Marlins Pitching Update: Dunn, Rodriguez and Haren
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins may have come up short in the James Shields sweepstakes but there is still plenty to be excited about for the upcoming season.
With Spring Training less than two weeks away, the Marlins may still have a move or two left up their sleeve.
On Sunday it was reported by Joe Frisaro of MLB.com that Miami had reached out to agent Scott Boras, who represents veteran closer Francisco 'K-Rod' Rodriguez.
Nothing is imminent, but #Marlins have touched base w/ Scott Boras about K-Rod. Club may revisit.
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) February 8, 2015
Rodriguez, 33, is currently a free agent and is coming off of a very good season with the Brewers in which he saved 44 games with an ERA of 3.04 in 68.0 innings pitched and was selected to the MLB All-Star Game.
Should Rodriguez join the Marlins it wouldn't be as a closer since Miami already has Steve Cishek. However, adding a proven veteran arm to the back of the bullpen would only further solidify the unit.
Speaking of the Marlins bullpen, the team avoided arbitration with left-handed reliever Mike Dunn and signed the 29-year-old to a two-year deal worth $5.8 million. He'll earn $2.35 million in 2015 and $3.45 million in 2016.
The contract buys out Dunn's two remaining arbitration years, setting him up to be an unrestricted free agent in 2016.
Dunn has been a mainstay in the Marlins bullpen over the past several years. He's appeared in at least 60 games in four straight seasons and has surpassed 75 in the last two.
In 2014 Dunn pitched 57.0 innings for Miami, posting a 3.16 ERA to go with 10.6 K/9 and a career-best 3.5 BB/9.
One final pitching note that came from Marlins GM Dan Jennings over the weekend. While appearing on SiriusXM with Jim Bowden, Jennings said that Dan Haren is getting ready for spring training with his new team and is looking forward to being a part of the Marlins.
That's a big change from most of what we've heard out of Haren's camp since he was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the Dee Gordon deal.
Haren had asked the Marlins to trade him to a team on the west coast so that he could be closer to his family, and at one point was even considering retirement if he couldn't stay close to home.
It seems that as Spring Training has gotten closer and players have started working out in preparation for the new season, Haren may have reconsidered so that he can continue playing baseball for what appears to be a very good team.
That, and the $10 million salary that he's set to make in 2015.
Should Haren indeed pitch for the Marlins this season, he'll join a rotation that includes Mat Latos, Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart and Tom Koehler.
Miami is expecting to get star pitcher Jose Fernandez back in the rotation sometime between June 15th and July 15th as well.
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