Relievers Carlos Marmol and Pat Neshek have signed with the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively. Marmol received a one year major league deal worth $1.25, reports Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com. Neshek agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, according to Keith Olbermann of ESPN.com.
The 31 year-old Marmol posted a 17.8 percent walk rate in 52 appearances with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, and saw his ERA climb to 4.41, his highest mark since becoming a reliever. Marmol has dealt with control issues in every year of his major league career, and his 15.7 percent walk rate is one of the highest in major league history.
Still, Marmol is very difficult to hit, as shown by a 29.7 percent career strikeout rate and a .183 batting average against. He’s largely retained his fastball velocity, and it averaged 93.7 miles per hour in 2013. His slider, which he throws on half his pitches, is very difficult to hit, and overall he had an 11.0 percent swinging strike rate in 2013, which matched his career average.
In addition, the Marlins signed right-hander Chaz Roe to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, reports Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors. Roe was recently designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers.
The 27 year old right-hander struggled with his control in his major league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks, walking 13.7 percent of hitters in 21 appearances. He did manage to strikeout out 25.3 percent of hitters, and features a slider that is tough on righties.
Since managing a 2.68 ERA and a 30.5 percent strikeout rate between 2006-07, the 33 year old Neshek has dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness. In 2013, he managed a 3.35 ERA in 40.1 innings with the Oakland Athletics, but with a poor 4.66 FIP and a strikeout rate of just 16.4 percent.
For his carer, Neshek has been very tough on right-handed hitters, holding them to a .181/.257/.315 line in 555 plate appearances with a 26.7 percent strikeout rate. Left-handed hitters have fared much better, hitting .237/.328/.432 against the sidewinder.
He’ll have a tough time making the Opening Day roster, as the Cardinals have a deep bullpen, and second year man Seth Maness did an admirable job against righties in 2013.
