Ely Sussman

Whoever takes over the Miami Marlins front office in the coming weeks has an intimidating assignment ahead of them. Even for the most brilliant mind, it will take a long time to put the organization on stable ground. This article details how I would spend the first winter in charge if Bruce Sherman were misguided enough to listen to me. MLB teams must constantly self-assess where they stand on the present vs. future spectrum: "How are you prioritizing major league success during the current season compared to the long term?" By the second half of the 2023 season, the Marlins had made an extreme shift toward the "present" side. They traded away several of their top prospects in win-now moves, challenged young pitchers with heavy workloads and paid half a million bucks for four innings' worth of Matt Moore to push them across the finish line. On a scale of one to ten, where one represents a full-on rebuild and ten represents going all-in to win, the Marlins were a nine. As enjoyable as it was to cover, it felt over-aggressive. If Kim Ng had been operating with legit job security, I have to imagine the club's approach would've been more measured. My offseason plan involves recalibrating to a seven out of ten on that aforementioned scale. The Marlins have alienated their fans in the past by taking a significant step back following every postseason appearance. There needs to be some urgency about snapping that cycle in 2024, while also stopping short of depleting an already-weak farm system and accepting that Sherman's budget will be lower than that of most other MLB teams. The blueprint below basically goes in chronological order from early November through pre-Opening Day extension talks, concluding with an overview of what my version of the 2024 Marlins would look like. 2024 Contract Options1B Josh Bell opts outMarlins exercise UTIL Jon Berti's club option ($3.625M salary)Marlins decline RHP Matt Barnes' club option ($2.75M buyout)Marlins decline RHP Johnny Cueto's club option ($2.5M buyout)I have spent too much time trying to anticipate what Bell will do with his option. It could go either way. He's been a replacement-level player over his last 200 games, which ordinarily would merit far less than a $16.5M salary. On the other hand, his most recent two months of performance fell in line with his above-average career norms. If forced to pick a side, I predict he'll opt out. Jorge Soler already made his decision to test free agency, as announced by the Marlins on Thursday. It was a no-brainer. Some team should be willing to give him Mitch Haniger money (3/$43.5M) given the dearth of high-end power bats in this free agent class. Despite their valuable contributions to the Marlins offense this season, I'm not eager to retain Bell or Soler at their fair market price. It's just too inefficient. They have both had prolonged stretches of inconsistency in their recent past. Also, I inevitably will be going outside the organization to address the team's premium defensive positions and pitching staff—resources need to be preserved for those items. I have previously written about Miami's 2024 club options. Those are easy calls. Rule 5 Draft ProtectionsMarlins select Victor Mesa Jr., Troy Johnston, Nasim Nuñez and Anthony Maldonado to the 40-man rosterYou're probably thinking, "Are there really that many players from this struggling farm system who are worth protecting?" In a vacuum, no. I don't think all of them would be selected in the Rule 5, but it's better to be safe than sorry when there is so little interesting depth behind them in the pipeline. Mesa is going to be my everyday center fielder at Triple-A Jacksonville. Johnston is making the Marlins Opening Day roster unless he poops the bed during spring training. I'd like to find out whether he can fake it in left field in addition to playing first base. Give Nuñez's bat another year to develop and ensure that teams enamored with his defense and baserunning can't snatch him away to fill out their bench. Maldonado will be in serious contention to crack the major league bullpen after steamrolling Triple-A competition. Other notable Rule 5 guys coming off productive 2023 campaigns include Will Banfield, Luarbert Arias and Griffin Conine. This far in advance, it would be pure guesswork to project which quality prospects will be eligible to draft from other organizations. Considering that the Marlins find themselves in the bottom half of the draft order and—under my direction—are still motivated to win now, I'm sitting out the major league phase of the Rule 5. After accommodating Mesa, Johnston, Nuñez and Maldonado while also bringing back Max Meyer, Trevor Rogers, Anthony Bender and Tommy Nance from the 60-day injured list, the Marlins 40-man roster