Inbox: Could Fister fit in Marlins’ rotation?

If no trades are made, can you see Doug Fister being a free-agent fit? He’s familiar with the division and could be a low-risk, one-year deal. — @DustinLindbom via Twitter

Fister indeed could be a nice fit, and he should be a realistic option. The 32-year-old is coming off a year in which he made 32 starts and logged 180 1/3 innings with the Astros. The Marlins are looking for starters with a track record for compiling innings. Fister just made $7 million in 2016, and I’d expect his price tag to be about $10 million for next season. Andrew Cashner, who the Marlins didn’t attempt to sign, just landed with the Rangers for one-year, $10 million, and Fister was more reliable in ’16.

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A sinker-ball pitcher, Fister had a 45.3 ground-ball percentage this year. Starting half of his games at pitcher-friendly Marlins Park could help entice Fister to Miami, as could having one of the game’s best defensive infields behind him. Ultimately, Fister would have to buy into what the Marlins are offering in terms of salary and the culture manager Don Mattingly is creating.

• Hot Stove Tracker

@JoeFrisaro does it make sense to trade Ozuna for pitching & sign a big name FA to replace him? Or unrealistic, Marlins won’t spend big $$$

— Jeffrey Osborne (@Jeffosby) November 22, 2016

@JoeFrisaro does it make sense to trade Ozuna for pitching & sign a big name FA to replace him? Or unrealistic, Marlins won’t spend big $$$

In my opinion, no, it doesn’t make sense. Let’s take Marcell Ozuna’s situation. He’s entering his first year of arbitration and isn’t eligible for free agency until 2020. So he is highly affordable right now. Fans can speculate that Ozuna should be traded and replaced by a free agent like Dexter Fowler. But to acquire Fowler will come at a high cost, at least $10 million a season.

Before you sign a big-ticket free-agent …

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