Francisco

Cervelli

He’ll replace Rod Barajas, who has been a part of the Padres’ coaching staff since October of 2018. Cervelli announced his retirement last fall after a 13-year playing career.

Still only 34 years old, Cervelli might perhaps have a few more years left in him if it weren’t for the concussion issues that have followed him for much of the back half of his career. When he’s been able to stay on the field he’s still proven to be a productive hitter, posting an .808 OPS in 16 games with the Marlins this year. Cervelli finishes his MLB career as a .268/.358/.382 hitter in 13 seasons, playing for four different organizations across his 730 games.

Cervelli is done for the remainder of the 2020 regular season due to lingering concussion symptoms.

It’s scary given Cervelli’s history of concussions. Brian Navarreto has replaced him on the roster.

The Marlins plated all four of their runs off Wacha in the second inning, which stood up as the difference in the ballgame. The primary fill-in behind the plate with Jorge Alfaro (COVID-19) sidelined, Cervelli now has two homers along with a .227/.292/.545 batting line over six games. He’s a solid second catcher in two-catcher mixed formats.

The deal was agreed to back on December 23 and has now finally been made official. Cervelli posted a weak .213/.302/.348 batting line with three home runs over 48 games last season between the Pirates and Braves while again struggling through concussion issues, but the 33-year-old should be a solid veteran backup to Jorge Alfaro in Miami if he can stay healthy.

Multiple reports indicated that the deal is worth $2 million. Cervelli dealt with another concussion this past season, but he managed to make it back for the stretch run with the Braves and will now shift into a backup role in Miami. Going into his age-34 season, Cervelli isn’t going to provide fantasy production in this role, but he should be a useful player for the Marlins assuming his health cooperates.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Sunday that the Marlins were pushing for the deal. The 33-year-old will serve as a backup to Jorge Alfaro, giving Miami a veteran influence on their young pitcing staff. Cervelli dealt with more concussion issues in 2019 while batting 213/.302/.348 in 48 games between the Pirates and Braves.

Jorge Alfaro is locked in as the Marlins’ everyday catcher, but Cervelli would be a good backup who can also play first base as needed. The 33-year-old hit .213/.302/.348 in 48 games between the Pirates and Braves this past season. Cervelli had a career-best offensive year in 2018, though, and is a nice low-risk veteran addition for the rebuilding Marlins.

Cervelli swatted a two-run tater -- his second long ball of the season -- to left field off Giants’ reliever Dereck Rodriguez in the fifth inning. He also walked and scored an additional run in the one-sided affair. The 33-year-old veteran backstop made his sixth start behind the plate for the playoff-bound Braves and went deep at the big-league level for the first time since April 10. He can be safely ignored in all fantasy formats.