is full. Roster CasualtiesMarlins release OF Avisaíl GarcíaMarlins non-tender and release C Jacob StallingsTo create more breathing room, I'm ready to turn the page on two veterans who are far removed from their respective primes after back-to-back disappointing seasons. It is time to bite the bullet on García, whose acquisition was the worst free agent deal in Marlins history. He is a classic sunk cost, having struck out in 30% of his Marlins plate appearances—he hasn't provided nearly enough run production to offset that. Can't count on him staying healthy, either. Is it possible that something clicks with his plate approach and he rediscovers his previous form as a lifetime average-ish MLB hitter? Yes, but that likelihood is so remote, I'd rather have the extra roster spot. I still owe García $29M, including $12M in 2024. Entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, Stallings is projected for a $3.6M salary, per MLB Trade Rumors. That's tolerable for an experienced, defense-first backup. Problem is, Stallings' defense has been decisively below average as a Marlin, and even by catcher standards, his bat is impotent. With Sandy Alcantara sidelined throughout next season (Stallings caught every Alcantara pitch in 2022 and 2023), I cannot justify keeping the soon-to-be 34-year-old. Now, for the fun stuff... Free AgencyDH/OF Jorge Soler rejects one-year, $20.3M qualifying offer from MarlinsMarlins sign OF Adam Duvall to two-year, $16M dealMarlins sign LHP Wandy Peralta to two-year, $10M dealMarlins sign RHP Jack Flaherty to one-year, $9M deal with up to $4M in performance bonuses based on games startedMarlins sign OF Jonathan Davis, DH/1B Miguel Sanó, RHP Spencer Turnbull and LHP Richard Bleier to minor league dealsI believe the qualifying offer value exceeds any 2024 salary that Soler will be presented with in free agency. However, there are far greater multi-year guarantees awaiting him. By rejecting the QO and ultimately landing elsewhere, the Marlins get a compensatory draft pick. That pick would likely come after Competitive Balance Round B, but there's an outside shot of it falling between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A if the bidding war escalates to at least $50M. Duvall comes with a steeper price tag than he did when the Marlins previously signed him three years ago. During the interim, he slashed .229/.286/.479 (102 wRC+) and produced 5.5 fWAR, homering 71 times in what amounted to two full seasons' worth of playing time. He's still capable of playing every outfield position at age 35. Best-case scenario, I get the 2021 version of Duvall, but the reasonable expectation for him is a good platoon player and clubhouse presence. I won't be scared away by Peralta's 5.06 FIP. He's a groundball machine who has repeatedly outperformed his peripherals. The veteran lefty's fit with this Marlins roster will make more sense once you peruse my trades. Every starting pitcher in Flaherty's price range comes with some warts, but I like his upside way more than, say, Johnny Cueto, who got similar money last offseason. The right-hander's fastball velocity has been in gradual decline. It would behoove him to put more trust in his changeup, and what better place to improve your changeup than the Marlins organization? The performance bonuses in this contract are $1M apiece for making 15, 20, 25 and 30 regular season starts. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/03/725c6d54-372f46c7-e8870e79-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4I would be handing out more than four MiLB deals to fill up big league camp. I'm just highlighting Davis, Sanó, Turnbull and Bleier as viable candidates to squeeze onto the Opening Day roster depending on injuries and other unforeseen events. TradesSt. Louis Cardinals trade UTIL Tommy Edman and C Iván Herrera to Marlins for RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Jacob Miller, OF/IF Javier Sanoja and C Joe MackNew York Yankees trade RHP Randy Vásquez, RHP Ian Hamilton and C Kyle Higashioka to Marlins for LHP Tanner Scott and OF Bryan De La CruzChicago White Sox trade DH/LF Eloy Jiménez and $3M to Marlins for RHP George Soriano and OF Kemp Alderman Milwaukee Brewers trade OF Hendry Mendez to Marlins for UTIL Garrett Hampson Houston Astros trade IF Tim Borden to Marlins for LHP Steven Okert Marlins trade RHP Tommy Nance to Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerationsEdman becomes my starting shortstop for 2024. Over the last two seasons, he has played more defensive innings there than at any other position, and he's handled the assignment well. He's a major upgrade over Joey Wendle in terms of run production and baserunning, plus he's under club control through 2025. Herrera is a lifetime .280/.391/.432 