Marlins become first team in MLB history to use 70 players in a single season

This isn't quite the worst season in Miami Marlins history nor is it the weirdest—the 1998 and 2020 teams have a stranglehold on those distinctions, respectively. However, the 2024 edition of the Fish might finish runner-up in both categories. Peter Bendix's first season in charge of baseball operations has been plenty bad and plenty bizarre. You cannot point the finger at any particular player when there have been so, so many of them. More than any other team in MLB history, in fact.

With the Miami debut of right-hander Michael Petersen during Friday night's game, the Marlins set an obscure record: most players used by a team in a single season. They broke a tie with the 2021 Chicago Cubs, who utilized 69 different individuals.

It's been eclectic mix of players that Bendix inherited from the previous Marlins administration as well as trade acquisitions, waiver claims and free agent signings (Petersen was just claimed earlier this week). The body count doesn't even include Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez, who have been around the team for much of the regular season, but unable to contribute while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

By and large, it's been an inexperienced collection of talent. Of the 70 players used by the 2024 Marlins, nearly half of them entered the season with less than one full year of MLB service time, including 11 who have made their major league debuts with this club. Those with the most service time were Avisaíl García (released in June), Tim Anderson (released in July) and Josh Bell (salary-dumped in July).

The final total will definitely surpass 70. Along with Petersen, right-hander Jeff Lindgren was also called up prior to the Nats series. Several injured pitchers are projected to return eventually, but their reinstatements are not imminent, so his active roster spot is temporarily safe.

Additionally, four healthy players on the 40-man roster haven't yet played for the Marlins this season: Adam Mazur, Graham Pauley, Agustín Ramírez and Josh Simpson.

The Marlins have 14 more games to create some breathing room between themselves and other MLB teams who may inadvertently pursue their record in the future.