Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Marlins traded 32-year-old outfielder Justin Ruggiano to the Chicago Cubs early Thursday morning in exchange for Brian Bogusevic. The trade ends a love affair with Ruggiano, who was unable to replicate the numbers he put up in 2012 when he hit 13 home runs and batted .313 in 91 games.
Although this is a shocking move, it is even more shocking that the team acquired another outfielder in the deal with an already-complicated outfield situation. With Jake Marisnick, Marcell Ozuna, Kyle Jensen and now Bogusevic vying for the starting center field spot, it will be interesting who will get the start in the outfield.
Miami should have traded for another bullpen piece after acquiring Carter Capps from the Seattle Mariners Wednesday for Logan Morrison. The loss of Ryan Webb hurts the Marlins’ bullpen and without getting another piece, the already-clogged outfield is even more jammed and it does not look like a plumber will be around to fix it anytime soon.
Bogusevic will be 30 by the time spring training starts. He is a career .236/.313/.370 hitter with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs in four seasons between the Cubs and the Houston Astros. Miami should not use him as the everyday starter, rather as a platoon with someone like Marisnick.
The trade should also nullify Miami’s interest in bringing back Chris Coghlan, who was non-tendered earlier in the month. Coghlan now does not fit into a roster that already has a utility man in Jimmy Paredes.
