Tag Archives: Jorge Alfaro

Francisco Cervelli Agrees to One-Year Deal with the Miami Marlins

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Francisco Cervelli is heading to the Sunshine State…

The 33-year-old half-Venezuelan professional baseball player, a free-agent catcher,has agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Miami Marlins, according to ESPN.

Francisco Cervelli

The move reunites Cervelli with former New York Yankees teammate Derek Jeter, the Marlins’ CEO and part owner, and Miami special adviser Jorge Posada, whom he considers a mentor.

Cervelli will back up Jorge Alfaro at catcher for the Marlins.

Cervelli finished last season with the Atlanta Braves after he was waived by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had requested his release after he worked his way back from another concussion that had appeared to put his career in jeopardy.

In 37 games with the Braves, he hit .281 with two home runs and seven RBIs. A career .269 hitter, he had hit .193 in 34 games for the Pirates last season before he was sidelined by his concussion. He has suffered several concussions in his big league career.

He played his first seven seasons with the Yankees before joining the Pirates in 2015.

Jorge Alfaro Traded to the Miami Marlins

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Jorge Alfarois headed to the Sunshine State…

The Philadelphia Phillieshave traded the 25-year-old Colombian professional baseball catcher to the Miami Marlins, in a deal that includes pitching prospects Sixto Sanchez and Will Stewart, as well as an international bonus slot.

Jorge Alfaro 

In exchange, Miami will send All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia.

Alfaro is a power-hitting, cannon-armed catcher who will join a young group in Miami. 

Sanchez is the most well-regarded prospect in the deal, a 6-foot right-hander whose fastball sits in the high 90s and tops out over 100 mph. The 20-year-old missed a majority of the 2018 season with elbow inflammation. 

Stewart, 21, excelled in Class A last season, going 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 20 starts.

“We did not have to trade J.T.,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hillsaid. “But our goal is to build a long-term sustainable championship organization.”

Miami is hopeful Sanchez and Alfaro can blossom into stars. Sanchez especially has incredible upside, though the list of short, right-handed starters with huge velocity who have succeeded in the major leagues is not long.

“In Sanchez, we saw a front-of-the-rotation starter,” Hill said. “Electric stuff — a pitcher we think can develop and lead a championship rotation.”