Roster Additions: The Florida Marlins

The Florida Marlins organization made some fishy choices when adding pitchers to the 40-man roster recently.

Right-hander Dallas Trahern, who was acquired in the Miguel Cabrera trade with Detroit last year, had a dismal 2008 season at the Triple-A level. He posted a 5.72 FIP with 141 hits allowed in 111 innings of work. Trahern was hit hard and allowed 20 home runs (1.62 HR/9). On the plus side, he did not walk a ton of batters (3.65 BB/9) but that positive feeling is negated by his low strikeout rate (5.76 K/9). Trahern’s repertoire includes an 88-92 mph fastball, curveball and change-up.

Canadian Chris Leroux is your typical talented but raw Northerner, who needs to improve his command by pitching as many innings as possible. The right-hander was originally a starter, but could not stay healthy so he was shifted to the bullpen in 2007, which was a wise move. Since that time, Leroux has appeared in 103 games out of the bullpen and improved last season despite advancing from A-ball to High-A. In 2008, Leroux allowed just 60 hits in 74 innings and posted rates of 3.16 BB/9 and 9.49 K/9. His WHIP dropped from 1.41 to 1.16. He’ll be a little old for Double-A in 2009 at 24, but Leroux has less experience on the mound than most his age. He can touch 94 mph with his fastball and also has a solid slider.

Tim Wood was definitely a head-scratcher when he was added to the 40-man roster – if you look at his numbers. The 26-year-old was originally selected in the 44th round of the 2002 draft. The right-handed middle reliever had a nice season in High-A ball by allowing 25 hits in 40 innings (His BABIP was a fluky .209) but posted mediocre rates of 3.38 BB/9 and 4.95 K/9. His ERA was 1.80 but the FIP was a less-impressive 3.85. Promoted to Triple-A, Wood allowed 20 hits in 20.1 innings and posted rates of 2.66 BB/9 and 6.64 K/9. His FIP was 4.18. Wood’s fastball hits 95 mph and he has a power slider, but the numbers just don’t add up.