Four Bargain Bin Relievers the Miami Marlins should Target in Free Agency
Can the Marlins bolster their pen?
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The Miami Marlins enter the 2023 Winter Meetings with several glaring needs. While their bullpen will draw less attention than other positions, the Fish would benefit greatly from an infusion of talent to their unit of relief pitchers.
Closer Tanner Scott seems to have established himself as the clear bullpen leader and 9th-inning option. If he holds to his 2023 form, the Marlins should feel good about their closer situation.
However, beyond Scott, the club is void of upper-tier talent. David Robertson, who struggled mightily during his short 2023 Miami tenure, is no longer with the club. AJ Puk is plauged with consistency issues. And players like Andrew Nardi and Steven Okert are unproven.
All of this led to Miami ranking in the bottom third in bullpen ERA last season. It is an issue that new team President Peter Bendix and company must address.
Thankfully, several realistic targets are floating around MLB's free agency pool. Which of these names is the best fit for Miami's bullpen? Let's discuss!
4) Matt Moore
Furthermore, the veteran pitcher has carved out a role as a very solid relief pitcher in the twilight of his great MLB career. Over the past two seasons, Moore has posted ERAs of 1.95 (2022) and 2.56. The lefty is a perfect fit as a high-leverage setup man behind Tanner Scott.
This is the easiest layup on our list! Moore, who joined Miami's roster at the end of their 2023 postseason run, is already familair with the club's management, players, and clubhouse.
3) Jordan Hicks
Jordan Hicks' metrics are fascinating. On one hand, the veteran reliever has the profile of a dominate weapon. His blistering fastball is one of the fastest in the history of baseball. In fact, two of his pitches are on the list of top 10 ever recorded.
He is also coming off a season in which he posted a solid 3.29 ERA, including a 2.63 mark after being traded to Toronto at the 2023 trade deadline. With a projected market value of just $3.4 per season, Hicks feels like a true value in this class of free agent relievers.
However, for all of Hicks' strengths, he also has several notable flaws. First is his control issues (Hicks holds a 1.299 career WHIP).
Next is his track record of inconsistency. After a stellar 2019 campaign in which Hicks seemingly became the St. Louis Cardinals best bullpen weapon, things began to come to a halt after the righty reliever missed the 2020 COVID season. Hicks would post a dreadful 5.40 ERA in very limited action in 2021, followed up by a concerning 4.84 ERA in 2022.
At his best, Hicks is a dangerous weapon with closer upside. While he does carry a level of risk, his low price point and rebound numbers in 2023 make him a sensible target for a team like the Miami Marlins.
2) Yuki Matsui
Matsui is the biggest unknown in this free agency class. While fellow Japanese stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga will retain the bulk of the attention in free agency, Matsui represents a skilled reliever who could help any club's bullpen.
The 10-year NPL veteran holds a career 2.40 ERA and 1.108 WHIP and has 236 saves on his impressive resume. According to SB Nation, his most recent three seasons, in which he holds a stellar 1.42 ERA and 0.882 WHIP and 95 saves in 152 innings, have been especially dominant.
The 28-year-old lefty boasts an effective fastball (averaging 93 MPH with a max of 96), and a dangerous off-speed splitter. His slider should also translate to MLB, giving him at least three useful pitches.
Matsui's market value is difficult to assess. However, should he fall in a comparable price range as the others on this list, he is another low-risk, high-upside option for Miami's bullpen in 2023 and beyond.
1) Hector Neris
Aside from All-Star Josh Hader, Hector Neris represents one of the best relievers anywhere in the pool for free agents. While the veteran's resume of void of traditional metrics like All-Star appearances, or Reliever of the Year honors, Neris has clearly established himself as one of the premiere setup men in baseball.
In his 10-year MLB career, Neris holds a 3.24 ERA with 676 strikeouts and 89 saves. Most recently in 2023, the veteran was nearly untouchable with a sparkling 1.71 ERA across 68.1 innings of high-leverage relief innings with the Houston Astros.
Not only that, but Neris also has heaps of experience on baseball's biggest stages. He was a member of Houston's 2022 World Series Championship team and has pitched 14.1 relief innings over 15 postseason games in his career.
This combination of veteran leadership, on-field success, and postseason experience makes Neris a perfect target for Miami. He would immediately become a top-tier setup man behind Scott while providing potential saves on off days or in the event of an injury.
Neris' price tag will be high. Spotrac has his projected annual salary set at $7.6 million per season. However, the fact that the reliever declines an $8.5 million player option is a clear indication that he hopes to make closer to $10 million in 2024.
However, Neris, who would only require a short term deal, is still a viable top target for a Miami bullpen in great need of his services. The veteran righty would immediately bolster a Marlins' bullpen that ranked in the bottom third in reliever ERA in 2023.
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