The Marlins have signed right-hander Adam Oller to a minor league deal, as reported by Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 on X. Oller, 29, is expected to join Triple-A Jacksonville soon.
Oller previously signed a minor league deal with the Guardians during the offseason but was released last week. He pitched 27 2/3 innings for Triple-A Columbus, with a 7.48 ERA over six starts and six relief appearances. Despite his high ERA and a 14.4% walk rate, he struck out 26.4% of batters faced.
Before this season, Oller played for the A’s after being traded from the Mets in the Chris Bassitt deal in March 2022. He pitched 94 innings for Oakland in 2022 and 2023, recording a 7.09 ERA with a 13.5% strikeout rate and an 11.6% walk rate. He was claimed off waivers by the Mariners in July last year but struggled and was outrighted at the season’s end.
Despite recent struggles, Oller has a solid strikeout rate, fanning 25.2% of batters in 293 2/3 minor league innings since 2021, though his ERA was 4.93. The Marlins see potential value in his ability to get strikeouts.
The Marlins’ pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries this year, with Braxton Garrett on the 15-day IL and Sandy Alcántara, Eury Pérez, Jesús Luzardo, Sixto Sánchez, Ryan Weathers, and Josh Simpson on the 60-day IL. As potential sellers at the trade deadline, the team could further deplete their staff by trading players like Tanner Scott, Trevor Rogers, and Edward Cabrera.
If Oller can make it onto Miami’s roster, he has one option season left and less than a year of service time. Should he bring his strikeout ability to the majors, he could become a valuable long-term asset for the Marlins.
