How Miami Marlins roster battles stack up with roster expanding. And more draft reaction

A six-pack of Miami Marlins notes on a Tuesday:

▪ The coronavirus pandemic has cost millions of U.S. jobs, but it has created 120 positions in Major League Baseball, at least for the start of the season.

MLB rosters, which were supposed to include 26 players this season, will expand to 30 for the first two weeks of the season, then drop to 28 on the 15th day of the season and then drop to 26 two weeks after that.

The MLB season is scheduled to start July 24 for most teams.

So which Marlins get the extra roster spots?

Let’s say the Marlins keep 16 position players and 14 pitchers, though those numbers are merely speculative.

Among position players, the automatics are infielder/outfielders Jonathan Villar and Brian Anderson; infielder Miguel Rojas; outfielders Corey Dickerson and Matt Joyce, infielder Jesus Aguilar and catchers Jorge Alfaro and Francisco Cervelli.

First baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper is very likely to stick, barring a trade, and from all indications, Isan Diaz will get a chance to open the season as the starting second baseman, with the team believing he hit the ball better this spring than his average indicated.

Also, it would be very surprising if Lewis Brinson and Jon Berti aren’t retained. So that’s 12.

That would leave room for outfielder Magneuris Sierra (out of minor-league options; speed could be an asset as a pinch-runner or late-game defensive substitute), outfielder Harold Ramirez and perhaps a third catcher (Chad Wallach). That’s 15, though Sierra and Wallach are questions, since a team must carry a catcher on its three-member traveling taxi squad.

If Miami keeps 16 position players, journeyman Sean Rodriguez (who can play multiple positions in the infield and outfield) would be a possibility, though he’s a .226 career hitter in 2,900 plate appearances and Miami would need to clear a valuable spot on the 40-man roster to keep him.

Another possibility is highly regarded outfield prospect Monte Harrison, who’s already on the 40-man roster.

▪ As for pitchers, the automatics are starters Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, Jose Urena, Caleb Smith and relievers Brandon Kintzler, Yimi Garcia, Adam Conley and Ryne Stanek (the Marlins have said he’s healthy after a back issue this spring).

Jordan Yamamoto and Elieser Hernandez were competing for the fifth rotation spot, but there should be room for both. Drew Steckenrider, despite ineffectiveness and a worrisome velocity drop in the spring, should stick around, as should Sterling Sharp, selected in the Rule 5 draft from Washington and impressive this spring.

So that’s 12.

That leaves Jeff Brigham (sidelined by right biceps sprain this spring but now healthy, according to Michael Hill), Robert Dugger (can start or relieve), left-hander Stephen Tarpley, emerging lefty prospect Alex Vesia and four nonroster invitees — former big league closer Brad Boxberger, Josh Smith and Alex Northcraft and newly signed right-hander Nick Vincent — competing for potentially one, two or three jobs on the initial 30.

Vincent was 1-4 with a 4.43 ERA in 32 appearances for the Giants and Phillies last season, with 47 strikeouts in 44 innings. Keep in mind that room on the 40-man roster would need to be created to keep Boxberger, Smith, Northcraft or Vincent.

Boxberger, Smith, Vesia and Dugger all impressed this spring.

Vesia has an ongoing 41-inning scoreless streak after pitching six scoreless innings this spring, but the Marlins might not want to rush him. He has not pitched above Double A.

Prospect Nick Neidert, 23, had a 1.50 ERA in six innings this spring and can’t be ruled out.

The Marlins have no need to rush top prospects such as outfielder Jesus Sanchez, shortstop Jazz Chisholm and pitcher Sixto Sanchez, though they were included in the 60-player pool from which the Marlins can select players to use this season. At the very least, that will keep these and other prospects engaged in baseball activities all season.

▪ Some feedback on the Marlins’ fourth, fifth and sixth picks in the recent draft, all of whom have agreed to contract terms but none of whom were included in the Marlins’ 60-player pool:

On Coastal Carolina right-hander Zach McCambley, MLB.com’s Jim Callis said “his fastball and curveball grade out really well. I graded him as having the best curveball in the draft. To remain a starter, you have to see further development of the changeup.”

Baseball America’s Carlos Callazo said his “breaking ball is a wipeout pitch. He really improved fastball command last two years.”

▪ On Vanderbilt left-hander Jake Eder, the Commodores’ head coach — Tim Corbin — said he’s “very durable, strong athlete. You can compare his physical tools, skill sets to someone like Asa Lacy” — the Texas A&M lefty who went fourth overall to Kansas City.

Former Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, on MLB Network, said Eder has “more of a reliever profile than starter profile. He got very inconsistent with timing and balance over the rubber. Love the arm, love the durability. I think he’s one of those two-inning power reliever guys in the back end of the pen. My player comp is Jeremy Affeldt, a starter who was inconsistent for the same reasons, moved to pen and had a long productive career. I love this kid. I think he will stay highly durable because the arm is so clean.”

▪ On Southern California right-hander Kyle Hurt: MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo said “He’s enigmatic if nothing else. The size is there. Some of the raw stuff is there. He has shown the ability to throw three, sometimes four pitches. Command has been an issue. There are a lot of ingredients there. You’ve got a big-league starter if it all comes together. Big if.”

▪ Count MLB Network analyst and former Marlins left-hander Al Leiter among those who really likes Marlins first-round right hander Max Meyer and not the least bit concerned about his 6-0 height:

“Marcus Stroman, Timmy Lincicum, Sonny Gray, Timmy Hudson, David Cone, Pedro Martinez; you are talking about guys with great stuff that aren’t 6-5,” Leiter said.

“This is a dynamic, electric arm. This is an alpha male-type guy. Slider is that elite. Fastball up to 100 mph. He was a three-time hockey letterman; this guy with those two pitches is big-league ready.”

Baseball America ranks Meyer 61st among all MLB prospects in its latest top 100. Other Marlins on the list: pitchers Sixto Sanchez (21) and Edward Cabrera (74), outfielders Bleday (49) and Jesus Sanchez (64) and shortstop Chisholm (79).