Marlins announce 71-player spring roster

        There should be no trouble finding a good seat at Roger Dean Stadium most days when the Marlins play there this spring. But the Marlins' clubhouse looks like it'll be a tight squeeze. The Marlins announced a spring roster totaling 71 players.

         I'm not sure if that's a club record of some sort. But I can't remember the number ever being that large. In addition to those on the 40-man roster, the Marlins have invited 31 others that include 17 players signed to minor league contracts and 14 organizational players.

         Making up the latter group: right-handed pitchers Michael Brady and Jose Fernandez; left-handed pitchers Adam Conley, Grant Dayton, Brian Flynn, Andrew Heaney and Raudel Lazo; catchers Wilfredo Giminez, Jake Jefferies and Jacob Realmuto; infielders Danny Black and Derek Dietrich; and outfielders Jake Marisnick and Christian Yelich.

         The list of players signed to minor league deals includes the following: right-handed pitchers Jonathan Albaladejo, John Maine, Doug Mathis, Chad Qualls, Kevin Slowey, Jordan Smith, Mitch Talbot and Michael Wuertz; left-handed pitcher Zach Phillips; catcher Craig Tatum; infielders Matt Downs, Nick Green, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Ed Lucas and Chris Valaika; and outfielders Jordan Brown and Austin Kearns.