Highlights from Ng's session with reporters
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This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Marlins general manager Kim Ng held court with a small group of reporters prior to Friday's series opener against the A's. Here are some of the highlights:
- Sixto Sánchez sustained a setback while pitching in an extended spring game, but he is back to throwing. Ng said Miami's No. 11 prospect is part of the club's plans moving forward. But what can we expect from 2023?
"Hard to say. He's really going to dictate that. We can sit here and hope and wish, but it's really him and where he is. That's going to be the determining factor."
- Remember the Luis Arraez-Pablo López trade from January? López received an extension in April. Could Arraez, who continues to lead the Majors in hitting, be next?
"We have not talked to Luis about an extension. We have done talks in season [before]. It is more difficult to do it that way, but it doesn't necessarily preclude us from doing it."
- Barring a setback, lefty Trevor Rogers should return from the injured list soon. During Spring Training, there were talks of a six-man rotation. Might that be a possibility with Rogers joining a staff of Sandy Alcantara, Jesús Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Eury Pérez?
"It's a tough decision, but it's a good decision to have to make."
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- Jorge Soler's 17 homers rank fourth in MLB. This is what the Marlins had hoped to get from the slugger when they signed him to a free-agent contract in March 2022. He has a $9 million player option for 2024 that may increase up to $4 million based on his '23 total plate appearances.
"We have not talked to Jorge yet."
- While Miami would make the playoffs if the season ended today, it's obvious the club could use more offense to complement the pitching staff. Ng would like another bat, but would she be compelled to add a difference-making one before the Trade Deadline?
"We're always looking, we're always shopping. We're always looking for ways to improve."