Ely Sussman

Marlins Podcast Episodes Thursday's winter ball notes: In the Dominican Republic, 2B Vidal Bruján went 0-for-4. In Venezuela, LF Javier Sanoja went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases.Elsewhere around baseball, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that Shohei Ohtani's free agent decision could be coming "as early as today." Jorge López (1/$2M) signed with the Mets. López lasted barely a month with the Marlins, allowing 29 baserunners in only 11 ⅔ innings of relief. Here is an update on the whereabouts of last season's Marlins players, only four of whom have landed with new teams for the 2024 season:No home yet for Jorge Soler. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that former Marlins hitting coach Brant Brown "grew fond of Soler" last season and might vouch for him as new Mariners bench coach and offensive coordinator. However, it's not his money to spend—Seattle has limited payroll flexibility, already making two trades this offseason to dump contracts.Kevin Barral wrote about the rumor that the Marlins are in pursuit of free agent Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Most fans don't seem enthused!Embedded at the top of the page, Dan Noffsinger had a fascinating conversation with Joe Frisaro that included stories from his tenure in the Marlins front office. During the 2000s and early 2010s, Noffsinger led the franchise's previously non-existent analytics department. He recalls that then-team president David Samson wrote the framework of Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million contract extension on hotel stationery and barely had to change anything when negotiating with Stanton.Marlins prospects Breyias Dean, Cherif Neymour and Toby Simmons are participating in the Don't Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. Jazz Chisholm Jr. won't be in the derby, but two months since undergoing turf toe surgery, good to see him moving around well. Lastly, I think you'll enjoy this extended Pablo López interview with Nick Pollack of Pitcher List, taking you inside an All-Star pitcher's mind and the intent behind every pitch he threw during a start.

Marlins Podcast Episodes Wednesday’s winter ball notes: In Venezuela, RF Javier Sanoja went 1-for-4. Left unprotected by the Marlins, SS Nasim Nuñez was selected by the Nationals in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Nats general manager Mike Rizzo says Nuñez won't get many at-bats in 2024, but his speed and defense off the bench could be impactful enough to justify holding a roster spot. Miami loaded up on five players in the minor league phase: OF Yeral Martinez (from the Mets), OF Marty Costes (Astros), IF Sean Roby (Giants), LHP Adam Laskey (Cubs) and RHP Julio Dilone (Mariners).Matt Andriese and Devin Smeltzer have both signed minor league deals with the Marlins that include spring training invites. Andriese has a lifetime 4.63 ERA, 4.21 FIP and 1.33 WHIP in 509 MLB innings (217 G/50 GS). He spent last season as a starter with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Smeltzer, of course, was with the Marlins organization in 2023. The lefty had four separate stints on the active roster and also threw a seven-inning no-hitter with Triple-A Jacksonville.A.J. Puk will come to Jupiter as a potential starting rotation candidate for the Marlins, our own Isaac Azout reports. Puk had been preparing to start for the Athletics last year prior to being traded. He entered professional baseball as a starter, but moved to the bullpen following Tommy John surgery in 2018 and has stayed there ever since. While working for the Rays, Peter Bendix saw firsthand how longtime relievers could defy conventional wisdom and succeed in the rotation, most notably Jeffrey Springs and most recently Zack Littell.The Marlins and the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation announced a multi-year exclusive partnership for the broadcast rights of the Caribbean Series, giving the Marlins exclusive rights across all platforms globally excluding the confederation's countries. Interesting that it's a multi-year partnership even though LoanDepot Park is only scheduled to host the event in 2024.Elsewhere around baseball, Juan Soto was traded to the Yankees in a seven-player blockbuster, one of those other players being former Marlins prospect Michael King. Eduardo Rodriguez (4/$80M) signed with the Diamondbacks, Jeimer Candelario (3/$45M) signed with the Reds and Craig Kimbrel (1/$13M) signed with the Orioles.On the latest episode of , we reacted to the Rule 5 results, the stretched-out Puk experiment and more. 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! "In a lot of ways, it's not terribly dissimilar to another week in the offseason," Bendix said about the Winter Meetings (via Christina De Nicola, MLB.com). "I think we learned a lot more about the market, about what to expect, and so much of this is just gaining information so that we can understand how best to attack things." With Nuñez going to the Nats, the Marlins have even fewer viable internal options who can play shortstop on a consistent basis. I watched tape on Xavier Edwards from 2023 (and also a bit from 2022) to get a feel for how he'd do there.https://fishonfirst.com/analysis/xavier-edwards-shortstop-defense/Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos

