Miami Marlins sign free agents INF Erik Gonzalez, RHP Aneurys Zabala
By Matt Melton

The Miami Marlins have made two more offseason moves as the club has signed infielder Erik Gonzalez and right-hander Aneurys Zabala to minor league deals.
Miami Marlins sign free agents INF Erik Gonzalez, RHP Aneurys Zabala
Arguably the most-notable signing of the two is Gonzalez, a 30-year-old infielder who spent the 2021 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Appearing in a total of 71 games with the Pirates, Gonzalez slashed a combined .232/.258/.300 with two home runs, 21 RBI’s, and two stolen bases. In what was the largest single-season sample-size of his six-year career, Gonzalez posted career-low’s in categories such as OPS+ and WAR, but also a career-low 17.5 K%.
A career .245/.276/.345 hitter, Gonzalez has spent time with two different organizations as the veteran was with Cleveland from 2009-2018 (reached big leagues in 2016) before joining the Pirates from 2019-2021.
Gonzalez has seen time almost everywhere defensively, but has an extensive amount of experience at shortstop, third base, and second base in particular, with a majority of his time with Pittsburgh in 2021 coming at third base.
Zabala on the other hand spent the 2021 season in the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he made a combined 33 appearances between High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading. Across those 33 appearances, the right-hander pitched a total of 42.2 innings that included a 3-5 record with a 6.75 ERA and three saves, as well as 17 walks and 63 strikeouts.
A 24-year-old right-hander, Zabala has spent time in the Mariners, Dodgers, and Reds’ organizations dating back to 2014 where he holds a career 5.32 ERA across 171 career minor league appearances. While the right-hander has struggled at times throughout his career with command, Zabala showed improvement in that area in 2021, as well as a career-high 13.3 K/9.
Next. Marlins sign free agent Ray-Patrick Didder. dark
Both signed to minor league deals, Gonzalez and Zabala were both assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville where they will likely begin the 2022 season.