Marlins sign 1B Casey Kotchman

JUPITER -- The Marlins have signed first baseman Casey Kotchman to a minor-league contract and invitation to spring training, a move that highlights the increasing uncertainty surrounding Logan Morrison.

"I don't know if you want to call it insurance but, yeah, we have some concern that Lomo's not going to be ready," said Marlins president of baseball operations, Larry Beinfest.

Kotchman is good with the glove as evidenced by his career fielding percentage of .998, best among active first basemen. But his bat has been a notch below average for the position. He is a career .262 hitter with 71 home runs.

"The well-traveled Kotchman has played for six different teams -- the Angels, Braves, Red Sox, Mariners, Rays and Indians -- over the past five seasons. He hit .229 with 12 home runs and an OPS of .612 in 463 at bats for Cleveland last season.

Morrison has scheduled a doctor's visit in Colorado on Tuesday to have his surgically repaired right knee examined. He could receive the go-ahead at that time to begin jogging, but has said all along he's unsure if he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Comments

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Eh, he's no Pat White, but he'll do.

Posted by: TJ | February 15, 2013 at 02:59 PM

Miami fans, wake up!!!!!

NO player with the talent and ability to make a difference will ever want to play here, and no player with talent and ability will ever want to stay here. Not as long as this lying thief owns the team.

The only way MAAArlins fans can make a difference in this team's fortunes is by NOT buying into their publicly-stated strategy ... do not "turn the page and move on," as Beinfest is suggesting. Instead, do NOT put more money in this thief's pockets. Do NOT buy tickets or attend MAAArlins games, do not buy their merchandise. Money is the only language he (and MLB) understands.

This is the ONLY way that change can come about. Listen to JJ and Buerhle talking, hear the relief in their voices that they're gone from here. But we're still stuck with these racketeering criminals.

WE can make the difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Dionysus Thelxinoe | February 15, 2013 at 03:00 PM

good signing protection for stanton not
i would walk stanton all the time if i was opposing team

Posted by: andy | February 15, 2013 at 03:08 PM

Casey K could beat out Lomo straight up at 1st,with both being healthy and given equal opportunities.

Posted by: the scout | February 15, 2013 at 04:50 PM

How much can Stanton hurt the opposition if he'll virtually always be batting with the bases empty?

Posted by: Dionysus Thelxinoe | February 15, 2013 at 05:20 PM

What Year is Morrison talking about when he refers to Opening Day? I'm thinking 2014 at the earliest with another operation thrown in for good measure.

Posted by: Lou | February 15, 2013 at 05:35 PM

i am surprised that Kotchman signed with the Marlins. If he is not in the top ten of 1st Basemen, he certainly is number 11. don't know why he didn't get offers from other teams. maybe he is not a good guy for the clubhouse????

Posted by: charlie | February 15, 2013 at 05:53 PM

Has anyone on the Blog been invited to Spring Training? Would be great if a non-roster blogger made the team.

Posted by: Lou | February 15, 2013 at 06:29 PM

Charlie, personally I think Kotchman is a total scrub, but since you think he is a top 11 major league first baseman, I'm curious to know who you would rank him ahead of on this list: Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Edwin Encarnacion, Ryan Howard, Paul Konerko, Lance Berkman, Adam LaRoche, Mark Teixeira, Justin Morneau, Kendrys Morales, Corey Hart, and Ike Davis?

Take your time, think carefully now! (PS, I could have made this list twice as long, but I figured you'd get the point)

Posted by: Dionysus Thelxinoe | February 15, 2013 at 07:16 PM

what kinda jackasss uses the name Dionysus Theasshole?

Posted by: miamiherald.com | February 15, 2013 at 10:37 PM

D T-Cory Hart, Ike Davis, and Ryan Howard for starters. Keep in mind, a good defensive 1st Baseman saves a ton of errors on bad throws from infielders. His offense may not be at the top, but you have to consider both sides of the game. Oh, and I am NOT his Agent nor a Fan of any team he has been on in the past. The only negative I can think of is that he might be a tough guy to like personally. It is a bit off topic here, but, I think he will make about $10 million less per year than most of the guys you mentioned.

Posted by: charlie | February 16, 2013 at 08:52 AM

Charlie, IF he was not making 10,000,000 or less he would not have been signed.

Would really like a guess as to when Morrison plays his first game? I'm surprised the Stephen Hawking like SloMo did not participate in the X-Games(skiing??) to enhance his rehad process.

Posted by: Lou | February 16, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Ike Davis? The same Ike Davis the Mets were dangling last season, hoping to find some good prospects for him?

Howard used to be a pretty powerful at-bat, but not reliable with the glove. His contract is included in the TOP 20 worst contracts of MLB history.

Kendrys will turn 30 and has only 1 full season as 1B (2009). Last year he spent more time as DH than 1B.

Edwin Encarnacion is a career 3B with few than 100 games as 1B after 8 seasons. He has more games as DH for Toronto than 1B.

By the way, there's go to be a "Bosch Clinic" somewhere in Toronto to explain Encarnacion's 42 HRs last season. That could also shed some light on Bautista's barrage of HRs since 2010. Come to think of that, wasn't 2010 that John Buck had his career-high 20HRs and .280+ hitting average? Playing in Toronto?

We might end up seeing Reyes and Boni becoming HR heroes while playing in Toronto.

Posted by: Flav C. | February 16, 2013 at 12:20 PM

Flav, personally I'd like to see the whole lineup signup for the Bosch Clinic -Stanton (he doesn't need any enhancement) if it meant creeping above the .220 mark. Oh yeah, that goes for the Mariners too!

Posted by: rbleigh | February 16, 2013 at 01:22 PM