*Photo from Reviewing the Brew*
With Starling Marte traded last summer and an offense in need of a jolt, the Miami Marlins filled two needs at once. The Marlins and OF Avisail Garcia have agreed to a 4 year, $53 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Marlins have confirmed the deal.
The Marlins outfield has been particularly weak in recent years, especially following the trade deadline in 2021. The signing of Garcia gives the Marlins outfield a jolt of offense, the additional everyday player they desperately need, and above average defense. All of those ingredients made it necessary for the Marlins to give Garcia the largest contract signed by a free agent by the current ownership group.
Marlins GM Kim Ng said of signing Garcia that "Avi is a very good, multidimensional player. He can hit, hit for power, he can play defense, has a great arm. And those are all the things that really led us to him, one of the most impactful outfield bats on the free-agent market this year."
Garcia is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2021. Garcia ended the season with a .262 batting average and an .820 OPS, hitting 29 home runs and driving in 86 runs, with 18 doubles in 135 games played. Garcia had two hits in 16 at bats in 4 playoff games in 2021, a loss in the NLDS to the Atlanta Braves.
In 10 big league seasons, split between 4 teams, Garcia has a .270 batting average with a .756 OPS, mashing 127 home runs and driving in 475 runs, slugging .431 and stealing 45 bases in 951 regular season games. In 23 career playoff games, Garcia has one home run and 7 RBI's, with 18 total hits in 66 at bats, good for a .273 batting average.
On the defensive side of the equation, the arm strength Garcia possesses is one of the best in baseball. According to statcast, he has a -2 OAA in right field in 2021, suggesting his defense took a slight step back. He did produce 8 DRS in right field, according to Baseball Info Solutions. He can also play center field in addition to right, which can fill multiple needs for the Marlins.
Garcia said of his fit in Miami that "I'm the kind of guy who likes to play hard. I always do my best every single day and I prepare myself, I sacrifice a lot, and that's what they're looking for. They're looking for the right players. I think they look for the people who have discipline, who play hard, who care about winning, and I'm that kind of guy."
What has plagued Garcia in his career so far has been consistency. 2021 was just his 3rd season as a 2 win player or better according to WAR, and has not had two consecutive seasons with an above average OPS+ across MLB rankings. Garcia also figures to be a boom or bust player due to his free swinging mentality, as he recorded the 4th highest swing rate in baseball among qualified players. He also ranked in the top 4 percentile of chase rate across baseball as well.
The signing of Garcia marks just the beginning of the Marlins offseason, with GM Kim Ng and CEO Derek Jeter saying on multiple occasions that the Marlins were looking for multiple hitters to add to their team. Florida native Nick Castellanos has been on the Marlins radar, to name one player.
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