hitter in the minors who's coming off his best offensive season yet. He'll battle against Nick Fortes for an Opening Day job. I'm lower than most on Cabrera. I don't see a scenario where he becomes a consistently great starting pitcher. I'm not even certain that he's a top-five starter in my Sandy-less rotation. The Cardinals would undoubtedly appreciate him more. Miller is a 2022 draft pick who had an okay Low-A campaign. A contact-hitting utility guy, Sanoja is intriguing yet replaceable. Mack is far more talented than last season's 69 wRC+ would imply. Compared to Herrera, his developmental timeline aligns better with Willson Contreras' contract. Vásquez likely opens up next season in the Triple-A rotation. He figures to be a frequent flyer between Jacksonville and Miami. Hamilton impressed as a rookie and will be our go-to right-handed reliever in most high-leverage situations. Despite limited playing time, Higashioka has reached double-digit homers in three straight years. Solid backup catcher. Scott was too good in 2023. I don't have the budget to be committing $10M+ per year to any reliever over multiple years, and that's what he would be looking for in extension talks considering his degree of dominance and his status as a pending free agent. Who knows if his past control issues are fully behind him, anyway. Too much risk for me. Losing De La Cruz hurts as well because there is a higher level he could potentially ascend to, but he still doesn't have a firm grasp of the fundamentals entering his age-27 season. Jiménez is my Soler replacement. Not as dangerous against lefties, but a better pure hitter who's a lot younger. He has one more guaranteed year left on his then-historic, pre-debut extension. The White Sox have no path to contend in 2024, and frankly, Jiménez has had a frustrating career thus far. Due to injuries, he played even fewer games from 2021-2023 than Jazz Chisholm Jr. did. The cash in this trade represents the buyout of his 2025 or 2026 club option in case he disappoints, but I'm optimistic about getting three years out of him. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/30/322cc1f7-8d5212f1-1f859c6f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Soriano definitely upped his value over the last year. Sexy three-pitch mix. I still project him more as a middle reliever than a legit starter. Alderman is one of the few guys in the Marlins system with comparable raw power to Jiménez. Hasn't played above Low-A yet, though. Hampson, Okert and Nance are casualties of 40-man roster maintenance. Borden will report to Double-A and Mendez to High-A next season. Contract ExtensionsMarlins sign Luis Arraez to six-year, $92M extension with $16M vesting option for 2030Marlins sign Jesús Luzardo to six-year, $77.5M extension with opt-out after 2027 seasonMarlins sign Trevor Rogers to three-year, $17M extension with $12.5M club option for 2027 and $12.5M club option for 2028The breakdown of Arraez's extension is $12M in 2024 and $16M annually from 2025-29. His 2030 option vests if he places top 10 in the 2029 National League batting title race. It's based loosely on the contract that DJ LeMahieu signed with the Yankees during the 2020-21 offseason. There's simply nobody else quite like Arraez. I trust him to come fairly close to sustaining what he's done to this point in his career. He wants to be here and the fanbase adores him. Even assuming that he will gradually transition from second base to first base/DH, he's worth the investment. The breakdown of Luzardo's extension is $5M in 2024, $10M in 2025, $12.5M in 2026, $15M in 2027 and $17.5M annually from 2028-29. It's a less exploitative version of the extension that Sandy Alcantara signed during the 2021-22 offseason and edges out Eduardo Rodriguez's guarantee from his 2021-22 free agent signing with the Detroit Tigers. This deal structure gives me at least one extra year of club control over Luzardo while allowing him to test free agency right after his 30th birthday if he desires. The back end of the deal could become burdensome in the event of catastrophic injury, but it won't be truly crippling to my competitive chances regardless. The breakdown of Rogers' extension is $2M in 2024, $5M in 2025 and $8M in 2026 with $2M buyouts for both of the option years. It carries a maximum value of $40M over the next five seasons if both options are exercised. It's based loosely on the extension that Chris Paddack signed with the Minnesota Twins during the 2022-23 offseason. I love this buy-low opportunity on somebody who still has mid-rotation starter upside. The majority of Rogers' missed time in 2023 came as the result of a fluky injury to his non-throwing arm. He struggled in 2022, though not quite as much as his 75 ERA+ would