Various Miami Marlins notes

Yesterday was a big day for the Miami Marlins, long-time SS Miguel Rojas has been traded and The Fis now have a new SS of the future in Jacob Amaya. Will he start the 2023 season as the starting SS? There may be another contender... In the meantime the Rojas trade may have been even better than expected and a previously designated for assignment player is now back on the team. Let's get started...

A lot of news about the Miami Marlins in the last few days.

If you remember, The Fish recently designated IF Charles Leblanc for assignment. It now appears that he wasn't claimed by anyone, and was outrighted to AAA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Leblanc was worth 0.7 WAR in 2022 and batted .263/.320/.404 in 48 games and 156 AB with 4 home runs and 11 RBI. The fact that he was already 26 years old hampered his market, as teams apparently didn't see much in him and didn't want to use a roster spot on him. Leblanc will be back as positional depth for the Miami Marlins during the 2023 season.

Former SS Miguel Rojas needs wrist surgery, this means that had the Miami Marlins not traded him, the team would have to be without him for the beginning of the season. This is interesting news, as it implies another reason for the trade. Rojas's age and wrist injury likely played a part in the trade that increasingly looks like a win for The Fish, and an overpay for the Los Angeles Dodgers. There is a question though... will Jacob Amaya start the season as The Fish's starting SS?

Reports indicate that Joey Wendle is likely to be the starting SS for The Fish come Opening Day. He actually looks like a better defensive SS than even NL Gold Glove contending Rojas! Wendle wasn't great with the bat in 2022, batting .259/.297/.360 with 3 home runs and 32 RBI in 101 games and 347 AB. He was however worth 2.4 WAR and batted .265/.319/.422 in 136 games and 460 AB in 2021 for the Tampa Bay Rays. It's possible that he'll be good at holding the fort down until Jacob Amaya is ready.