The Miami Marlins made it farther than expected in 2023 despite lousy shortstop production. They got a .226/.265/.313 slash line from the position (MLB-worst 55 wRC+) with only seven home runs to go along with average-ish defense. Understandably, the club let primary SS Joey Wendle leave via free agency without putting up much of a fight. Since Wendle's departure, the Marlins have traded for Vidal Bruján and signed Tristan Gray to a minor league deal. They retained utility man Jon Berti and prospect Jacob Amaya, who started frequently at SS for Triple-A Jacksonville last season. Double-A Pensacola standout Nasim Nuñez would've been a non-roster invitee at big league camp, but he was selected by the Washington Nationals in Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft. There's another internal shortstop candidate who should not be overlooked, per Fish On First's Isaac Azout: Xavier Edwards. Edwards' combination of contact skills and speed could make him the best offensive player of those mentioned above. The question is his defense, and more specifically, his arm. During his first season in the Marlins organization, X initially split time between second base and center field (a brand new position for him). When the CF experiment ended in late July, he began getting occasional starts at third base, though only four appearances at shortstop. The lack of reps show how skeptical the Marlins were about his viability as a SS. However, maybe the new-look front office has a different evaluation of the 24-year-old or a plan to help him improve. Now's not the time for a deep dive on Edwards' defense. There has been hardly any shortstop movement this offseason, so the Marlins still have ample time and opportunities to address the position via trade or free agency (Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic just linked them to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, for example). Let's just take a glimpse of what Edwards looks like over there. I've compiled 11 throws made by Edwards as a Triple-A shortstop. Most are from him as a Jumbo Shrimp player in 2023, but I also included three from when he played against Jacksonville as a Durham Bull in 2022. They are loosely ordered from most routine to most difficult. https://videopress.com/v/TaRdx3ou?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-8_mp4_dvd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/IPeViAyu?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-4_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/Lsurwmxc?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-7_mp4_dvd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/0amdzhcL?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-11_mp4_hd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/ZFBVT64E?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-9_mp4_dvd.original-1.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/K3QQaTyN?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-6_mp4_dvd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/fA3KfKOK?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-10_mp4_hd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/2U3v9i4I?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-2_mp4_dvd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/T2X2ran9?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-5_mp4_dvd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/spKCxsrQ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-3_mp4_avc_240p.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/IBqXmA7D?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-throw-1_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=trueEdwards' arm strength is severely limited. All of these throws made it to the first baseman's glove on the fly, but took a long time to get there. The maximum velocity of Edwards' 2023 shortstop throws was 75.4 mph and his max in the majors when playing 2B/CF was 78.0 mph. For context, 86.3 mph was the average for shortstops, according to Statcast's "arm strength" metric, which uses the top 5% of throws made for qualified shortstops. David Fletcher (Angels) ranked dead last among qualifiers at 77.0 mph. Old friend Joey Wendle was near the bottom of the leaderboard at 80.1 mph. I'll place the other plays involving Edwards as a shortstop here: https://videopress.com/v/HLFalQqa?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-pop-up_mp4_avc_240p.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/IgiyXDou?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-catch-tag_mp4_hd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/1OMpDHg9?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-flip_mp4_hd.original-1.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/veGkudXj?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-tag_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=truehttps://videopress.com/v/LvS9N8iX?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffishonfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2Fxavier-edwards-ss-dive-for-grounder_mp4_hd.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=trueLooks good when applying tags, though he would get more opportunities to do that as a second baseman. Shortstops typically cover the bag on stolen base attempts when there's a left-handed hitter up (40.2% of all MLB steal attempts in 2023). This quick review suggests to me that Edwards could at least be an emergency shortstop. That helps his case for making the Marlins active roster considering Luis Arraez will frequently be blocking him from playing second base. I'll revisit this topic in greater detail as spring training approaches. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

