Marlins assistant general manager Brian Chattin is among those who just received added job security, Craig Mish reports. Michael Hill is still entering his “walk year,” but he convinced Marlins CEO Derek Jeter to commit to many of his top baseball operations lieutenants. According to Craig Mish on the latest Swings and Mishes episode, the Marlins have extended “virtually all of [their] top-level front office staff” through the 2021 season. CEO Derek Jeter approved the new contracts on the recommendation of president of baseball operations Michael Hill. Mish only confirmed assistant general manager Brian Chattin by name, but said that the same is true for many other publicly listed employees. Vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo and major league director of player personnel Dan Greenlee are among the executives who have reportedly had loud voices in the decision-making process during the two-plus years since the ownership change. It’s been a refreshingly drama-free and encouraging winter for the Fish. Pending another bullpen addition—free agent right-hander Pedro Strop could be selecting his next team as soon as this weekend—they have fortified all of last year’s roster weaknesses, and have done so in a way that protects their top prospects and maintains long-term payroll flexibility. Earlier this month, I advocated on Fish Bites for the Marlins to extend Hill to ensure continuity within the baseball ops department. However, Mish says Hill is still entering 2020 on an expiring deal—“at the end of the year or maybe even sooner,” he is expected to officially sign up to stick around, but his status will be partially subject to the team’s performance on the field. The Marlins cannot have a repeat of last season’s 57-105 record and minus-193 run differential. Mish also wonders aloud whether Hill was paid above market rate by Jeffrey Loria and if new ownership will attempt to reduce his salary in exchange for job security (as they did when extending manager Don Mattingly). The full Swings and Mishes episode, which includes an interview with fast-rising outfield prospect Peyton Burdick, is embedded below and available across all podcast platforms.

Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images Miami had a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter but had to fend off OKC to lock in road win. The Miami Heat needed a team effort late in the game to withstand one last Oklahoma City Thunder rally for a well-earned 115-108 road win Friday night. Seven players scored in double-figures for Miami, led by Kendrick Nunn with 22 points (9-17 FG shooting) and Bam Adebayo who had 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson each contributed 14 points while reserves Goran Dragic (10 points, five assists), Derrick Jones Jr. (13 points, five rebounds), and Kelly Olynyk (12 points on a perfect 5-5 FG shooting) made their presence felt when they played. Olynyk in particular had another strong outing after not appearing in several games, a welcome sign that added another impactful dimension to their offense with his playmaking and court vision. Nunn, in his 12th 20-point game of his rookie season, followed a strong game against the San Antonio Spurs with another excellent performance in which he nailed several shots in timely fashion when his team needed a score on a night where Butler was quiet from the field and with Tyler Herro out. Not only did he shot well from the field, he was also effective slashing at the rim and finishing. The team also took care of the ball with 11 turnovers, still not ideal but an improvement for this team, and they out-rebounded the Thunder 45 to 35. Miami ran out of the gate with 40 points in the opening quarter, giving them a nice cushion that they would need to absorb several stretches in which the home team threatened to turn the tide and get the crowd back into it. But time and time again the Heat would respond to maintain their lead at double-digits. The lead had swelled to 105-83 four minutes into the final quarter after a four-point play from Derrick Jones Jr. before the Thunder went on a 22-7 run to cut it to seven points with two minutes left after a Chris Paul 3-pointer, though they wouldn’t get any closer with time running out. The San Antonio Spurs host the Heat, now 11-11 on the road, next on Sunday at 3pm.

Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images The unorthodox lefty hits the open market coming off a milestone age-30 campaign. Journeyman left-hander Brian Moran is looking to latch on with another organization after being released by the Marlins Friday night (h/t Andersen Pickard, MLB Daily Dish). Moran had been designated for assignment on Wednesday to make room for on the 40-man roster for newly acquired Stephen Tarpley. Moran was a bright spot for Triple-A New Orleans, tossing 60 innings of 3.15 ERA/4.18 FIP/4.48 xFIP ball for them in 2019. The Marlins rewarded him with a September call-up after more than decade in professional baseball. His 10 appearances down the stretch were mostly forgettable, with the exception of his debut: Brian Moran made younger brother (and former Miami farmhand) Colin Moran his first-ever MLB strikeout victim. Moran’s pitching style is difficult to describe—imagine stretching out Sergio Romo’s limbs and reversing his handedness. There are no more than a handful of current major leaguers who subsist on a two-pitch arsenal despite one of those offerings being a mid-80s fastball. Fish Stripes original GIF This move is just the latest step towards overhauling the Marlins bullpen. They used 20 different pitchers in relief in 2019; only eight of them are still with the organization.

Commissioner Keon Hardemon, smiling, asked whether Ortiz classified himself as black or white when he applied to work at MPD.