Jump to content
50% OFF Any FOCO Marlins Bobblehead ×
Fish On First
  • Create Account

Offseason targets: 3rd Base

Hans Herrera

Entry posted by Hans Herrera in Offseason ·

964 views

 Share

Marlins Video

Before the offseason even starts, we can all agree that the Fish are in need of reinforcements for next season, in case they want to be in the contention picture, or worse, if there is even a baseball season. I believe the three main areas of improvement are 3B, SP (probably two of them) and a closer, in that order.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Javier Sanoja. But again, the hot corner is a position where you expect high SLG. Javi is still better profiled as an all-around super utility, and there is nothing wrong with that given the amount of injuries every team experience throughout a full season.

Granted, we find ourselves facing the eternal Marlins conundrum: where to get what it’s needed at the price they want to “afford”. Free Agency is certainly a no-go, and we all know why. In-house options are unreliable or not MLB-ready. That leaves us with the FO’s favourite avenue to acquire players: trade. If they go this way, we need to be clear: the Fish would want young, controllable players, which probably means more than 1 year of control and a projected salary less than $5M.

That said, mlbtraderumors just posted a list of projected arbitration salaries entering this offseason. That’s an attractive pool for Bendix & Co, so I dared to dig into which players could be a good fit for a trade to the Marlins. Here’s my ranking:

1. Casey Schmitt, SF Giants: He had a career year hitting 21 HRs in a tough park for righties. In fact, his splits are a lot better on the road. He can be expendable for the Giants if they expect a healthy Chapman next season. He’s under control for another three seasons and is projected to make around $2,5M. That’s the price range Sherman loves.

2. Zack Gelof, Athletics: Also hit over 20 homers this season, but this one comes with a big caveat: most of that damage was at that launchpad they call home in Sacramento. It won’t be that easy in loanDepot Park. His projected salary next season is around $3M. Still affordable.

3. Jordan Westburg, BAL: My dream trade was crushed last offseason (Coby Mayo) and now should be even more difficult to get the youngster. Instead, the Marlins can roll the dice with Westburg, who missed the entire season due to injury. He’s shown power whenever healthy - which is not that often, though. The good news is that he might not have a place with the Birds anymore, and should cost $1,5M.

Other meh options: Spencer Steer (CIN), Brett Baty (NYM). And I say meh because the Fish might well stick with Javi Sanoja.

One thing to think about: where is that area the Fish can trade players away? OF? Bullpen arms? Prospects? Every other area looks pretty thin to me.

Edited by Hans Herrera
typo, grammar.

4 Comments

Recommended Comments

One Regend

One Regend 278

Posted

Quote

One thing to think about: where is that area the Fish can trade players away? OF? Bullpen arms? Prospects? Every other area looks pretty thin to me.

For me, it's definitely the outfield. The Marlins have a massive surplus in the outfield.

Considering the Marlins now-lukewarm impression of Kemp Alderman, maybe some team might be more willing to give him a chance to get his feet wet, because it's sure as hell ain't going to be the Marlins. The Marlins had ample opportunity to let him see major league pitching while they were dealing with a diarrhea of injuries. Also, late into the season with a hobbling Kyle Stowers and being eliminated from playoff contention, they didn't even bother promoting him just to protect him from Rule 5.

The fact they didn't shut Stowers down for the year and didn't call up Kemp Alderman is a statement of how little faith they have in him. I still consider this year an aberration and that Alderman's talents are way better than that, but the Marlins media doesn't think so. If the team they're trading him to thinks he has a major league future, there's a chance the Marlins could nab a 3B on the market. Maybe might sweeten the deal by including a 20-year old Low-A prospect if the package still feels underwhelming.

Hans Herrera

Hans Herrera 212

Posted

14 hours ago, One Regend said:

For me, it's definitely the outfield. The Marlins have a massive surplus in the outfield.

Considering the Marlins now-lukewarm impression of Kemp Alderman, maybe some team might be more willing to give him a chance to get his feet wet, because it's sure as hell ain't going to be the Marlins. The Marlins had ample opportunity to let him see major league pitching while they were dealing with a diarrhea of injuries. Also, late into the season with a hobbling Kyle Stowers and being eliminated from playoff contention, they didn't even bother promoting him just to protect him from Rule 5.

The fact they didn't shut Stowers down for the year and didn't call up Kemp Alderman is a statement of how little faith they have in him. I still consider this year an aberration and that Alderman's talents are way better than that, but the Marlins media doesn't think so. If the team they're trading him to thinks he has a major league future, there's a chance the Marlins could nab a 3B on the market. Maybe might sweeten the deal by including a 20-year old Low-A prospect if the package still feels underwhelming.

Alderman is next in line to get the Johnston/DDLS treatment. Shocking.

After I finish the offseason targets (SP and a Closer are next), I'll take on the roster crunch after the World Series. This year is going to be very, very interesting. 60-day IL, no-options guys, Rule 5 bunch...

Stay tuned!

One Regend

One Regend 278

Posted

12 hours ago, Hans Herrera said:

Alderman is next in line to get the Johnston/DDLS treatment. Shocking.

After I finish the offseason targets (SP and a Closer are next), I'll take on the roster crunch after the World Series. This year is going to be very, very interesting. 60-day IL, no-options guys, Rule 5 bunch...

Stay tuned!

At least DDLS was put on the 40-man roster. That's more respect for him than Johnston and Alderman ever received. I'm honestly shocked no one took Johnston when he was exposed to the Rule 5 draft. All 29 other teams must have fallen asleep during the winter meetings.

I looked at Johnston's numbers this year, and I'd say he hit well enough, and sure his power wasn't there, and sure his defense was a mess, and sure he was a Coors Field merchant, but that's literally his first year on the job. He'll be put in a more suitable position, likely improve, and the power he was known for in AAA will surface someday. The Marlins are going to regret letting a guy like that go for free.

I'm just bracing for the fact that Kemp Alderman is going to be exposed to Rule 5, because nobody knows ball.

BMK3

BMK3 32

Posted

I'm a Casey Schmitt guy.   The fact that he got a whole lot of key hits against he Marlins may be coloring my thoughts.  I need someone to free up Sanoja to give Lopez and Edwards multiple days off. Could be an interesting infield.

Don't sleep on Graham Pauley.  He made good strides last year.  If he ever figures out that you are allowed to hit the ball to left field he could be a nice piece of third base.

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...