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In need of serious roster room after purchasing the contracts of seven players, the Miami Marlins have designated third baseman Zack Cox, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, left-hander Scott Maine, and right-hander Evan Reed for assignment, reports Juan C. Rodriguez of the Miami Sun-Sentinel.
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The Marlins are seeking a trade partner for outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
Miami now has 10 days to re-assign, trade, or release the quartet of players. Cox and Hernandez are both young and still have some prospect pedigree hanging around, so it is unlikely either will make it through the waiver wire unclaimed.
Cox, 23, was Baseball America's No. 88 prospect before last season, but poor plate discipline and an alarming number of strikeouts in 2012--his first stint at Triple-A--dropped him off of this year's list. Hernandez, 25, has been an active name on the trade-rumor mill for the last week, so he may end up being dealt before the first week of the season closes out.
Maine and Reed are likely to pass through waivers and be re-assigned to one of the Marlins' minor-league affiliates, if not released altogether. The left-handed Maine, 28, was selected off waivers from the Blue Jays in late November and made just one spring appearance for the Marlins, giving up three runs on two long balls in an inning of work.
Reed, 27, has been with Miami since the Jorge Cantu trade in July 2010, but has yet to make his big-league debut. The righty reliever lost most of 2011 to Tommy John surgery and didn't have his best stuff last season between Double- and Triple-A.