Marlins Podcast Episodes Tuesday’s winter ball notes: In the Dominican Republic, 2B Vidal Bruján went 1-for-3 with a walk. In Venezuela, LF Javier Sanoja went 2-for-3 with an RBI. In Puerto Rico, C Jan Mercado went 0-for-1, dropping his batting average to .102. Dane Myers' winter ball stint is over, Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has confirmed.Former Marlins LHP Jefry Yan has agreed to a one-year deal with Nippon Professional Baseball's Seibu Lions. Yan undoubtedly boosted his stock in the D.R. with a 1.62 ERA in 17 relief appearances, trimming his walk rate to 4.7% (it had been 17.8% during the regular season). Cool achievement for somebody who was completely out of organized baseball just three years ago.Marlins prospects OF Toby Simmons and IF Breyias Dean are participating in the Don't Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise, being held this Saturday in Nassau, Bahamas. Simmons impressed during the 2022 event, while Dean is making his derby debut. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has done it in previous years, but he's still recovering from turf toe surgery. Elsewhere around baseball, the Red Sox traded Alex Verdugo to the Yankees, the Braves traded Marco Gonzales to the Pirates, Erick Fedde (2/$15M) signed with the White Sox, Victor Caratini (2/$12M) signed with the Astros, Kirby Yates (1/~$4.5M) signed with the Rangers, Luis García (1/$4.25M) signed with the Angels, Chris Devenski (1/$1.1M) signed with the Rays and Michael Tonkin signed with the Mets (1/$1M). The Guardians won the 2024 MLB Draft lottery. It'll be the first time in franchise history that they make the No. 1 overall pick. The Marlins are picking 16th, the same first-round position they had in 2021 coming off of their previous postseason berth.Carlos Collazo's initial mock draft on Baseball America has the Marlins taking North Carolina State catcher Jacob Cozart. Our own Isaac Azout reports that—as the team is currently constructed—Xavier Edwards would get an opportunity to compete for the Marlins' starting shortstop job. Still time for the acquisition of a more experienced shortstop, of course.Kevin Barral lists six big questions that are lingering about this Marlins offseason.Glenn Geffner's View from the Bleachers questions how much pitching depth the Marlins can feel comfortable trading away.Next up, the Rule 5 Draft is today at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Marlins are 18th in the draft order (for the both the major league and minor league phase). 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! Lastly, I noticed that Marlins.com is still featuring Jorge Soler in its desktop wallpaper rotation of Marlins players (along with Chisholm and Sandy Alcantara). Soler opted out of his contract more than a month ago. Oops!Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Marlins Podcast Episodes Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Skip Schumaker addressed the media on Monday from the Winter Meetings in Nashville. Schumaker says that he's "close" to locking in his full 2024 coaching staff ("there's not openings, but you can always add in different spots"). I enjoyed Schumaker's honest reflection about doubting himself last season when making in-game decisions.https://fishonfirst.com/news/peter-bendix-quotes-2023-winter-meetings-day-1/https://fishonfirst.com/video/skip-schumaker-winter-meetings-2023/Andrew Nardi has switched agencies to The Bledsoe Agency, Jon Heyman reports, which happens to be based in Nashville. It's the same agency that represents Jake Burger.Elsewhere around baseball, Wade Miley (1/$8.5M) and Joe Ross (1/$1.75M) both signed with the Brewers. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and Phillies skipper Rob Thomson received contract extensions. Jim Leyland says he's unsure which team's cap will go on his Hall of Fame plaque, implying that he will likely eschew any team affiliation out of respect for all of his former employers. The Winter Meetings charity auction runs through Thursday, including items and experiences from all 30 MLB teams. The Marlins are offering a "broadcast experience" where the winning bidder receives four tickets with pre-game field access to meet with Bally Sports Florida and Marlins Radio Network broadcasters, including Skip Schumaker's media availability, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Bally Sports Florida broadcast truck, and special photo opportunities. The highest bid is currently $1,025. Proceeds benefit Stand Up To Cancer.The Marlins posted the first episode of "The New Standard," a video series chronicling the 2023 season. Fish On First has partnered with the Marlins Discord server. You can join the server for free to participate in around-the-clock Fish talk. There is also a private channel reserved for our valued Super Subscribers.Glenn Geffner's View from the Bleachers explains what really happens at the Winter Meetings aka "Baseball's Family Reunion." Geffner estimates that he has attended the event approximately a dozen times.We have boots on the ground in Nashville! Be sure to follow Isaac Azout if you don't already.

