The Marlins have announced a whopping 11 changes to their roster ahead of today’s game against the Phillies. Right-hander Max Meyer And Calvin Faucher were all placed on the 15-day injured list, with Meyer being placed on the injured list retroactively to September 4 due to right shoulder bursitis and Faucher being placed on the injured list retroactively to September 5 due to right shoulder impingement syndrome. Derek Hill was also placed on the 10-day IL retroactively to September 5th because the outfielder is suffering from an impairment of his left shoulder. Left-handed Andrew NardiThe season is officially over after he was placed on the 60-day injured list, while left-hander Austin Kitchen was developed for assignment and right-handed Anthony Maldonado was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville.
With the departures complete, here is the list of players joining Miami’s active roster. Right-handed Anthony Bender was reinstated from the 15-day IL, and right-handed Georgios Soriano And Lake Bachar were called up from Triple-A. Left-handers also come from Jacksonville Jonathan Bermudez and all-rounder Javier Sanojawhose contracts included a spot on the major league roster. Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base reported (via X) today that Sanoja was promoted for his major league debut, while Isaac Azout of Fish On First originally reported (links to X) that Meyer was going to the IL and that Bermudez and Bachar would be promoted.
Meyer was scheduled to start Sunday but will now be placed on the injured list, the latest in a seemingly never-ending string of injuries among Miami starters. More will be announced on Meyer’s situation throughout the day, but it stands to reason that the Marlins could take the 25-year-old out of the game both because of that injury concern and the club’s overall plan to limit Meyer’s workload this season. Between 57 innings at the major league level and 58 innings at the minor league level, Meyer has done a pretty good job of rebuilding his arm strength after missing all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery.
As for on-field results, Meyer has a 5.68 ERA in his 57 frames on the show. His 50% grounder rate is very strong and his 7.7% walk rate is about league average, but he has allowed a lot of hard contact and struck out just 18.5% of opposing batters. Such difficulties are not unexpected for a player getting extended MLB experience for the first time, as Meyer’s only major league experience before this season was a two-game cup of coffee in 2022 before his TJ procedure.
In addition to Meyer, it’s worth speculating whether Faucher or Hill could also be out for the rest of 2024, given that the date is so late. The Marlins have reached out to Nardi, who went on the 15-day IL just a few weeks ago, and managers in that direction. Skip Schumaker seemed optimistic at the time of the 15-day placement about the chances of Nardi returning before the end of September. Instead, Nardi’s season is over after he posted a 5.07 ERA over 49 2/3 innings, although a number of impressive Statcast metrics and a 2.79 SIERA indicate that Nardi has been among the league’s unluckier pitchers.
Faucher has been one of the few bright spots for Miami this season, as the right-hander has overcome a .345 BABIP and many walks to post a 3.19 ERA and a 26.8% strikeout rate in 53 2/3 relief innings. The Marlins decided against trading Faucher despite their many trades at the trade deadline and instead used him as a closer after Tanner Scott was traded to the Padres.
Soriano’s lone save makes him the only player on Miami’s active roster to have any saves at all this season, so the Marlins could put a committee in charge of the ninth inning for the rest of the season. Bender (in only his third MLB season) has the most experience of any player in Miami’s bullpen and could be the favorite to close games after recovering from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for the past four weeks. Bender has a 49.2% grounder rate and above-average strikeout and walk rates, and is another Marlins pitcher whose real-world ERA (4.00) doesn’t quite reflect how well he pitched in 2024.
Bermudez returns to the major leagues after being optioned to a position and then released last week. He will take the 40-man roster spot vacated by Kitchen, who is also on the DFA list for the second time this season. The left-hander was optioned by the Rockies in June and then quickly snatched up by Miami on waivers.
Kitchen made his major league debut on July 30th and has only a 14.14 ERA in his seven innings and four games as a major leaguer. Six of his 11 earned runs came yesterday in Miami’s 16-2 loss to the Phillies, as Kitchen had to start on short notice when Edward Cabrera was temporarily removed from the roster due to migraine symptoms. Kitchen is a grounder specialist with good control, and while he pitched fairly well in the minors, his lack of strikeout performance could limit his effectiveness against MLB hitters.
Hill has hit .238/.262/.427 in 151 batting appearances with the Marlins, Giants and Rangers this season, with the 151 PA representing a new career high in Hill’s five seasons with the show. He began the year on a minors deal with Texas, then went to the Giants for a brief stint after being claimed off waivers, and Miami claimed him off waivers again just over a month ago. The Marlins had a lot of holes to fill in the outfield after their trade deadline trade, and Hill took advantage with regular work in center field and some appearances in left field.
Signed internationally by the Marlins in July 2019, Sanoja has proven to be an extreme contact hitter in four minor league seasons, with just 136 strikeouts in 1783 PA in Miami’s farm system. A lack of power has limited Sanoja’s opportunities with that contact, but thanks to his speed and knack for getting the bat to the ball, he hit .291/.354/.431 in 492 Triple-A PA in 2024. Sanoja stole 83 bases on 126 attempts in the minors, so there’s additional baserunning potential there if Sanoja can make his steal rate more efficient. Defensively, Sanoja is considered the best fit as a second baseman, but he’s such a good fielder that he can play all over the field, so that versatility gives him a better chance of staying in the show.
The Marlins will likely use Sanoja at multiple positions during his time on the roster, although the team probably wishes he could throw given their greater need on the mound. Some reinforcements could come before the end of the season, as Ryan Weathers And Braxton Garrett have both begun rehab assignments in the minor leagues. Neither pitcher has pitched since June, as Weathers is dealing with a sprained finger and Garrett is dealing with a strained flexor muscle in his left forearm.
