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The Miami Marlins have seemingly given up on outfielder Avisail Garcia. Miami just decided to designate Garcia for assignment on Tuesday, as reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.
“Outfielder Avisail Garcia is being designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins, sources tell ESPN. Garcia is in the third year of a four-year, $53 million contract. The Marlins will eat nearly $24 million on the deal,” Passan wrote on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter).
Garcia has not seen action in the big leagues since a late-April game versus the Washington Nationals at home due to a lower-body (hamstring) injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list. Before he started missing games this season, Garcia batted just .240 with two home runs and two RBIs. He also has just a .255 OBP, a .380 slugging percentage, and a .635 OPS.
With their sudden move on Garcia, the Marlins showed true commitment to stomach a big financial hit on an asset that won't be able to help them win games anymore. Not that Garcia was doing much this season even when he's healthy, but the Marlins will now have to deal with the following implications (via Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY):
“The Miami Marlins will be eating about $24.5 million with their decision to DFA outfielder Avisail Garcia. He's owed about $7.5 million this year. He's owed $12 million in 2025. And he has a $5 million buyout. He ends his Marlins career hitting .217/.260/.322/.582 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 153 games.”
Although he is still with the Marlins organization, the expectation is that Garcia will be released by Miami soon. It'll be tough to find a trade partner for an injured player with an expensive price tag and poor batting numbers.
Miami made a bet on Garcia when they signed him to a four-year deal worth $53 million back in 2021 when he was a free agent following two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. During that stint in Milwaukee uniform, Garcia slashed .256/.331/.444 with 31 home runs, 101 RBIs, and a 107 OPS+. Right in his very first season with the Marlins in 2022, Garcia posted just a 256/.331/.444 hitting line and a 64 OPS+. Compared to his 2021 numbers, his home run rate dropped by over three percent and his strikeout rate rose by over five percent in 2022. While he was able to sustain his contact power (exit velocity, Hard Hit rate) in 2022, Garcia simply did not produce like the player the Marlins expected him to be when they inked him to the aforementioned contract.
This Garcia development has taken place while the Marlins are on a two-game losing skid, having lost the last couple of contests in a recent home series versus the Texas Rangers.
Fans react to Marlins' move to DFA Avisail Garcia
Here are some of the many reactions to Miami's DFA of Garcia:
“Huh, he hasn't even been that bad this year. Last year he was AWFUL. But this year he's been mediocre.”
“Another embarrassing move by a bottom tier franchise”
“Another terrible contract that never should have been signed. Many bad GMs in MLB.”
“Can someone from the Marlins reach out to the Astros about how to go about doing this with Abreu as well?”
“This season, the Marlins went 1-17 when Avisaíl García played. Nearly a .500 team without him (20-22).”
“Lots of people cheering the release of Avisail Garcia, but I’m choosing to be grateful for his time here. What’s everyone’s favorite Avisail Garcia memory? Mine is”
“I don’t think anyone on the team will block us for celebrating the Avisail Garcia DFA”
