Sanabia, Houser next on Marlins bullpen try-out list

Manager Fredi Gonzalez told reporters Sunday the team's front office is "actively looking" around the league for bullpen help. Until the Marlins make a deal, though, it looks like the team will continue to plug the leaks with minor league help.

The next two young arms on the bullpen try-out list appear to be right-hander Alex Sanabia and left-hander James Houser, who will join the team Tuesday in Baltimore and become the 16th and 17th pitchers to pitch in relief for the Marlins this season. Last year, through June 21st, the Marlins had only used 12 relief pitchers. 

Sanabia, 21, isn't like the other young arms the team has brought up of late. He is the ace of the staff for Double A Jacksonville.  In 14 outings for the Suns, the former 32nd round pick of the 2006 draft is 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA. In 84 1/3 innings, he’s walked 16 and struck out 65 -- the kind of strikeout to walk ratio the team could desperately use.

Houser, 25, was in Triple A New Orleans for the Marlins and is a former starter and 2003 second round pick of the Rays. The Marlins signed Houser to a minor-league deal this past winter. He went 0-0 with a 3.26 ERA with four walks and 11 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings for New Orleans. He's likely going to help fill the role of long reliever.

Last week, Larry Beinfest, president of baseball operations, said the Marlins had several young options they were looking at in their farm system as potential bullpen arms on the big league club.

Comments

[dixie_flyer]

What are the Marlins plans for Sean West? He's been pitching effectively for New Orleans.

[marlin]

this is getting ridiculous!!

I have my doubts that sanabia is ready and I have been following him all year. Also, the move to bring up houser is absolutely useless.

what needs to happen is that tim wood and scott strickland go, while burke badenhop and jose veras, both of whom have been pitching much better, come back up.

on top of that emilio bonifacio serves a purpose rating of 0 and hector luna is more than deserving of a call up and probably should have made the team out of spring training.

If the front office wants sanabia and houser fine, but badenhop, veras, and luna are much more deserving of a chance than tim wood, scott strickland and emilio bonifacio....hmmmmmm maybe becuase they are all better players.

[Jorge]

Best comment phrase of the year: "emilio bonifacio serves a purpose rating of 0..."

I applaud Marlin for that contribution.

[brg611]

maybe bonafacio can pitch???