Randy Wolf opts out with D-Backs, signs with Marlins

Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

With the recent news involving top pitcher Jose Fernandez, the ‘Fish had to look for alternatives. Over the last couple days, they have been looking outside of the organization for a pitching addition.

The Miami Marlins reached out to then-Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitcher Randy Wolf, offering him a major league job in Miami. Wolf excersized his opt-out clause in his minor league contract, allowing him to elect free agency and sign with whatever team he wanted to.

Moments after Arizona announced he had opted out of his deal, the Miami Marlins signed pitcher Randy Wolf to a one-year, major league deal, according to Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports that Wolf will immediately be placed in the starting rotation.

This move is not surprising as it seems that the Marlins have lost pitching ace Jose Fernandez. Sources told me that Fernandez will undergo Tommy John surgery, as Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel tweets that he will have the surgery at the end of the week.

Jose Fernandez had been pitching exceptionally so far this season, as he had a 4-2 record over eight starts, compiling a 2.44 ERA. It was apparent something was wrong with Fernandez during his last start against the San Diego Padres. That night he allowed six runs and six hits over five-plus innings of work. That start raised his microscopic 1.74 ERA to a slightly-less microscopic 2.44 ERA.

Randy Wolf had been pitching at the Triple-A level for the Diamondbacks, as he recorded a 4.50 ERA over six starts. It is likely that he will have an easier time pitching in Miami than for the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate due to the fact that Marlins Park is a more spacious stadium. In his fourteen-year career, Wolf has a 132-117 record over 2268 innings of work, with a career 4.20 ERA.