suggest. Worst-case scenario, I can see him reinventing himself as a two-pitch reliever. I would also attempt to negotiate with Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a deal in the five-year, $50 million range, but I don't think we'd be able to find common ground on that. How these pieces fit togetherI'm envisioning an Opening Day rotation of Jesús Luzardo, Eury Pérez, Braxton Garrett, Jack Flaherty and Trevor Rogers. The depth behind them includes Max Meyer, Ryan Weathers, Randy Vásquez and Patrick Monteverde. Keep in mind, Skip Schumaker is still the Marlins manager in this hypothetical. He's not beholden to using one specific guy as closer, but I figure he would put A.J. Puk first in line for save opportunities—Puk quietly finished 2023 on a high note. Compared to where we stood at the end of 2023, the catcher and shortstop situations have been clearly upgraded. I feel left field is also in better hands, but there's room for debate on that. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is overdue for a healthy season...right? Hopefully, Troy Johnston hits the ground running at first base. If he flops, the fallback plan would be for Jake Burger to take over and patch together third base with Jon Berti and Xavier Edwards. Accounting for all of the guaranteed contracts, the buyouts of club options, the projected salaries of arbitration-eligible players via MLB Trade Rumors and the pre-arb players needed to fill out the roster, these Marlins would have an Opening Day payroll of approximately $107M. If the postseason is within reach, Sherman will give me some wiggle room to add more as the season progresses. Despite my best efforts, I can't say I'm confident in these Marlins immediately making it back to the postseason. There's a lot of dead money on the books while Sandy Alcantara rehabs and Avisaíl García explores other opportunities. The departures of Jorge Soler and Josh Bell hurt, and even with them in the fold, they were outscored by opposing teams. Several talented but unestablished players must exceed expectations—I'm specifically looking at Meyer, Weathers and Herrera. What's your favorite move of mine? Your least favorite? The most unrealistic? Comment below to let me know. Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Marlins Podcast Episodes Thursday's AFL/winter ball notes: In the fall league, RHP Gabe Bierman (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) struggled with his control, throwing nearly as many balls (24) as strikes (26). C Paul McIntosh hit his second home run and SS Nasim Nuñez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Today is your last chance to vote Nuñez into the 2023 Fall Stars Game. In the Dominican Republic, RF Dane Myers went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, his first extra-base hit of the winter.Jorge Soler, Yuli Gurriel, David Robertson and Joey Wendle all entered free agency. The Marlins have until Monday to decide whether or not to extend a qualifying offer to Soler.Soler and Luis Arraez are NL Silver Slugger finalists at second base and designated hitter, respectively. The award winners will be announced next Thursday. As a refresher, Jesús Luzardo is an NL Gold Glove finalist—we'll learn this Sunday whether or not he won that award.Elsewhere around baseball, reliever Joe Jiménez (three years, $26M) signed a contract extension with the Braves and infielder Max Muncy (two years, $24M) did the same with the Dodgers. Nelson Cruz is retiring from baseball this month upon playing his final few games in the Dominican Winter League. With Cruz and Miguel Cabrera both hanging up their cleats, old friend Giancarlo Stanton (402 HR) takes over as MLB's active home run leader.Our 2023 Marlins Season Review series keeps expanding. One more week until we fully turn the page to 2024. Check back daily for more articles from the FOF staff.Even during the offseason, we're asking you to support FOF by becoming a Super Subscriber! Our extensive Marlins GIF Database has recently been updated and re-organized, with new free agents moved into the "former players" folder. Save and use all the GIFs for yourself when you sign up.https://fishonfirst.com/fish-on-first-updates/super-subscriber-details/Allen Settle of Marlin Maniac mentions six low-cost players that he thinks the Marlins should target in free agency.For Immaculate Grid fans, Daniel Epstein of Baseball Prospectus is creating hypothetical 26-man rosters of players who spent time with two particular MLB teams. Here's what he came up with for Marlins/Tigers, Marlins/Royals, Marlins/Pirates, Marlins/Angels, Marlins/Guardians, Marlins/Rays, Marlins/Orioles and Marlins/Brewers.Photo courtesy of Miami Marlins