Skip Schumaker of the Miami Marlins speaks with reporters about his first season as a major league manager, his relationship with new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, the key players on his roster and how he can improve in 2024.

Marlins Podcast Episodes The Baseball Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era Committee elected Jim Leyland to Cooperstown on Sunday. In addition to the Marlins, Leyland managed the Pirates, Rockies and Tigers as well as Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He'll be formally inducted next summer as part of the HOF's Class of 2024.Gabe Kapler cleverly confirmed his hiring as assistant general manager by recording a video of himself buying a Marlins hat from a Champs Sports store.https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0ZW6wFLnIj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Elsewhere around baseball, the Braves and Mariners made a five-player trade involving Jarred Kelenic. Once regarded as one of baseball's elite prospects, Kelenic is still only 24 years old, though he's been only slightly better than a replacement-level player through his first 252 MLB games. The Kelenic acquisition closes the door on Eddie Rosario returning to Atlanta. In case you missed it, Kevin Barral wrote about Rosario as a possible free agent target for Miami. Korean center fielder Jung Hoo Lee is being posted by the Kiwoom Heroes today. I wouldn't be shocked if the Marlins have some involvement in the Lee sweepstakes.Nick Pollack of Pitcher List breaks down the Marlins' 2024 starting rotation options.In talking to a number of front office executives and evaluators about potential Rule 5 Draft selections, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports that unprotected Marlins prospects Troy Johnston, Nasim Nuñez and Will Banfield are generating interest. I said it last month and I'll reiterate it here: if the Marlins lose Johnston, it will be an inexcusable and completely unforced error.Fish On First has partnered with the Marlins Discord server. You can join the server for free to participate in around-the-clock Fish talk. There is also a private channel reserved for our valued Super Subscribers.The Marlins teased that they'll be posting a special video of some kind to their social media accounts today. It's probably not related to this, but the team is now seeking 2024 interns in the group sales & services, information technology and human resources departments.We have boots on the ground at the MLB Winter Meetings! Be sure to follow Isaac Azout if you don't already.Graphic courtesy of Miami Marlins

What a way to kickstart the MLB Winter Meetings. Jim Leyland is part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2024, as announced on Sunday. The longtime manager was a near-unanimous selection by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, receiving 15 of the 16 possible votes (12 votes were needed for election). In Leyland's two seasons with the Florida Marlins, he was at the helm of arguably the best team in franchise history (1997)...and inarguably the worst (1998). He led the Fish to their first-ever World Series title, racking up 92 wins, which still stands as a Marlins single-season record. "It was the best team in baseball that year and I think we ended up proving that," Leyland said Sunday night on a media conference call. "We had a lot of stars on that team. A lot of people could've managed that team." During the subsequent offseason, at the behest of owner Wayne Huizenga, the Marlins held their first and most notorious fire sale. Moises Alou, Kevin Brown, Jeff Conine, Al Leiter, Robb Nen and other valuable veteran players were traded before Opening Day; Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Gary Sheffield followed suit early the next year. The 1998 Marlins went 54-108. Combining both years, Leyland had a .451 regular season winning percentage in Florida (146-178 record). He resigned after the '98 campaign. Despite the awkward exit, Leyland has been involved in Marlins alumni events, most recently the 25th anniversary celebration of the '97 team, which was held at LoanDepot Park in 2022. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On FirstLeyland also managed the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-1996), Colorado Rockies (1999) and Detroit Tigers (2006-2013) as well as Team USA during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He's 18th on the all-time managerial wins list. Leyland was the lone manager/executive/umpire to get elected by the committee this year. His formal induction will take place next summer in Cooperstown, New York alongside whichever players get at least 75% support from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. One of those players on the BBWAA ballot? Gary Sheffield, who Leyland managed with both the Marlins and Tigers. Sheffield's in his 10th and final year of BBWAA eligibility. "I think there was quite a long period of time that Gary Sheffield was the most-feared right-handed hitter in baseball," Leyland says. "I'm obviously pulling for him...Hopefully, Sheff's time is gonna come." Photo by Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated

