The Marlins have signed 34-year old righty starting pitcher Javier Vazquez to a 1-year deal worth $7 million bucks. Vazquez pitched in 31 games (26 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 418 games (411 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 152-149 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. I love this signing for the Marlins as Vazquez has always been better in the N.L. He is a workhorse that will give the Marlins a ton of innings this season and he will be a good pitcher for the Marlins’ younger pitchers to learn from. The Marlins gave Vazquez a full no-trade clause and they have also agreed not to offer him arbitration next winter.

The Marlins have signed 26-year old righty reliever Frank Mata to a minor league deal. Mata pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Orioles last season and he was 5-3 with 8 saves, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He also got his first major league experience last season with the Orioles and it didn’t go too well. Mata pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the O’s last season and he was 0-0 with a 7.79 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Mata has a good arm and the Marlins will give him a shot to win a job in the pen next spring.

The Marlins have inked 26-year old lefty reliever Victor Garate to a minor league deal. Garate pitched in 40 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 1-2 with 5 saves, a 3.11 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He only gave up 28 hits in the minors last season in 46 1/3 innings while whiffing 59 batters showing that he has good stuff. Garate’s only major league experience came in 2009 with the Nationals when he worked in 4 games (0 starts) and was 0-0 with a 22.50 ERA and a 4.00 WHIP. Garate will get a shot to earn a job in the pen next spring.

The Marlins have signed 28-year old lefty swinging outfielder Josh Kroeger to a minor league deal. Kroeger played in 119 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 90 of 442 (.204 avg, .649 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 12 homers, 54 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. His only major league experience came in 2004 with the Diamondbacks. Kroeger played in 22 games for the D-Backs in 2004 and he was 9 of 54 (.167 avg, .404 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He will get a chance to win a bench job for the Marlins next spring.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Johnson finished 5th in the N.L. Cy Young Award voting. Johnson started 28 games for the Marlins last season and he was 11-6 with a 2.30 ERA (led league) and a 1.11 WHIP. The Marlins shut him down early this year as he was having health issues or he would have finished higher on this list. He has now pitched in 114 games (104 starts) in his first six years with the Marlins and he is 45-22 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The sky is the limit for Johnson’s future.

UPDATE: (12/2/2010) - Josh Johnson finished tied for 25th in the voting for the N.L. MVP Award with outfielder Corey Hart of the Brewers and closer Heath Bell of the Padres.