MIAMI -- Sports is a performance-based industry, so when veteran right-hander Chris Paddack struggled to begin his Marlins career, the organization made the decision to designate him for assignment on Tuesday.
With Paddack’s rotation spot coming up Friday night against the Nationals at loanDepot park, lefties Braxton Garrett and Robby Snelling (Marlins No. 2 prospect, No. 32 overall) were among Miami’s top options. Because Garrett started Triple-A Jacksonville's game on Tuesday, however, that would take him out of contention. Other candidates include righties Bradley Blalock and Ryan Gusto.
Selected in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Marlins but dealt 12 months later, the 30-year-old Paddack had been vocal about finally putting on a Miami uniform. Paddack, whom the Marlins signed at the start of Spring Training to a one-year, $4 million contract, saw his ERA rise to 7.63 -- second highest among MLB pitchers with at least six starts at the time (Boston’s Brayan Bello, 9.12) -- after Sunday’s loss to the Phillies, in which he allowed six runs in the first inning.
Miami fell to 0-6 in Paddack’s first six starts this season, marking just the fourth time in franchise history that has happened to a newcomer. His 9.00 ERA through six starts was the third highest. Following the game, manager Clayton McCullough said Paddack would make his next start.
"This does become a performance-based environment," McCullough said Tuesday. "We feel like we have a good team. We feel like we have a lot of really solid depth that's not here right now. And when there's others that are performing that are making it tough to not give the Major League opportunity you're looking for, what are some ways that we can upgrade our team and give us a better chance to win games right now while also certainly still keeping an eye on the future? So I think right now with Chris, that was what it came more down to."
The Marlins elected to eat up the rest of Paddack's contract rather than keep him around in some capacity just because they signed him as a free agent. Last year, the organization waited until August to outright veteran righty Cal Quantrill, who compiled a 5.50 ERA – seventh highest among Major Leaguers with at least 100 innings thrown – and a 1.39 WHIP in 24 starts. But after posting an 8.10 ERA through his first six starts, he found his footing with a 3.55 ERA over his next 15.
In Paddack's place, the Marlins have several options at Triple-A.
Snelling isn’t on the 40-man roster, but there is an open spot after Paddack’s DFA. The 22-year-old has a 1.86 ERA (third lowest in the International League), a 0.90 WHIP (third lowest) and 44 strikeouts (tied for the most) in six starts. Blalock ranks sixth in ERA (3.09) and second in WHIP (0.88), while Gusto has a 4.63 ERA in five games (four starts).
"We feel like right now as an organization, we have a lot of really talented players, we do, and not all of them are here right now," McCullough said. "And so having that type of quality that could potentially come impact our team shows the health of our organization, and again, where we're at with trying to win as many Major League games here in the near term, as we can."
Following Tuesday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles, there are still 126 regular-season games remaining, and after slow starts from the division rival Phillies and Mets, the chase for a postseason spot is a little more open. Instead of resting on its laurels, Miami is being aggressive making moves to improve the club. That includes optioning catcher Agustín Ramírez in favor of Minor League Gold Glove winner Joe Mack.
Until Friday’s spot in the rotation comes up, the Marlins recalled prospect William Kempner to provide a fresh arm in the bullpen. He tossed a scoreless eighth inning in his debut.
Acquired from the Giants in January 2025 in a trade for international bonus pool money, the 24-year-old Kempner put together a standout first season with the organization (2.26 ERA across three Minor League levels). Miami rewarded him by protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft over the offseason.
Through 12 appearances at Triple-A Jacksonville this season, Kempner had given up 11 runs on 13 hits with 34 strikeouts and 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings. He also had recorded three saves.
"Honestly, I'm not going to sugarcoat," Kempner said. "I think it went well, and I think the best part is that I felt really well out there. I felt like I was just being myself, and that's all I can ask for at this point in my career, just getting it started."