The Miami Marlins have seen enough of Carlos Marmol for the year, as the team designated him for assignment. Henry Rodriguez has been called up to replace him on the roster.
The Miami Marlins have officially moved on from the Carlos Marmol era in Miami. After the latest bullpen meltdown in last night's difficult loss to the San Diego Padres, the team designated Marmol for assignment. Marmol suffered a four-run inning that blew the game wide open, including giving up a three-run home run to Chase Headley. After the game, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweeted the initial report.
#marlins will designate Carlos marmot for assignment on sunday, Redmond said
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) May 11, 2014The Marlins gave Marmol a $1.1 million contract prior to the 2014 season in the hopes of having him stabilize the bullpen, but the ugly 2013 season that Marmol had continued to follow him early in 2014. He posted a 8.10 ERA and 6.32 FIP thanks to a declining strikeout rate (21.2 percent), continued walks, and three early home runs to begin the year. Marmol also gave up 16 hits in 13 1/3 innings and put up an early .342 BABIP. Given his history of poor play from the start of the year, Miami must have figured that Marmol had little left in the tank, even at age 31, and let himg o.
This is not the first time Miami has given up earlier than expected on a Major League bullpen signing. Last year, the Marlins signed Jon Rauch to a one-year deal prior to the season, but only lasted 16 2/3 innings with a 7.56 ERA (and acceptable peripherals) before the team released him early last year. Rauch lasted only until May 17 before being let go, but Marmol could barely make it out of April before being let go.
The Marlins' bullpen has been a disaster thus far this season, but Marmol has been among the worst parts, and prior to the year, it did not appear as though the team really needed any additional bullpen help. The early going has been difficult, but the Marlins have some minor league depth in the pen and could turn to one of those names for assistance in place of Marmol. The team will determine a roster replacement today before the 4 PM EST start of the series finale with the Padres.
Marmol had a professional response to the move upon announcement.
"Couldn't get people out," Marmol said. "I did the best I could, but it didn't work out good. It's tough. You try to do your best and it didn't work out."
The possible replacements from the Triple-A roster include Dan Jennings and Arquimedes Caminero, both of whom have been on the roster earlier in the regular season.