Updated 2024 Marlins roster projection following Tim Anderson signing

[Ely Sussman]

In the aftermath of adding a veteran shortstop to the mix, I'm projecting which 26 Marlins players are best positioned to make the Opening Day roster.

Grapefruit League games haven't even begun yet and I already need to scrap last week's Miami Marlins roster projection. Who knows how effective Tim Anderson will be as the club's new shortstop, but the deal came together in ample time for Anderson to be active for Opening Day. That means somebody who was previously on track to make the cut is now on the outside looking in.

I can say with a fairly high degree of confidence that there will be discrepancies between this projection and the ultimate 26-man active roster. Injuries are almost inevitable over the next five weeks. There will be extreme Grapefruit League performances that cannot be forecasted and may tilt a roster battle. Even so, hopefully you find some value in this exercise.

Look out for at least one more roster projection update between now and Opening Day.

 

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Position Players

Catchers (2): Christian Bethancourt, Nick Fortes

Infielders (6): Tim Anderson, Luis Arraez, Josh Bell, Jon Berti, Jake Burger, Vidal Bruján

Outfielders (5): Jazz Chisholm Jr., Bryan De La Cruz, Avisaíl García, Nick Gordon, Jesús Sánchez 

Just missed: Xavier Edwards, Trey Mancini, Dane Myers   

The catching situation is straightforward. Fortes' active roster spot could be in jeopardy early in the regular season if he continues to scuffle at the plate just as much as he did in 2023, but he's doubtful to be usurped on the depth chart until the real games begin.

The Marlins traded three prospects in their deal to acquire the out-of-options Bruján. I still expect him to break camp with the club, though he's rarely going to step on the field for anything other than pinch-running and end-of-game defense.

Until Arraez hurt his ankle last September, there wasn't much of a role for Edwards to play. Unfortunately, that continues to be the case. For the time being, the Marlins would presumably prefer having him in Triple-A Jacksonville's everyday lineup instead of warming the bench in Miami. It's a long season and he will get his chance eventually.

The Marlins continue to reject the notion that García is a sunk cost. Perhaps they will change their tune before Opening Day, but with all of the guaranteed money still coming his way, it's not a fair fight between him and other hitters in camp.

 

Pitchers

Starters (5): Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera, Trevor Rogers 

Relievers (8): Anthony Bender, JT Chargois, Declan Cronin, Andrew Nardi, A.J. Puk, Tanner Scott, Josh Simpson, George Soriano 

Just missed: Huascar Brazoban, Anthony Maldonado, Max Meyer, Ryan Weathers 

Pretty good pitching staff, though pretty boring considering all but one of these arms finished last season in the Marlins organization.

The exception is the righty in this photo, Declan Cronin. You had no clue what he looked like until now, and that's okay. Cronin has been outstanding in spring workouts from what Fish On First reporters have observed.

Cronin is capitalizing on the absence of Brazoban. Just like in 2023, the Dominican reliever is significantly behind schedule due to visa issues. Last year, he trained independently while that was being sorted out and ramped up in time to join the Opening Day bullpen. Even with that precedent, I can't give him the benefit of the doubt for something that's partially beyond his control.

Simpson slides into the lefty specialist role that previously belonged to Steven Okert. His nasty curveball should allow him to thrive with the platoon advantage.

Soriano would be the projected mop-up man and likeliest pitcher to get optioned to the minors when making room for a fresh arm.

Maldonado has nothing left to prove in Triple-A. Wouldn't be a shock if a preseason reliever injury paves the way for him to make the cut. However, it will be very tempting to delay his debut until mid-April, limiting enough MLB service time to ensure that club control carries through 2030 instead of only 2029.

I believe Sixto Sánchez—who is out of options—will be designated for assignment when the times comes to finalize the roster.

 

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Any differences between your roster projection and mine? Comment to let me know.

 

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[Julio]

I don't understand keeping Meyer off the big league team roster.

[Stanley J Makowski]

I would agree with your assessments with one possible exception. If Meyer is being sent down for a week or two, fine. But in my opinion, he should be on the ML roster ASAP. Possibly in a relief role.  This team sorely needs more RH relief pitchers. Right now, I'm more worried about Perez and Garrett and their "soreness".

[Slacker Mills]

The bullpen will likely be very different. Ideally, it will not feature Chargoit or Brazoban or Cronin. They all walk too many hitters. We have no idea what to expect of Bender ... just the fact that we all like him.  I'm guessing that Maldonado will be there. Definitely Puk, Nardi and Scott. Because the starters mostly tend toward short outings (rarely more than 5 IP), there is a need for at least three multi-inning guys. That would be Puk, Soriano, and possibly Meyers. If a starter goes down this spring, Weathers is a logical replacement.

[Ely Sussman]

8 hours ago, Julio said:

I don't understand keeping Meyer off the big league team roster.

He has an opportunity to earn a spot! But the odds are against him making it as a starter right away because Cabrera has no minor league options and Rogers appears to be fully healthy and has the edge in MLB experience. They are clearly ahead of him on the depth chart.

Meyer was a reliever occasionally during his college career, but hasn't done it at all since being drafted. I think they want him to fully focus on developing as a SP for the time being even if there is room in the 'pen.

[Ely Sussman]

3 hours ago, Slacker Mills said:

The bullpen will likely be very different. Ideally, it will not feature Chargoit or Brazoban or Cronin. They all walk too many hitters. We have no idea what to expect of Bender ... just the fact that we all like him.  I'm guessing that Maldonado will be there. Definitely Puk, Nardi and Scott. Because the starters mostly tend toward short outings (rarely more than 5 IP), there is a need for at least three multi-inning guys. That would be Puk, Soriano, and possibly Meyers. If a starter goes down this spring, Weathers is a logical replacement.

In the next projection update, I will differentiate between "locks" and players who are "on the bubble" because I agree that the RPs you mentioned could go either way. They wouldn't hesitate to send down Bender if there is clear rust, and Bendix has already been involved in trading away Chargois once before. He might do it again if he determines that there are 8 RPs in camp superior to him.

[Slacker Mills]

I'll go out on a limb and project that Sixto makes the roster. The Fish On First staff unanimously diss that possibility, but he seems to have found a delivery that allows him to pitch without strain ... a happy medium. Even when Sixto threw 98, his fast ball was straight and hittable. He had less than 7.6K per 9 in his major league innings. Like he says, he still has his change.

Can he get by with mostly confidence and guile? I've got a gut feeling that he can.

[Slacker Mills]

Vidal Brujan is a puzzler to me. He has performed miserably in big league appearances in each of the last three years. His speed is negated by consistently poor rates of successful base stealing attempts.

I'd much prefer Edwards on the roster. In addition to being a switch hitter who doesn't strike out much, he is a better baserunner. In a fair competition this spring, I am confident that he outshines Brujan (and Gordon).

[One Regend]

On 2/23/2024 at 9:58 AM, Julio said:

I don't understand keeping Meyer off the big league team roster.

He literally just got done with Tommy John surgery. He needs reps first to ramp up his workload, and he will likely go to AAA to get those reps. Asking him to get those reps in the majors is asking for too much, especially considering he doesn't have much major league experience, and an experience with effectiveness to boot.