The Marlins introduced Monday that they’ve optioned right-hander Max Meyer to Triple-A Jacksonville. He’ll be the corresponding transfer for the beforehand reported activation of fellow righty Edward Cabrera, who’s been on the injured listing with a proper shoulder impingement. MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola first reported that Meyer could be optioned to open a roster spot for Cabrera.
It’s a stunning transfer, given the Marlins’ struggles and Meyer’s excellence by way of his first three turns. The previous College of Minnesota standout, No. 3 total draft decide and high prospect has been excellent in his first large league motion since getting back from 2022’s Tommy John surgical procedure. In 17 innings, Meyer touts a 2.12 ERA; he’s surrendered simply 4 runs on 11 hits and three walks with 14 punchouts and a 48.9% ground-ball charge.
Heading into the season, Meyer wasn’t anticipated to interrupt camp with a rotation spot. Spring accidents to Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Eury Perez modified that calculus and put the 25-year-old Meyer again onto the rotation radar. Nothing he’s performed this season takes away from his promising long-term outlook, however the Fish additionally plan to be aware of his workload and restrict his innings in his first 12 months again from that UCL reconstruction process.
Be that as it might, the optics of the transfer aren’t nice. The Marlins have solely received three video games this season, and Meyer has began two of them. He’s been each glorious and extremely environment friendly, topping out at 91 pitches in his most up-to-date begin, which included six innings of one-run ball towards a juggernaut Braves lineup. It’s simpler to handle his innings on the minor league degree, however given the overarching struggles of the Marlins’ large league roster, optioning one among their lone vibrant spots is more durable to justify.
It needs to be famous that it’s unlikely the choice to choice Meyer was overly motivated by service time. He entered the 12 months at 1.082 years of service, that means he wanted simply 90 days on the lively roster or large league injured listing as a way to attain two years of service and stay on observe free of charge company following the 2028 season. He’s picked up 17 days of service already, so except the Marlins are planning to maintain him in Jacksonville for as many as 95 extra days this season, his free agent timeline will probably be unchanged. One would think about he’ll rejoin the large league rotation before later.
Miami definitely had different paths to contemplate when opening a spot for Cabrera’s return. Struggling high starter Jesus Luzardo was by no means going to be despatched down, however reliever-turned-starter A.J. Puk has struggled mightily in his first three journeys to the mound. Even when they understandably didn’t need to surrender on that experiment but, lefties Trevor Rogers and Ryan Weathers have each demonstrated worrying command points.
A six-man rotation would additionally make some sense, creating an natural technique of limiting not solely Meyer’s workload but in addition these of Rogers and Puk — each of whom have innings considerations as nicely. Rogers pitched simply 27 innings final season on account of damage. Puk tossed simply 59 1/3 innings final 12 months whereas working as a reliever; his 66 2/3 innings in 2022 had been his most for the reason that 2017 season when he was nonetheless working as a full-time starter within the A’s minor league ranks.
