Will 2025 be better? Here's why the Marlins believe so

After a tough season, another nice takeaway is the even deeper Starting rotation this team will have next season. On paper, Sandy-Jesús-Braxton-Weathers-Eddy is the projected 5 in early 2025, while Eury should join around June. Arms like Meyer, Bellozo, and Oller can sustain several outings profiling 5IP-3ER, in case any of the aforementioned rotation pieces goes back to the shelf. That is 9 competent-or-better starters for next year, 10 if you want to add either Curry, Mazur, Munoz, or even Sixto.

But hey, the Marlins also learned this season that there is no such thing as enough rotation depth. Keeping them all in the 40-man has to be the way to go this offseason.

I think Miami isn't that far from being a .500 team. A full season of Sandy, Luzardo, and any other plus a half-season of Eury should be enough to include the Fish in a top-10 rotation. There are several solid bullpen pieces to keep: Faucher, Tinoco, Cronin, Nardi, Bender, McMillon... that's half a bullpen. Finding a closer will be the biggest task this winter.

Granted, so many things have to go the right way to compete next season. A healthy rotation for starters, further development of the youngsters, i.e., Xavier Edwards, Jesús Sánchez, Dane Myers, Griffin Conine, etc., better bullpen, among others. At least one impact bat, whether it comes from prospects, FA, or trade, is definitely needed to have a better-rounded team, 2 of those bats would be ideal.

My shopping list for this offseason would be something like:

1. One or two bats who can play 3B, 1B, or Corner OF with 25+ HR (don't say Bride)
2. A bona fide closer
3. A veteran glove-first C
4. Two established relievers
5. Someone who can actually play good SS (defensive specialist)

I will insist this offseason on prospect promotions: De Los Santos, Ramírez, Banfield, or arms like Arias or Alvarado deserve an ST invitation, with the potential of seizing the opportunity.

Now let's have a sit and see what Bendix and Sherman will do.

1 hour ago, THOMAS JOSEPH said:

I like the direction of your thinking, especially regarding the pitching and ST opportunities. Doubt that FAs are in the picture, and frankly, I can understand that. Lastly, you named Tinoco, and rightly so. I neglected him as one of Bendix's "steals" last season. I'm excited to see this FO's plan implementation. 

I've said it before and I say it again: I do not expect any FA signings this offseason beyond a bunch of minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training...  Maybe, maybe a cheap-specific role, like another LH reliever or a glove-first backup catcher.

1 hour ago, THOMAS JOSEPH said:

"The arms coming back" alone should translate to ten to fifteen wins. Oller, Bellozo, Faucher, and Cronin were all steals. Also important were the ABs for the young new core. No way I am pessimistic at this juncture. 

I do take a bit of an issue with Azout's that "it (Bendix's direction) remains unclear. Although it's true that our insights as front office outsiders can't be complete, I wager Bendix is an inveterate planner with quite specific plans, target, and a timeline. 

I am wary because of baseball's utter unpredictability, of course. Still, the deliberateness of Bendix's strategy feels comforting to me compared to reliance on piecemeal free agent signings, incoherent drafting, and poor developmental accountability. 

It is a rebuild, but I think Bendix is trying for a shortcut to reach a competitive team while strengthening the farm system. And with what we saw during the second half of the season, he might be right!

To call it a full-blown rebuild, I think the only players the FO can potentially deal this winter are Sandy and Luzardo... maybe Jesús Sánchez as well. With both having substantial injuries this season, their trade value is at their lowest, so if that is the direction, makes sense to wait until at least Eury is back.

If I'm not mistaken, the arbitration class for next season is Sánchez (1st-year arb.), Luzardo (2nd), and Bender (1st). Even for a rebuilding team, that is not a substantial increase in your payroll, but salary bumps from Sandy and the money still owed to Avi García, will definitely impact the acquisitions in Free Agency,

All in all, Luzardo, Eddy Cabrera, and Weathers are the most likely to be dealt this winter, but I won't say chances are high for any of them to change uniforms.

3 hours ago, Slacker Mills said:

Rotation:

1) Alcantara

2) Luzardo

3) Garrett

4) Cabrera

5) Weathers

6) Snelling

7) Meyer

8) Oller

9) Bellozo

Expect Alcantara to be traded if he begins the season with high success rate, same for Luzardo

Catcher: Joe Mack, Fortes and Ramirez

1b De Los Santo, Connor Nordy

2b Lopez

ss Edwards

3b Bride

rf Sanchez platoon with RHB

cf Dane Meyers

lf Conine platoon with RHB

 

Largely agree with you, with some small twixes:
- That rotation should include Eury Pérez from June/July on, and I think Snelling will have a chance at some point next season, but won't count him as a part of the depth chart just yet. He only has one AAA outing in his career. Don't sleep on Mazur and Curry.
- As commented below, Luzardo should be dealt mid-season, right after Eury is back... barring injuries from him or other Starters, of course.
- For Catcher, and as of today, I think Will Banfield has a better chance to join the team than Mack. This is purely because Will is supposedly to be a good defensive backstop, which is needed, and Mack has only reached AA. Maybe Joe will surprise me during ST and leapfrog Banfield... who knows?
- I loved what I saw from Norby EXCEPT when he played 3B, he is not a 3B. I would play him 2B and use López as a defensive specialist.
- What did you do with Burger?
- I think the RHB-platoon OF is actually Dane Myers. The CF should be Hill, who is by far the best defender of the bunch. I am already looking forward to the coming OF competition between Myers, Conine, Stowers, Hill, and some ST invitees. Maybe Mesa Jr, as well?

11 hours ago, One Regend said:

I expect a veteran signing on his last legs before retirement. These kids need a winning culture. And who better than a guy who has won it all, a guy who was a superstar, and a guy who still provides good defense in a COF spot, Jason Heyward.

I don't think is all a bad idea: You can also think of Santana, Canha, Solano, Abreu, Grandal, Elias Diaz, Yan Gomes, Hedges, Peralta, Hicks, J.D. Martinez, even Justin Turner...

They all somehow fit -better or worse- in the projected next season's roster.

8 hours ago, One Regend said:

I like some of the names there. Yan Gomes, J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner, and Carlos Santana in particular stand out. Maybe even Andrew McCutchen, though it depends if he wants to retire as a Pirate, though. I honestly wouldn't blame him if he does.

IMO, the names standing out the most are Santana, Canha, and any of the Catchers: Gomes, Díaz, Grandal, or Hedges. The Marlins should use a better glove in 3B and/or 1B, as well as a mentor backup helping Fortes.

If one is to be picked, I'll probably go with Carlos Santana, who's still a great defender, gets on base regularly, and has pop.

I think Martínez, Turner, Heyward, and Peralta might be a bit out of the price tag this cheap FO is willing to spend for any of them.