Smeltzer signed a minor-league contract Wednesday with the Marlins, Andersen Pickard of Prime Time Sports Talk reports.
Smeltzer was pushed off the 40-man roster in Miami at the end of the regular season and then elected to become a free agent, but he is back as organizational depth for the 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old left-hander owns a career 4.32 ERA and 112:41 K:BB in 162.1 career major-league innings.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Will be stretched out this spring
Rotowire
The Marlins plan to stretch Puk out during spring training as they consider him for a rotation spot, Isaac Azout of SBNation.com reports.
All 142 appearances for Puk at the major-league level have come in relief, but he initially began his pro career as a starter with the Athletics. At this point, it seems like a long shot that Puk can be healthy and effective as a starter, but the Marlins are at least willing to give it a test drive.
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Marlins' Kaleb Ort: Claimed by Miami
Rotowire
Miami claimed Ort (elbow) off waivers from the Mariners on Friday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Ort gave up 19 runs -- 16 earned -- over 23 major-league innings this past season, but he has always excelled in the minors and could perhaps find a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen if his health cooperates. The 31-year-old battled elbow trouble down the stretch in 2023.
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Marlins' Kyle Tyler: Inks minors contract with Miami
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Miami signed Tyler to a minor-league contract Thursday with an invitation to major-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Tyler spent the entire 2023 season with the Double-A affiliate of the Mariners and posted a rough 5.60 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 135 innings. The soon-to-be 27-year-old will function as organizational pitching depth for the Marlins leading into the 2024 campaign.
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Marlins' Ignacio Feliz: Gets chance with Miami
Rotowire
Feliz signed a minor-league deal with the Marlins on Nov. 19.
Feliz was released by Baltimore toward the close of the 2023 season after struggling across both High-A and Double-A. He'll get the chance to stick in a new organization, though his track record suggests he'll struggle to reach the majors.
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Marlins' Ryan Jensen: Claimed by Miami
Rotowire
The Marlins claimed Jensen off waivers from the Mariners on Monday.
Jensen had been designated for assignment by Seattle last week and has now found a new home. The 25-year-old right-hander held a 5.32 ERA and 78:54 K:BB over 64.1 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2023. He was deployed primarily as a reliever last season, but it's not whether the Marlins intend to continue using him out of the bullpen.
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Marlins' Calvin Faucher: Shipped to Miami
Rotowire
The Rays traded Faucher (biceps) to the Marlins alongside Vidal Brujan on Friday in exchange for Erick Lara, Andrew Lindsey and a player to be named later or cash.
After being DFA'd by the Rays on Tuesday, Faucher will now receive a new home with the Marlins. The 28-year-old righty put up a lowly 7.01 ERA and 1.68 WHIP through 25.2 big-league innings in 2023, and he ended the season on the 60-day injured list due to lingering biceps tendinitis.
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Marlins' Vidal Brujan: Traded to Marlins
Rotowire
The Rays traded Brujan to the Marlins alongside Calvin Faucher (biceps) on Friday in exchange for Erick Lara, Andrew Lindsey and a player to be named later or cash.
Brujan struggled during his multiple stints in the majors last season, but he put up a solid .272/.362/.477 slash line across 276 plate appearances in Triple-A. The 25-year-old will give the Marlins an organizational depth piece capable of fielding nearly every position.
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Marlins' Tristan Gray: Signs on with Marlins
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Gray signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Friday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
It's the first transaction made by new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. The former Rays executive is familiar with Gray from his time in Tampa Bay, where the 27-year-old went 2-for-5 with a home run during a short stint in the majors. Gray has hit 30-plus home runs each of the last two seasons at the Triple-A level while also striking out at a 31.7 percent rate. He'll presumably receive an invitation to major-league spring training.
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Marlins' Victor Mesa: Receives 40-man spot
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The Marlins added Mesa to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Mesa spent all of 2023 with Double-A Pensacola, slashing .241/.307/.411 with 18 homers and 76 RBI. The 22-year-old outfielder is no longer able to be taken in the Rule 5 Draft in December, and he could receive a bump to Triple-A Jacksonville in '24.
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Marlins' Anthony Maldonado: Shielded from Rule 5 Draft
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The Marlins added Maldonado to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Maldonado was dominant out of the bullpen for Triple-A Jacksonville last season, putting up a 1.76 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 71 batters in 46 innings. The 25-year-old righty has now put together two consecutive solid seasons at Triple-A, and Maldonado may only be a good spring away from a spot on Miami's Opening Day roster.
Nance (shoulder) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
He's no longer on the Marlins' 40-man roster but will stay in the organization. Nance missed a large chunk of the 2023 campaign with shoulder problems.
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Marlins' Jon Berti: Club option exercised
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The Marlins exercised Berti's $3.63 million team option for 2024 on Monday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Berti will stick around after slashing .294/.344/.405 with seven home runs and 16 steals over 133 games this season. The 33-year-old utility player offers the Marlins plenty of versatility, but they'll likely be hoping they won't need to use him as often in 2024 as they had to in 2023.