Marlins Podcast Episodes Wednesday's AFL/winter ball notes: In the fall league, 3B Jacob Berry went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as he continues to fade from his hot start. 2B Nasim Nuñez drew two walks and stole his 13th base. LHP Dale Stanavich stranded an inherited runner in relief. In the Dominican Republic, CF Dane Myers went 0-for-3 with a walk and a steal, while LHP Jefry Yan tossed another scoreless inning.Elsewhere around baseball, the Texas Rangers are 2023 World Series champions. Zac Gallen began Game 5 with six hitless innings before the Rangers finally broke through in the seventh. Jonah Heim's ninth-inning hit (in conjunction with Alek Thomas' error) stuck a dagger in the Diamondbacks. Corey Seager won WS MVP honors, just like he did for the Dodgers in 2020.Congrats to ex-Marlins Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney on winning World Series rings. You know who else will be getting one? Journeyman catcher Sandy León, who hit .146 in 21 regular season games with Texas.Check out the latest , covering Jonathan Davis' departure and the performances of Marlins prospects in the Arizona Fall League. We also predicted what Josh Bell will do with his 2024 player option. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here! https://fishonfirst.com/la-pop/Our 2023 Marlins Season Review series keeps expanding. The latest installment focuses on Bryan De La Cruz. Check back daily for more articles from the FOF staff.Yuli Gurriel, David Robertson and Joey Wendle will officially become free agents today at 9:00 a.m. ET. That will bring the Marlins 40-man roster count down from 37 to 34. The MLB trade market has also re-opened.Single game tickets for 2024 Marlins home games go on sale to the general public beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. From perusing the Marlins Members presale, I noticed most games have a get-in price of $10.Jorge Soler is expected to become a free agent himself within five days upon exercising the opt-out in his contract. In The Athletic, Keith Law ranks Soler 16th on his top free agents list and estimates that he'll get a three-year deal worth close to $20 million annually. Law's colleague Jim Bowden ranks Soler 19th on his own list and projects a more modest two-year, $32 million contract ($16M AAV).Congrats to Giuliana and Garrett Hampson on the birth of their son, Hayes, who arrived on Monday.https://www.instagram.com/p/CzG-S65ri9y/?hl=en&img_index=1Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on outfielder Bryan De La Cruz. Season stats: 153 G, .257/.304/.411, 92 wRC+, 19 HR, 4 SB, 0.2 fWAR (age-26 season) Bryan De La Cruz entered 2023 as a plausible breakout candidate for a Marlins team that sorely needed offensive help. He had been one of MLB's hottest hitters during the final weeks of the 2022 campaign. Even when he was slumping earlier that year, the abnormally large gap between his actual stats and his expected stats implied he had been victimized by lousy luck. The Marlins committed to giving De La Cruz everyday playing time, eager to find out whether all the red on his Baseball Savant page would translate to more runs. Let the 2023 DLC experience serve as a reminder that Statcast data isn't always predictive. Bryan De La Cruz's 2022 and 2023 Statcast percentile rankings | Baseball SavantDLC was the offensive equivalent of an "innings-eater" for the Marlins this season. He was a durable floor-raiser who lengthened their lineup. He led the club with 78 RBIs and ranked second only to Jorge Soler with 51 extra-base hits. "Late & close" situations—as defined by Baseball-Reference—brought out the best in him. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/11/6acd131b-8512301e-7d92e4ae-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/09/a4d83af9-ce5cc112-e6017dc1-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-09/05/4c902413-4c907015-413d41b8-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4So...how come De La Cruz was merely a replacement-level player overall? His on-base percentage was .304, significantly below the .331 mark for MLB left fielders. In addition to a mediocre walk rate, DLC was averse to getting hit by pitches, plunked only once in 626 plate appearances. De La Cruz struggled to hit pitches on the outer third of the plate. Yes, he was susceptible to chasing waste pitches, but I'm referring to those that actually caught the corner or were close enough to offer at. Opponents could fearlessly attack him there—only one of his 19 home runs came against a pitch on the outer third. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/142c2bfe-b3bf-4b80-bf6e-c5c139952a72.mp4https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/82608c84-b450-4f06-a611-017ff58591b1.mp4https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/c355a9c8-6899-4eec-8a6e-29b9766cfe5d.mp4De La Cruz's effectiveness on defense continues to slip. His best asset used to be his arm strength, but the velocity of his average throw decreased from 91.0 mph in 2022 to 87.4 mph in 2023. He often gets bad jumps on fly balls. Despite Jazz Chisholm Jr. being absent for much of the season, De La Cruz only played two complete games in center field, and even that was two too many. There were also several instances where miscommunications between DLC and his teammates led to embarrassing drops and near-collisions. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/24/269c9725-d6ed0414-b024f00d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/58d7d069-4c4d-4adf-b162-4d73559f1b06.mp4It's an unfortunately similar story when it comes to baserunning: solid athleticism is not enough to compensate for poor instincts. De La Cruz made 10 outs on the bases this season, tied for the second-most in the majors, per Baseball-Reference. Future with the MarlinsDe La Cruz was miscast as an everyday player. While the Marlins have several other higher priorities to address this offseason, they should be looking for corner outfield help. They can't be relying on him to take 600-plus plate appearances again in 2024. With all that being said, De La Cruz shouldn't be taken for granted. Pencil him in for an Opening Day roster spot if he's still in Miami on the other side of this offseason.

Marlins Podcast Episodes Tuesday's AFL/winter ball notes: SS Nasim Nuñez went 1-for-4 and stole three bases. RHP Zach McCambley and LHP Evan Taylor made scoreless relief appearances, while RHP Ike Buxton (2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) took the loss for the Peoria Javelinas. RF Dane Myers (LIDOM) went 1-for-4 with his fourth stolen base of the season.The Marlins have made their first roster moves under interim GM Brian Chattin to create some breathing room on the 40-man. Enmanuel De Jesus and Jeff Lindgren were outrighted to the minors...and so was Jonathan Davis?! Davis is the only mildly surprising one. He can reject the assignment and elect free agency, so this basically functions as an early non-tender (Davis would've been eligible for arbitration).A woman attending Game 3 of the 2021 World Series at Truist Park suffered injuries to her right eye from a ball thrown by Jorge Soler. Two years later, she has filed a lawsuit against Soler and the Braves seeking compensation. Our article includes the full lawsuit and analysis from a personal injury attorney.https://fishonfirst.com/non-marlins/jorge-soler-braves-lawsuit/Marlins Members have access to today's pre-sale for 2024 single game tickets. The general public has to wait until Thursday to purchase them.Elsewhere around baseball, the Rangers are on the verge of their first-ever World Series title after defeating the Diamondbacks in Game 4. They took an early 10-0 lead despite star outfielder Adolis García being removed from the roster due to injury. The 11-7 final score made the contest seem more competitive than it actually was.Join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET for a new edition of Fish On First LIVE on /Twitter/Twitch. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here! https://fishonfirst.com/la-pop/With an opportunity to clinch the championship, the Rangers send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound to start Game 5. They've won all five of Eovaldi's starts this postseason.Our 2023 Marlins Season Review series keeps expanding. Check back daily for more articles from the FOF staff.MLB Trade Rumors includes Jacob Stallings, JT Chargois and Garrett Hampson (and Davis) among this offseason's possible non-tender candidates. The article clarifies that "this is not a list of players we think are likelier than not to be non-tendered. These are players we consider to have at least a 10% chance of being cut." Only Stallings belongs in the "likelier than not" category, in my opinion.Christina De Nicola of MLB.com created a guide to the Marlins' offseason. We conclude with some distressing though unsurprising research from Robert Frey, showing that the Marlins have been MLB's least successful team at making trades over the last 12 years. Yes, the two next-worst teams happen to be in the World Series right now, but they had more than their fair of recent struggles before turning the corner.Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos

