Updated 2024 Marlins roster projection following Edward Cabrera injury, camp cuts

[Ely Sussman]

A couple weeks away from the Marlins' season opener, I'm projecting which 26 players are best positioned to make the Opening Day roster.

This article was originally published early Wednesday morning under the assumption that JT Chargois (neck spasms) should be ready for Opening Day. It has since been updated with the news that he's not fully healthy yet.

Ideally, you hope to see players on the roster bubble demonstrate tangible improvements during spring training to earn their place on the big league team. The Miami Marlins have had some of that. Unfortunately, the outcomes of spring competitions are more often dictated by injuries and the amount of control that the club can exert over particular guys. A clearer picture of the Marlins' initial 26-man squad is coming into focus mainly because of those factors.

Look out for one more roster projection update before Opening Day.

 

---

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, Dane Myers 

Projected MLB IL: none

These 13 selections are unchanged from my previous projection.

Entering Wednesday, García has recorded only one extra-base hit in 30 plate appearances while striking out one-third of the time. I still doubt that the Marlins cut their losses until assessing him in regular season contests.

An outstanding spring for Edwards—both offensively and defensively—could have potentially propelled him back to Miami. However, his OPS was only .462 through five Grapefruit League games, handling shortstop still looks like a pipe dream, and his playing time has been limited by a minor foot injury.

Among Miami's non-roster invitees, Trey Mancini was best-positioned to make the team. He simply hasn't performed.

 

Pitchers

Starters (5): Jesús Luzardo, Eury Pérez, A.J. Puk, Ryan Weathers, Trevor Rogers 

Relievers (8): Anthony Bender, Declan Cronin, Bryan Hoeing, Anthony Maldonado, Sixto Sánchez, Andrew Nardi, Tanner Scott, George Soriano 

Just missed: Vladimir Gutierrez, Max Meyer

Projected MLB IL: Edward Cabrera, JT Chargois, Braxton Garrett 

The Marlins rotation is set. These are the only five pitchers remaining in big league camp who are on the 40-man, injury-free and on track to be stretched out by Opening Day. A fascinating wrinkle: the arms occupying the final three spots combined to make only six starts for the 2023 Fish. Meyer would be the next man up while Garrett and Cabrera recover from their respective shoulder problems.

Miami's relief situation is still very much in flux beyond the highest-leverage arms of Scott, Nardi, Bender and Soriano.

I believed that Josh Simpson was well-suited for the role of third lefty 'pen weapon, but he has been betrayed by his elbow (last game appearance was Feb. 27). Huascar Brazoban (visa issues) remains unable to report to camp and we're past the point of him being able to make up for lost time.

Hoeing gets the multi-inning mop-up man role and Maldonado has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues.

Chargois looked very rusty during Tuesday's relief appearance. I originally did this projection under the assumption that he'd get things straightened out in the coming weeks, but instead, he's meeting with a specialist to evaluate his neck/spine issue.

Sixto Sánchez's revival has been a fun development! As explained here, he's still far away from being a viable MLB reliever. But given the lack of fully healthy alternatives and Sánchez's out-of-options status, this opportunity has fallen in his lap.

View full article