Miami Marlins Reportedly Agree to Terms with Former High-Profile Prospect
Vladimir Gutierrez, who was once a highly-touted prospect out of Cuba with the Cincinnati Reds, has signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.
Per Cuban Baseball Insider Francys Romero on social media:
The Miami Marlins have signed Cuban RHP Vladimir Gutiérrez to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp, per sources.
The 29-year-old Gutierrez is 10-12 in his career with a 5.44 ERA. He did not pitch at all in 2023 at the Major League level after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he did get 6.1 rehab innings.
MLBTradeRumors had more on him back in November:
As he worked his way up the minors, he became a notable prospect in their system, with Baseball America ranking him one of the 10 best Reds’ prospects in three straight years from 2017 to 2019. His stock has dimmed since then, however. In 2020, before he had reached the majors, he received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He was nonetheless added to the club’s 40-man roster to keep him out of that year’s Rule 5 draft. He went on to appear in 32 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons but required Tommy John surgery in July of 2022
He's struck out 117 batters in 150.2 innings lifetime at the Major League level and will vie for this opportunity with the Marlins. Because of the injury to Sandy Alcantara, the Fish would appear to have one spot open in their starting rotation.
Eury Perez, Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera have the other spots locked down.
Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media
Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.
