James Marinan

[Kinsm]

I've wondered about his Rule 5 status. Will he have to be protected?

He will be eligible this winter for the Rule 5 draft, as will any 2017 or earlier Highschool Draft Selection/Int signing and 2018 or earlier College Draft Selection who isn't on a 40 man roster.

It's highly unlikely he is added to the 40 man roster, the Reds are not going to have many spots open once they have to re-add guys on the 60-Day IL even after the upcoming free agents are removed. Additionally, very unlikely that he is plucked during the draft.

There are hundreds and hundreds of players eligible each year, only a dozen too a dozen and a half are selected. Over the past decade fewer than 6 per year have been selected and made it through the season with the team that selected him

[Tom Servo]

Congrats to Marinan on going from complete afterthought to earning a 40 Man roster paycheck. Have to think it’s a sign that his pitches look real good right now.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Have to think it’s a sign that his pitches look real good right now.

In his month-long streak of dominance, Marinan showed a consistent fastball in the upper 90s and a biting offspeed pitch he hadn't shown before.

He's struggling again now, so perhaps it was an anomaly.

I suspect we'll see fairly quickly into the minor league season (assuming that there is a minor league season).

[HokieRed]

Protecting him was well worth the risk, IMO. In fact, I like exactly what they did in the roster additions.

[Danny Serafini]

I really don't think anyone would've picked Marinan. One nice month of A ball isn't near enough to show you're ready for a big league bullpen.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I really don't think anyone would've picked Marinan. One nice month of A ball isn't near enough to show you're ready for a big league bullpen.

A mid-90s fastball that sits there for five innings likely means Marinan could bring it in the upper 90s as a one-inning guy. That offspeed pitch was plus for a month too.

That's absolutely enough for a team like the Pirates or Orioles to grab him.

[Danny Serafini]

Is a mid-90s fastball even that special any more? I would imagine the Pirates and Orioles already have guys like that in their system who won't be clogging up a big league roster spot all season. If he had been doing it in AA for a little while I'm be more concerned, but I really don't think a team would be tempted with one good month of A ball.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Is a mid-90s fastball even that special any more? I would imagine the Pirates and Orioles already have guys like that in their system who won't be clogging up a big league roster spot all season. If he had been doing it in AA for a little while I'm be more concerned, but I really don't think a team would be tempted with one good month of A ball.

Mid-90s as a starter? Yeah, that's well above average.

Upper 90s as a reliever? That's also well above average.

Not too many of those available on the free agent market for next to nothing.

[HokieRed]

I really don't think anyone would've picked Marinan. One nice month of A ball isn't near enough to show you're ready for a big league bullpen.

I probably agree with this, but I wouldn't take that risk to protect a whole lot of what we have on the 40 man roster.

[Mitri]

Marinan would probably get picked. He’s a prospect on the rise, big frame, mid-rotation potential. Not worth risking and let’s be honest the Reds aren’t really adding much to the 40 this offseason.