Miami Marlins rumors: New closer?

According to a recent report, Alex Reyes is receiving serious interest from the Miami Marlins. This comes after reports came out that we were in on two hitters and have a third baseman in our sights as well. The bullpen remains an important area to address, so it makes sense that we would be looking for help there. Reyes could either replace Dylan Floro as the closer, or be a set-up man for him. Will we actually sign him? I think that we can certainly afford him.

Will the Miami Marlins add Alex Reyes to the bullpen?

Alex Reyes struggled with injuries throughout his career. Once a top pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals system, he debuted in the a 1.57 ERA in 46 innings in 2016. Reyes was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery the that off-season. TJS and rehab after icost Reyes the entire 2017 season. He only made one in 2018 and only four times in the Majors in 2019.

St. Louis moved him around between the Majors and Minors in 2020,  but he was finally back in the Majors for good in 2021. Converted to full-time relief, Reyes delivered 72 1/3 of 3.24 ERA ball. He had a 1.52 ERA in the first half, but a 5.52 ERA in the 31 innings of the . second half with an alarmingly high home run rate. He then gave up the game-winning homer in St. Louis’s NL Wild Card playoff game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

St. Louis non-tendered Reyes at the end of the 2022 season, that he completely missed due to injury. He isn’t expected to be back on a Major League mound until May 2023. Alex Reyes averages around 97 MPH on his fastball and he had success as a closer for St. Louis. The Miami Marlins could definitely use him in our bullpen.

How much would he cost us? Not much. An incentive-laden deal for two years or so, maybe even three makes a lot of sense for both sides. Reyes would be a great fit in the late innings for the Miami Marlins. There will be a competition for his services, but I doubt that he will have a better opportunity than here, where he has friends among our players already.