Marlins, Yimi García finalize 1-year deal

December 20th, 2019

The Marlins announced on Friday that they signed free-agent reliever to a one-year contract. To make room for Garcia, Miami designated right-hander Kyle Keller for assignment.

A non-tender by the Dodgers on Dec. 2, the 29-year-old García posted a 3.61 ERA in 64 games this past season. In 62 1/3 innings, he logged 66 strikeouts and a 0.87 WHIP.

A power arm, García sports a four-seam fastball that averaged 94.2 mph, according to Statcast. Batters hit .160 against that pitch.

The Marlins made it clear they were in the market for relief help, and García is a five-year veteran who will provide experience in the back end of the bullpen.

"Our bullpen just wasn't good enough," Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said on Thursday. "You can give guys opportunities, and they have to take advantage of it. If they can't take advantage of it, we've got to do what we need to do to get better."

García brings 165 big league games of experience to Miami.

"He has a mid-to-upper fastball," Hill said. "Great movement to both sides of the plate. We try to be opportunistic."