Days away from presumably opting out of his Miami Marlins contract and testing free agency, Jorge Soler is dealing with an unwelcome distraction. Soler and his former team, the Atlanta Braves, are co-defendants in a lawsuit filed last Wednesday in Cobb County Superior Court in Georgia. A fan attending Game 3 of the 2021 World Series is said to have suffered an "extensive and excruciating injury" and is holding Soler partially responsible. Soler was playing right field for the Braves that night. Upon completing mid-inning warmups entering the top of the fifth, the suit alleges that he threw the ball in the direction of Mayra Norris with "great force, speed, and intensity." The ball's impact caused multiple fractures, a right eye edema and infra-orbital abrasion. The attorney representing Norris, Susan B. Shaw, provided this photo documenting the injuries: "When people go to a game, they for sure 'assume the risk' of going to a sporting event," Martin I. Berger, co-owner of Miami's Berger & Hicks law firm, explains to Fish On First. "So, the issues here are what was 'reasonable' on everyone’s part," Berger continues. "The Braves will most likely settle. But is there a claim, sure...No one is taking advantage of anyone and no one is shaking anyone down." The suit includes six counts, four of which apply to Soler: negligence, punitive damages, loss of consortium and expenses of litigation (the other two apply only to the Braves). "I do not think the claim for punitive damages has any weight," Berger says. This situation bears some similarities to a 2022 lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Angels when a child suffered head injuries due to an errant warmup throw. The player who threw that ball, Keynan Middleton, was not a co-defendant like Soler is, though. It should go without saying, Soler's free agent stock will be completely unaffected regardless of how this matter gets resolved. There is zero reason to suspect that he had any intentions to do harm—upon completing their warmup throws, it's common practice across Major League Baseball for fielders to throw balls toward fans seated nearby, as Norris was in this case. Soler is still under contract with the Marlins, due a $13M salary in 2024. However, he's coming off an All-Star season and has the right to opt out of the deal in pursuit of a larger guarantee. He has until the fifth day after the World Series to make that decision. Read the full lawsuit below: 23.10.25 - Norris - Complaint - FiledDownloadPhoto by Harry How/Getty Images

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on infielder Joey Wendle. 2023 TimelineFebruary 10—announced as team's starting shortstop entering spring trainingApril 4—placed on 10-day injured list (right intercostal strain)April 26—sent on minor league rehab assignment to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpMay 7—activated from 10-day injured listSeason stats: 112 G, .212/.248/.306, 47 wRC+, 2 HR, 7 SB, -0.8 fWAR (age-33 season) For better or worse, the Marlins had continuity at the shortstop position for the previous half-decade thanks to Miguel Rojas. When an offseason trade sent Rojas to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wendle was supposed to play a major role in filling the void. He wasn't up to the task. Wendle was off to an 0-for-8 start at the plate during Miami's season-opening homestand when he injured himself in batting practice. That kept him out for a month. Then it took him another month to record his first multi-hit game of 2023. Wendle's struggles coincided with a fiery hot streak from Jacob Amaya, who was serving as Triple-A Jacksonville's regular shortstop. The prospect acquired from the Dodgers in exchange for Rojas, Amaya reached base safely in 17 of his first 18 May games, slashing .418/.481/.746 (203 wRC+) during that period. https://fishonfirst.com/at-the-ballpark/marlins-prospects-jacob-amaya-interview/But by the time that Amaya finally got called up in mid-June, Wendle had straightened himself out. He feasted during the Marlins' homestand against the atrocious Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals—went 9-for-21 in those six games—and used that as a springboard. Wendle found himself in the lineup against practically every right-handed starting pitcher. Amaya was optioned back down to Jacksonville after only four games, with Jon Berti taking over the small side of the shortstop platoon. Wendle had a track record of good production against righties while he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. His Marlins debut of 2022 was mildly disappointing in that department (.266/.297/.374, 87 wRC+). This season, he plummeted to a new low. Opponents found that Wendle could be beaten with offspeed pitches (changeups and splitters). Last season, 11.3% of total pitches thrown to Wendle were offspeed pitches. This season, offspeed usage nearly doubled to 20.6%. He did not record a single hit against an offspeed pitch from July 16 through season's end. