Marlins finalize 1-year deals with Joyce, Kintzler
MIAMI -- A couple of veterans who project to take on significant roles for the Marlins in 2020 are now officially signed.
On Monday, the club announced the signings of free agent reliever Brandon Kintzler and outfielder Matt Joyce. The news was expected, as both recently came to terms with the club, pending completion of their physicals.
To create 40-man roster space, the Marlins designated left-handed relievers Jos¨¦ Quijada and Jarlin Garc¨ªa for assignment.
Spring Training opens for Miami with pitchers and catchers¡¯ workouts on Feb. 12 at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.
Kintzler immediately becomes the front-runner to be the Marlins¡¯ closer. His deal is worth $3.25 million, and there is a club option for 2021 for $4 million, with a $250,000 buyout.
Joyce, a left-handed hitter, has a big league contract, which means he already is on the 40-man roster, and he is a strong candidate to make the Opening Day roster.
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Parting with Garc¨ªa is somewhat surprising because the left-hander had been one of Miami¡¯s more effective relievers in 2019, logging 50 2/3 innings while posting a 3.02 ERA.
The left-hander was an international signee by the Marlins in 2010. A native of the Dominican Republic, Garc¨ªa made his MLB debut in 2017, and he has been used as a starter and a reliever in his big league tenure. He made each of his seven starts in 2018.
Garc¨ªa also is out of options, meaning, if he didn¡¯t make the Opening Day roster, the Marlins couldn¡¯t start him off in the Minor Leagues.
Quijada, 24, had a 5.76 ERA in 34 appearances in 2019, his first year of MLB experience.
The Marlins could still trade Garc¨ªa and Quijada.
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The additions of Kintzler and Joyce pretty much complete the Marlins¡¯ offseason shopping. While the club could still make more moves, they will most likely be for non-roster invites on Minor League contracts.
The Marlins' top offseason priorities were upgrading the offense and bullpen, and these two signings certainly do that. Even if Joyce isn¡¯t a starter as a corner outfielder, the 35-year-old adds experience and depth.
Kintzler becomes the most significant offseason bullpen addition. The right-hander has 49 career saves, including 29 in 2017, when he was an All-Star with the Twins. He had one save that year with the Nationals, with the other 28 with him with Minnesota.
Kintzler has experience in high-leverage situations. Drew Steckenrider, who missed almost all of 2019 with right elbow inflammation, is another candidate to close.
With the Cubs in 2019, the right-hander had a 2.68 ERA in 57 innings.
Joyce, 35, was with the Braves in 2019, hitting .295/.408/.450 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. He broke in with the Tigers in 2008, and in parts of 12 big league seasons, he¡¯s a .243 hitter with 145 home runs and 482 RBIs. With the A¡¯s in 2017, Joyce had a career-high 25 homers.
When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster. Within seven days of the transaction (it had been 10 days under the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement), the player can either be traded or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.