Another rotation candidate is about to join the Marlins. Left-hander Jeff Locke has reached an agreement on a one-year contract, pending completion of his physical, MLB.com has confirmed.
Locke, who had been with the Pirates since 2011, would become one of three left-handers in Miami's projected rotation. The Marlins also are finalizing a contract with right-handed reliever Dustin McGowan, who will be returning to Miami.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was first to report Locke's deal.
Locke is the second free-agent starter the Marlins have signed in the past two weeks. They previously added right-hander Edinson Volquez to a two-year, $22 million contract.
Locke was 9-8 with a 5.44 ERA in 30 appearances (19 starts) in 2016. The 29-year-old struck out 73 in 127 1/3 innings.
In Miami, Locke will be reuniting with Jim Benedict, the Marlins' vice president of pitching development. The two previously worked together in Pittsburgh.
An All-Star in 2013, Locke was 10-7 with a 3.52 ERA that year. He has a 50.6 percent ground-ball rate over the past four seasons.
Locke is primed to join fellow left-handers Adam Conley and Wei-Yin Chen in Miami's rotation. Volquez and Tom Koehler are the right-handers.
McGowan, 34, posted a 2.82 ERA in 55 games with the Marlins over 67 innings in 2016. He was a non-roster invitee last year. The right-hander is finalizing a guaranteed big league deal, which means he is expected to make the Opening Day roster.
McGowan has starting experience during his years with the Blue Jays. He will likely be used in multiple-inning relief situations.
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