arb eligible, and would be an intriguing move for Miami to potentially make if they’re looking for bullpen depth.

Yes, the Miami Marlins could make a big splash for a closer this offseason. However, if the Marlins are looking to acquire a cheaper late-inning arm who can close games if needed, signing Rodriguez is a move that Miami should consider.

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