Marlins mull power bats to fill RF (sources)

January 4th, 2021

MIAMI -- The Marlins are expressing interest in former All-Star outfielders and , according to the latest round of Hot Stove rumors.

Sources told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that multiple teams have varying levels of interest in Puig, with Miami among them, while Craig Mish reported that the club is interested in Duvall.

Miami's projected outfield features veterans Corey Dickerson in left and Starling Marte in center, with right field an open competition. Internal candidates include Lewis Brinson, Harold Ramirez and Magneuris Sierra, as well as prospects Monte Harrison and Jesús Sánchez. JJ Bleday, the organization's first-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft, is expected to debut sometime this year. In 2020, Matt Joyce and Brinson platooned in right field upon their return from the COVID-19 injured list.

Both Puig and Duvall are right-handed hitters with pop; the Marlins' projected lineup skews heavily to the right side, with Dickerson the lone left-handed batter. Puig has played 761 games in right field, while Duvall has appeared in just 27 games there.

Miami was linked to the 30-year-old Puig last offseason, but the organization instead inked Dickerson for two years at $17.5 million. Puig made $9.7 million in 2019.

The Cuban-born Puig, who resides in Miami, did not play in 2020. He had negotiated a deal with the Braves, but the agreement hinged on the results of a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. Over seven Major League seasons, Puig has slashed .277/.348/.475 with 132 homers and a 122 OPS+.

Atlanta non-tendered Duvall, 32, this offseason. After spending much of 2019 at Triple-A, he bounced back in the shortened '20 season to finish second on the team with 16 home runs. Duvall recorded a pair of three-homer games in September, including one against the Marlins, but he hit just .169 with three homers and a .609 OPS over the season’s final 16 games.

MLB Trade Rumors had projected Duvall to receive between $4.4-$7.1 million via arbitration.