According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Miami Marlins are approaching an agreement on a two-year $22 million contract with free-agent Edinson Volquez. Volquez hit the open market when he declined his end of a $10 million mutual option with the Kansas City Royals. Reports had at various times suggested that Kansas City might make him a $17.2 million qualifying offer. In a free agency market starving for innings, it set the tone for a nice payday for Volquez, who will earn more this time around than he did in his prior two-year run with the Royals.
Source confirms: #Marlins, Volquez in agreement on two-year, $22M contract, pending physical. First reported: @clarkspencer @flasportsbuzz.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2016
Miami Marlins Sign Edinson Volquez
The 33-year-old didn’t exactly have the most productive 2016 season. He ended up with a 5.37 ERA after struggling through the final four months of the year. However, on a positive note, he did rack up 189 1/3 innings and made more than thirty starts for the fifth consecutive time. He had 34 starts this past year, proving his durability. Despite nearing his mid-thirties, the righty has also continued to show good velocity, averaging higher than 93 mph with his fastball last year. The Marlins only had one 30-game starter last year in right-hander Tom Koehler.
A major goal of the Marlins was to add another starter during the off-season. The rotation was a very weak spot for the team in 2016. Miami starters posted a 4.32 ERA and their average of 3.42 walks per nine innings was the fourth-highest average in all of baseball. Volquez now gets to return to the National League, where he spent most of his career from 2008-2014.
In 12 big-league seasons with the Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cincinnati Reds, Volquez touts a 4.44 ERA, and 1,229 strikeouts to 668 walks in 1,432 1/3 innings pitched.
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