Marlins sign Jeff Locke to 1-year deal

The Marlins signed veteran starter Jeff Locke to a one-year, $3 million deal Wednesday, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

While the Marlins have been linked to some of the top available closers at the Winter Meetings, the club entered the offseason in need of starting pitching depth. Locke will likely join the Marlins rotation with Edinson Volquez, who Miami signed to a two-year deal last week.

Locke, 29, pitched to a 5.44 ERA and 4.84 FIP over 127.1 innings with the Pirates last season. However, he pitched to an ERA in the mid-to-upper threes in 2013 and 2014 and gives the Marlins another left-handed starter to turn to.

Locke and Volquez join a Marlins rotation that features Adam Conley, Wei-Yin Chen and Tom Koehler but lacks a clear ace after the sudden passing of Jose Fernandez.

Instead of signing some of the top free agent starters, the Marlins seem to be intent on building a “super bullpen” in the event their starters can’t pitch deep into games.