The Marlins are reportedly contemplating former bench coach Luis Urueta and Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz for his or her managerial emptiness, in line with the New York Publish’s Jon Heyman. Urueta is probably one thing of an uncommon candidate because the Marlins already fired him as a part of their wide-ranging purge of the teaching employees, coaching employees, and clubhouse attendants, although studies indicated that Urueta and Jon Jay have been the one two coaches Miami had curiosity in bringing again. It isn’t recognized if the Marlins have carried out formal interviews with Urueta, Albernaz, or some other candidates, although in Albernaz’s case, his availability is proscribed till the Guardians’ playoff run is over.
Urueta served because the Marlins’ interim supervisor for the ultimate two video games of the season after a household well being matter pressured Skip Schumaker to overlook what was the final weekend of his two-season tenure in Miami. Urueta was additionally the bench coach for these two seasons beneath Schumaker, and his beforehand MLB teaching job was a five-year stint on the Diamondbacks’ employees from 2018-22 (appearing as bench coach for the final three of these seasons).
Albernaz remains to be within the midst of his first season as Cleveland’s bench coach, after beforehand working as a bullpen and catching coach for the Giants from 2019-22, and earlier than that working in a wide range of roles within the Rays’ farm system after his taking part in profession led to 2014. As Heyman notes, this resume makes him a recognized amount to Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix (beforehand Tampa Bay’s basic supervisor) and to assistant GM Gabe Kapler, previously the Giants’ supervisor when Albernaz was on the employees. Albernaz was interviewed by the Guards final offseason about their very own managerial emptiness earlier than Stephen Vogt was employed, and thought sufficient of Albernaz to nonetheless carry him aboard onto Vogt’s employees.
Extra from across the NL East…
- Andrew Painter’s first outing within the Arizona Fall League noticed the Phillies prospect permit two runs over 29 pitches and two innings of labor, with Jack Vita of the Philadelphia Inquirer noting that three of Painter’s fastballs hit the 100mph threshold. It was the primary recreation motion of any form for Painter since Spring Coaching 2023, when he suffered a UCL sprain that finally led to Tommy John surgical procedure that July. “The arm’s wholesome and that was the most important takeaway,” Painter informed Vita and different reporters. “All the pieces felt prefer it was popping out good. I felt like my previous self, in order that’s all I can actually take away from that.” Whereas the surgical procedure halted the progress of one of many sport’s prime pitching prospects, Painter ought to be in line to make his MLB debut sooner or later in 2025, although clearly the Phillies might be cautious along with his improvement. Painter is slated to throw 20 innings in AFL play and can begin subsequent season within the minors — the right-hander has but to succeed in the Triple-A stage and has solely 28 1/3 frames of expertise in Double-A ball.
- Juan Yepez, Joey Meneses, and Andres Chaparro are all right-handed hitting first basemen who’re probably greatest suited to DH responsibility, and these similarities make it unlikely that each one three are on the Nationals’ roster subsequent season. Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com thinks Yepez in all probability has the perfect probability of the trio, as Yepez hit a strong .283/.335/.429 over 249 plate appearances for Washington in 2024 and had notably good splits towards left-handed pitching. That could be sufficient to make the distinction in deciding doable platoon or part-time roles for subsequent 12 months’s membership.
