The Marlins conclude Garcia’s tenure, designating Garcia for assignment.
The Marlins have ended what is being considered one of their poorest player tenures in history as Avisail García, who inked a hefty four-year, $53 million deal with Miami in 2021, has been designated for assignment. Despite this move, the Marlins are still obligated to cover the remainder of his contract, including his salary for the rest of this season and an additional $12 million in 2025, along with a $5 million buyout for 2026. García’s performance this season has been lackluster, with a batting average of just .240 and a meager .635 OPS in 50 plate appearances. His season took a hit when he landed on the injured list on April 28 due to a hamstring strain, and his performance during rehabilitation in the minor leagues failed to impress.
What led to this downfall? Despite a thorough vetting process before García’s signing, industry insiders expressed doubts about the long-term commitment. Former Marlins CEO Derek Jeter took charge of negotiations with García and his agent Gene Mato, ultimately agreeing to a four-year deal after a face-to-face meeting in Coral Gables. While the details of other offers García received remain unknown, it was evident that no other team was willing to offer a four-year deal. Jeter emphasized the importance of a personal meeting with García and Mato, which sealed the deal. During his introductory press conference, former Marlins general manager Kim Ng mentioned that García expressed his fondness for hitting at loanDepot Park, likening it to seeing the baseball like a beach ball.
However, García’s performance on the field did not match expectations. He struggled during his three seasons with the Marlins, hitting only 13 home runs and accumulating a Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement of -1.3. Conditioning was cited as a factor in his initial struggles, with similar issues in his previous stints with the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. García acknowledged his shortcomings to Ng in 2022 and made efforts to improve his physical condition during the offseason, but his performance remained subpar in the following seasons. Despite renewed hope from manager Skip Schumaker in 2023, García’s performance continued to disappoint due to injuries and ineffective play.
In 2024, new Marlins president Peter Bendix granted García one last chance, but his struggles persisted. Fans voiced their displeasure with García during Opening Day, and his performance failed to improve, further hampered by another hamstring injury. A recent rehab assignment in Jacksonville saw García batting just .105 in 19 at-bats. It is anticipated that García will clear the waivers period and be released by the club. Bendix expressed appreciation for García’s professionalism and work ethic during his time with the Marlins, wishing him and his family well in their future endeavors.
