Miami Marlins make another move, but it's again not solving the real issues

The Fish keep making depth moves but doing nothing on important fronts

Kent Emanuel
Kent Emanuel | Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages

The Miami Marlins need a DH as well as a SS. With Spring Training around the corner, I'm becoming more alarmed about the situation. So far, The Fish have not signed anyone to a Major League deal, ultimately just signing players for depth. The latest signing is of another depth pitcher. Who is Kent Emanuel? He's a 31 year old lefty who will be used as a depth pitcher for The Fish.

Who is Kent Emanuel and will he actually help out the Miami Marlins?

Don't get me wrong, it's very important to have depth pitchers. Injuries happen and the last thing that any team wants is to run out of usful pitchers. That said, every new Miami Marlins signing is reminding us that Peter Bendix is yet to fix the holes at DH and SS. As I said earlier, Spring Training is right around the corner and it's becoming increasingly worrying.

Kent last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2021 with the Houston Astros. He produced a 2.55 ERA/5.49 FIP, with 6.6 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 10 games and 17.2 innings pitched. He pitched strictly as a relief pitcher during that season. In 2023 he pitched in AAA for the Philadelphia Phillies, this time he produced a 6.12 ERA in 85.1 innings pitched, with 8.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.

There's a lot to unpack here. He was already 29 years old in his Major League debut and will be 31 to start the season, and 32 in June. The ERA in 2021 was great, but the FIP was obviously very alarming. His results in the Minors are a bit different.... The ERA is abysmal, but the strikeout rate and control are very promising. Considering he's a Minor League signing, he doesn't cost a lot and definitely has some upside to offer.

The Miami Marlins definitely could use more depth. A lot of teams could always use it. That said, while this was a good signing, The Fish need a DH and a SS. That should be the team's priority, and while I'm sure Peter Bendix is working on it, time seems to no longer be on our side.

Schedule