Marlins purchase veteran nearer Robertson from Mets

MIAMI — The Marlins added one other high-leverage choice to their bullpen by buying Mets nearer David Robertson for prospects Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernández late Thursday evening. Miami will decide up the remaining $3.5 million nonetheless owed to Robertson this season, in line with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

Robertson is 14-for-17 in save alternatives in 2023, with a 2.05 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 40 appearances. His Statcast percentile rankings are nicely above common throughout the board: fastball spin (one hundredth), xERA (92nd), xBA (89th) and barrel share (83rd).

The 15-year MLB veteran has 172 profession saves, together with one within the 2022 World Series as a member of the Phillies. Robertson joins Jorge Soler and Yuli Gurriel as members of the roster with a World Series ring (’09 Yankees). His 40 profession postseason appearances rank second amongst lively gamers, trailing solely Kenley Jansen.

“[The Marlins have] got a lot of talent, too,” Robertson advised reporters in New York. “All you’ve got to do is get in. Twelve teams get in. Get a ticket to the dance, see what happens. Look at us with Philly last year: We were not the best team, but we got hot at the right time and almost won a World Series.”

The 38-year-old instantly bolsters the aid corps, which wanted extra right-handed high-leverage arms. A.J. Puk, Tanner Scott, Steven Okert and Andrew Nardi, who ought to return from the injured checklist quickly, are all southpaws. JT Chargois and Huascar Brazoban are righties.

For a membership just like the Marlins that performs loads of shut and low-scoring video games, strengthening the bullpen helps shorten them. After posting a 3.87 xFIP (third in MLB) and three.2 WAR (ninth) within the first half, Miami’s relievers have struggled within the second half with a 4.29 xFIP (fifteenth) and -0.1 WAR (twenty fourth). The Marlins are half a sport out of an NL Wild Card spot regardless of dropping 9 of their 11 video games for the reason that All-Star break.

In trade for Robertson, a rental piece with an expiring contract, the Marlins shipped 18-year-old infielder Vargas (No. 18 prospect) and 19-year-old catcher Hernández (No. 21). Both are enjoying within the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

“It’s not been the funnest part of the year, that’s for sure,” Robertson stated about being the topic of commerce rumors. “No offense to you guys, however if you are available in and everybody’s asking the place you are going and what’re your ideas, it is so much to cope with, and nonetheless go on the market and compete in between the traces, understanding that you simply won’t be on this workforce for very lengthy.

“I’ve just tried to deal with it and stay calm and collected and make pitches and do what I’m supposed to do on the team that’s paying me to play for them. Now, I’m being moved, and I’m going to go down and enjoy my time in Miami, and join another group of guys that are trying to win ballgames.”

This marks the third time this week Miami has acquired a reliever. On Wednesday, the membership swapped Dylan Floro for Minnesota righty Jorge López, who has one last 12 months of arbitration. He is taken into account a bounceback candidate with a change of surroundings due to his excessive upside. On Tuesday, the Marlins acquired lefty José Castillo from the Padres in trade for money issues, then optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville.