Solid Veteran Reliever Hits Free Agent Market

He's got over 30 career saves and has shown himself to be capable as a late-inning, high-leverage reliever on a number of teams. But after injuries knocked him out for almost all of 2023, Mychal Givens is looking for a new home, deciding to opt out of his minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.

Veteran right-handed reliever Mychal Givens triggered an opt-out in his minor league deal with the #Marlins, per source. He was granted his release and is now a free agent.
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) May 2, 2024

Givens now joins the free agent market, and if he can regain his control, can be a contributing factor in a team's bullpen. In a five-year span with the Baltimore Orioles to begin his career, Givens posted a 3.32 ERA over 300+ innings with a WHIP of 1.14 and a strikeout rate of 11 batters per nine innings.

But knee and shoulder injuries derailed his 2023, when he pitched in just four innings back with the O's after quick stints with Colorado, Cincinnati, the Cubs and the Mets.

His overall numbers with the Marlins' AAA affiliate in Jacksonville this season look ugly, with a 7.94 ERA, but that's all attributable to one very bad outing to start the year. He has an 8:1 K/BB ratio in his last 5.2 innings with just one earned run.

For his career, over nine seasons, he has a 3.47 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and 10.5 K/9. He has 31 saves and 85 holds as a late-inning reliever. He spent a bit of time as the closer in Baltimore in 2019, and again with the Cincinnati Reds for a short period in 2021.