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/cd046790-89aa-438d-82d9-70a6304fb447.mp4https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/0f1d9bfd-d0c9-4b0e-b289-3562c5dbfd0a.mp4https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/ea74285a-6cae-44b7-a34c-6adadce67d1e.mp4Pitchers kept attacking Wendle low and in. He couldn't make contact with those pitches as often as he used to. Wendle's strikeout rate soared from 13.5% in 2022 to 21.1% in 2023, the biggest increase among all National League hitters with at least 300 plate appearances in both seasons, according to FanGraphs. Joey Wendle's whiff% by zone, 2022 vs. 2023 | Baseball SavantThe Marlins gradually reduced Wendle's role beginning in late August. With Berti and Garrett Hampson both doing well and capable of manning shortstop themselves, the 33-year-old was benched altogether for the final two weeks of the regular season (he didn't start any of their final 10 games with playoff implications). With all that being said, let's not omit Wendle's contributions with the glove. He played more innings at shortstop in 2023 (754 ⅓) than he had in his previous seven MLB seasons combined, and he held up solidly. He was at his best on backhand plays, generally making accurate throws to compensate for a lack of arm strength. Wendle accrued six defensive runs saved at shortstop and minus-two Statcast run value. Personally, I split the difference and saw him as slightly above average. Although that wasn't enough to make up for the absence of Rojas, it justified keeping him on the roster. Future with the MarlinsFormer Marlins general manager Kim Ng was a big advocate of Wendle throughout her tenure. Even had she been retained, I doubt there would have been an appetite to offer the free agent anything more than a minor league deal. Wendle rebounding to his career averages in 2024 wouldn't move the needle enough offensively for a Marlins team that just scored the fewest runs in the National League. The crop of free agent shortstops is extremely weak, "headlined" by Amed Rosario, and the Marlins are thin on assets that could be used in trades without weakening another area of their major league roster. Fascinating dilemma for the new head of baseball operations. Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Marlins Podcast Episodes Monday's AFL/winter ball notes: Playing right field, Dane Myers (LIDOM) had his best offensive performance of the winter ball season. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, stolen base and outfield assist. His Gigantes del Cibao improved to 7-2, the best record in the league.Elsewhere around baseball, the Rangers took World Series Game 3 despite losing Max Scherzer to a back injury and Adolis García to left side tightness. Corey Seager blasted a 421-foot home run, boosting his postseason OPS to 1.093. Aaron Judge (Yankees) won the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award. Alex Cobb (Giants) is undergoing hip surgery today that will cause him to miss part of the 2024 season. San Francisco's starting rotation depth is dangerously thin for a team that's sorta trying to contend.Not exactly a sexy pitching matchup for Game 4: Andrew Heaney vs. a Joe Mantiply-led bullpen game. The Rangers are 9-0 in road games this postseason.Our 2023 Marlins Season Review series keeps expanding. The latest installments cover Yuli Gurriel and Joey Wendle. Check back daily for more articles from the FOF staff.My newest tracker reports on the Marlins' off-the-field organizational changes entering 2024. Plenty of subtractions so far. Still waiting on the additions.Brian Dunleavy of Marlin Maniac ranks Sandy Alcantara, Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. as the three "scariest" Marlins players, meaning those who are most feared by their competitors.Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic covers the rise of Absolutely Ridiculous innovation for Athletes (ARiA), which creates baseball player accessories like gloves and sliding mitts. Chisholm was an early adopter and has since become the company's director of culture.Photo by ashlyncarmela/Instagram

Enjoy top plays from Miami Marlins first baseman Troy Johnston! Johnston earned Marlins Minor League Player of the Year honors for his brilliant age-26 season with the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. In 134 games played, he slashed .307/.399/.549 (145 wRC+) with 26 HR and 24 SB. He also had 116 RBI, which led all of Minor League Baseball in 2023. The Gonzaga University product fell all the way to the 17th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He's been the most productive hitter in the Marlins farm system ever since. With nothing else to prove in the upper minors, Johnston is poised to make his major league debut at some point next season. Where would you rank Johnston among the top prospects in the Marlins organization?