Miami Marlins make decisions on arbitration-eligible players and add two power bats

The Miami Marlins on Monday tendered contract offers to two pitchers, released their other arbitration-eligible player and added two power-hitting position players they hope can help fortify their offense that was among the worst in baseball last year.

It all adds up to the Marlins continuing their plan to bolster their roster without having to sacrifice much from their improved farm system.

Starting pitcher Jose Urena and Adam Conley were tendered contracts. Infielder JT Riddle are now free agents.

And the two big bats: Former Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jesus Aguilar claimed off waivers and Baltimore Orioles infielder Jonathan Villar acquired for minor-league pitcher Easton Lucas.

Villar and Aguilar have combined for 141 home runs over their careers and will bolster a lineup that finished 2019 last in slugging percentage (.375), on-base plus slugging (.673) and home runs (146) while also finishing second-to-last in runs scored (615).

In addition to non-tendering Riddle, the Marlins designated relief pitcher Tayron Guerrero for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Urena, a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher who made $4 million last season, was the club’s Opening Day starter each of the past two seasons but finished 2019 as a late-inning reliever after suffering a herniated disc in his lower back midway through the season. Urena went 4-10 with a 5.21 ERA, 62 strikeouts and three saves over 24 appearances (13 starts).

Questions still remain about what Urena’s future role would be for the 2020 season. Barring injuries or a surprise trade or free agent signing, Sandy Alcantara and Caleb Smith will likely hold down the top two spots of Miami’s starting rotation heading into the season. Following them will probably be some three-person combination of Urena, Pablo Lopez, Jordan Yamamoto, Elieser Hernandez, Robert Dugger, Nick Neidert and Urena.

Top prospects Sixto Sanchez and Edward Cabrera will likely start the season in Triple A Wichita and be mid-season call-ups.

Urena for his career has a 4.57 ERA, a 32-43 record and 391 strikeouts against 195 walks over 573 2/3 innings. He put together solid seasons in 2017 (14-7 record, 3.82 ERA in 34 games and 28 starts) and 2018 (9-12 record, 3.98 ERA in 31 starts) before injuries hampered his 2019 campaign.

Aguilar, a 29-year-old right-handed hitter, has hit 63 home runs over the past three seasons and was a 2018 All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers when he belted out 35 home runs and drove in 108 runs while hitting .274.

Villar, 28 and a Dominican Republic native, had a .274 batting average last season with career-highs in home runs (24), runs scored (111) and RBI (73) to go along with 33 doubles and 40 stolen bases. He was one of five players to play all 162 games in 2019. Second base and shortstop have been Villar’s primary positions, but he can also play third base.

For his career, which includes stints with the Houston Astros (2013-2015), Milwaukee Brewers (2016-2018) and Orioles (2018-2019), Villar has a .261 batting average, 78 home runs, 381 runs scored, 268 RBI and 202 stolen bases. He led MLB with 62 stolen bases in 2016.

Aguilar and Villar will complement a Marlins lineup that should be centered around third baseman/right fielder Brian Anderson, shortstop Miguel Rojas and catcher Jorge Alfaro. The Marlins hope Isan Diaz will improve upon his rookie-year struggles to become a mainstay at second base as well.

Garrett Cooper, who entered the offseason as the Marlins’ presumed favorite to start at first base, will likely either split time with Aguilar at first base or play primarily in a corner outfield spot.

While Urena and Conley have been tendered, that does not mean they have a finalized contract. The Marlins have until Jan. 10 to agree to a deal with both players. Otherwise, each party has to submit what they believe the player deserves to be paid for the 2020 season and an arbitration meeting will take place at some point between Feb. 3 and Feb. 21.

MLB Trade Rumors projects Urena to be owed $4 million for the 2020 season.

Conley is projected to be owed $1.6 million, and the Marlins are hoping for a rebound season should he remain on the roster.

The 29-year-old lefty, who began his career as a starter before moving to the bullpen full-time ahead of the 2018 season, went 2-11 with a career-worst 6.53 ERA in 60 relief appearances while striking out 53 batters and walking 29 over 60 2/3 innings.

Villar is projected to be owed $10.4 million, and Aguilar is slated for $2.5 million.

Riddle, 28, began the season expected to split time at shortstop with Miguel Rojas. However, poor production early in the season (.156 batting average, 11 strikeouts in 32 plate appearances over 15 games) resulted in him being optioned to Triple A on April 16. He returned to the Marlins on May 31, played 36 games as a center fielder and then ended the season on the injured list with a right forearm strain.

Riddle had a few big moments this season, notably hitting the go-ahead home run in the Marlins’ 7-6, 11-inning win over the St. Louis Cardinals on June 20.

But consistency at the plate plagued him.

Riddle has a career .229 batting average with 18 home runs, 63 runs scored, 79 RBI and 159 strikeouts in 668 at-bats over 223 games with the Marlins.

Guerrero finishes his Marlins tenure with a 5.77 ERA over 113 relief appearances that spanned 106 innings. He struck out 111 batters in that span and has a triple-digit fastball, but command was his weak point and ultimately cost him his job.

Lucas was the Marlins’ 14th-round pick in the 2019 draft out of Pepperdine. He spent all but one game in his first professional season with the Marlins’ short-season Class A affiliate, the Batavia Muckdogs. The 6-foot-4 lefty posted a 3.98 ERA over 12 appearances (nine starts), striking out 40 and holding hitters to a .222 batting average in 31 2/3 innings of work.