Minor League Deal Options For 2014: Carlos Marmol

Carlos Marmol entered the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs way back in 2006 after being signed as an amateur free agent in 1999 and has been a huge part of their bullpen ever since then until recently. Marmol had varying good and great seasons from 2007 to 2012 including finishing a league leading 70 games in 2010 before the decline started. This season we have seen Marmol with the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers and still finds himself struggling to find the strike zone and seemingly lacks any confidence in going right after hitters anymore. With a WHIP pushing two points and a K/BB ratio well below two this could work exactly into the Yankees hands this off season. 

Marmol will be entering his age 31 season going into the 2014 season which means he is still young enough and, if healthy, can still turn this thing around in the majors. I cannot see any team handing a guy with a H/9 ratio creeping around double digits per nine, a guy with almost as many walks per nine as he strikes out guys, and a guy that has almost a negative one WAR so the Yankees should offer this guy a minor league contract. The Yanks will be losing some veteran bullpen arms after this season with the possibilities of being without Mariano Rivera, Boone Logan, Phil Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain. It would be nice to stash a veteran arm on a low risk/ high reward type signing and the worst thing that could happen is we release him or give him multiple opt out clauses in his contract. With an invite to spring training I cannot think of a single reason not to offer Marmol a minor league contract and I cannot think of a single reason why he would not accept it at this point. Get it done Cash!