Results tagged ‘ Scott Strickland ’
Hensley reinstated, Strickland outrighted
The Marlins are welcoming back one of their most consistent relievers. Clay Hensley was reinstated off the 15-day disabled list on Friday, where he will be available against the Braves.
Hensley, the team’s primary eighth inning setup right-hander, had been out with a left neck strain. This week, he threw in rehab assignment games at Class A Jupiter.
To make room on the roster for Hensley, right-hander Scott Strickland was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans.
– Joe Frisaro
Strickland back in big leagues
For the first time since 2005, Scott Strickland is back in the big leagues.
The 34-year-old right-hander officially had his contract selected on Friday, and he now joins a Marlins bullpen looking for consistency.
Strickland was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans, where he appeared in 14 games and was 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA.
Strickland was added to replace Clay Hensley, who was placed on the disabled list with a left neck strain.
The last time Strickland was in the big leagues was with the Astros in 2005, where he appeared in five games.
The right-hander broke in with the Montreal Expos in 1999, and he has appeared in parts of six MLB seasons.
Strickland was a non-roster invitee with the Marlins in Spring Training, and he opened the year in New Orleans.
– Joe Frisaro
Sanchez wins first base job
Second time around, Gaby Sanchez secured the spot.
The 26-year-old will be the Marlins starting first baseman.
The path was cleared for Sanchez on Monday when prospect Logan Morrison was reassigned to Minor League camp. Most likely, Morrison will open the season at Triple-A New Orleans, while Sanchez will experience his first Opening Day at the big league level.
A year ago, Sanchez was in a similar situation. The Miami native entered the 2009 Spring Training with an inside track to win the job. But he had an injury-plagued and inconsistent spring, and opened in Triple-A New Orleans.
That was then. With another year of Minor League seasoning under his belt, Sanchez has enjoyed a strong Spring Training.
In Grapefruit League play, Sanchez has stood out. Heading into Monday, he was batting .409 with two home runs and five RBIs in 44 at-bats. Morrison, meanwhile, finished his Grapefruit League stint with a .209 average and six RBIs in 43 at-bats.
In another roster move on Monday, the reliever Scott Strickland was reassigned to Minor League camp. The right-hander will head to New Orleans.
With Strickland out of camp, the Marlins final bullpen spot may wind up going to Seth McClung or Tim Wood. Rick VandenHurk is another possibility. But chances are VandenHurk will remain a starting pitcher, not a reliever. He will be able to do that at New Orleans.
The question the team will ask is whether to stay with the experience of McClung or the youth of Wood. Weighing in Wood’s favor is the fact he’s on the 40-man roster. Wood hasn’t hurt his chances either, as he’s enjoyed a strong spring. In fact, he’s throwing better than McClung.
McClung, in camp on a Minor League contract, has a clause to opt out of his deal on April 1. McClung also gives flexibility because he has been a starter, long reliever, and he’s even closed in the big leagues. He is more of a multi-innings option than Wood.
Hayden Penn, who was out of options, was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Monday.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez hinted on Sunday that Sanchez could win the first base job. Gonzalez noted that Sanchez was a catcher at the University of Miami, and for a short while in the Minor Leagues.
Sanchez could be the emergency third catcher, which means the Marlins would consider using either Ronny Paulino or John Baker as a pinch-hitter. Typically, teams shy away from using their backup catcher as a pinch-hitter.
Sanchez now provides roster flexibility.
Sanchez batted .289 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs at New Orleans last year. He also appeared in 21 games with the Marlins, and he has 26 games of big league experience the last two years.
– Joe Frisaro
Meet Scott Strickland
This time, Scott Strickland said yes.
So often in the past, the 33-year-old waved no thanks to the offer. That changed when he agreed to a Minor League deal with the Marlins with an invitation to Spring Training.
Strickland, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2005 with the Mets, has been bouncing around with various Triple-A clubs the past four years. He was in the Pirates system in 2006, followed by the Padres in ’07, and the Yankees in ’08, and finally the Dodgers a year ago.
After being turned away so many times before, the Marlins finally landed Strickland, who broke in with the Montreal Expos in 1999. Because Marlins management previously owned the Expos, team officials have known Strickland for more than a decade.
“They’ve been trying to get me the last three or four years,” the right-hander said. “For whatever reason, I’ve always gone somewhere else. Every year, they’ve tried to sign me, and I’ve always gone somewhere else. I don’t know exactly why. Whether it was money, or whatever else. This year I didn’t wait to compare offers. I was like, ‘You know what, these guys came to me quickly like they’ve always done, and I’m going to sign.’ “
Strickland has six years of MLB service time, and he’s appeared in 236 games. In each of the past two seasons, he’s made at least 50 Minor League appearances.
“I’ve been looking for an opportunity to come back to the big leagues,” he said. “I’ve been to Triple-A. I’ve been with the Pirates, San Diego, Yankees, Dodgers and now here. I’ve been throwing well. It seems there has never been an opportunity.”
Perhaps his luck will change with the Marlins.
– Joe Frisaro
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