A month removed from hiring Peter Bendix to lead their baseball operations department, the Miami Marlins delegation is arriving at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee for the annual MLB Winter Meetings. They aren't realistic suitors for the much-buzzed-about Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto, but it could still be a busy week for a club that would be unfit for postseason contention if the 2024 campaign began today. As a refresher, here's how the Marlins roster has changed during the 2023-24 offseason (you can get up to speed about off-the-field moves with this tracker). Offseason additions: UTIL Vidal Bruján, RHP Calvin Faucher, RHP Ryan Jensen, RHP Kaleb OrtOffseason subtractions: RHP Matt Barnes*, RHP Johnny Cueto*, OF Jonathan Davis*, 1B Yuli Gurriel*, UTIL Garrett Hampson, RHP Tommy Nance*, RHP David Robertson*, DH/OF Jorge Soler*, C Jacob Stallings*, IF Joey Wendle*Still available in free agency Pre-Winter Meetings Marlins 40-man rosterNearly half of these 40-man players have less than a full year of MLB service. The Marlins lost an All-Star to free agency and have a second one, Sandy Alcantara, who'll be stuck on the injured list throughout next season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Let's get more specific about what areas must be addressed. CatcherPhoto by Danis Sosa/Fish On FirstLast season showed that it's possible to be competitive even with poor catcher production. However, it's not possible to pull that off with one catcher on your team. After non-tendering Stallings, Nick Fortes is Miami's only viable option behind the plate. Will Banfield is the organization's top catching prospect, but that isn't saying much—the Marlins didn't regard him highly enough to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Banfield (assuming he makes it through the Rule 5) and Paul McIntosh should be getting spring training invites. Somebody needs to be ahead of them on the depth chart, though. The Marlins have checked in on longtime Houston Astro and current free agent Martín Maldonado, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Maldonado can be had on a cheap, one-year deal. The best free agents available at the position are Mitch Garver and Gary Sánchez, both of whom provide enticing offensive upside, but come with concerns regarding their durability and consistency, respectively. My preference would be trading for a veteran like Elias Díaz (Colorado Rockies) or Kyle Higashioka (New York Yankees). ShortstopThe Marlins' outlook at shortstop is only marginally better than catcher. Wendle and Hampson combined to start two-thirds of their games at SS in 2023 and have already found new homes. That leaves Jon Berti as the default starter with the recently acquired Bruján spelling him against some right-handed pitchers and Jacob Amaya waiting in the wings. There have been some Marlins fans clamoring for reigning International League batting champ Xavier Edwards to be rewarded with an expanded role. Although Edwards' pitch recognition and speed give him a solid offensive floor, much of that value would be negated by his sloppy shortstop defense. Unless he shows up to camp with revamped throwing mechanics, he cannot be trusted there. Amed Rosario is an intriguing bounce-back candidate (2.7 fWAR/4.2 bWAR in 2022, but 0.2 fWAR/0.4 bWAR in 2023). Would he be willing to sign a one-year, $10M-ish deal with a 2025 club option? Outside of him, the free agent shortstop crop is shallower than the old Clevelander pool. The Marlins' next pivot would have to be the trade market, where they'd likely be expected to part with valuable starting rotation depth in order to get a controllable SS solution. Innings EaterWhether it's for a catcher, shortstop or an impact bat further down the defensive spectrum, I'm expecting the Marlins to be forced to sacrifice young arms via trade. They got burned by Cueto in 2023, but it's important to learn from that miscalculation and roll the dice on another veteran stopgap of his ilk who's capable of lengthy starts. My Marlins offseason blueprint identified Jack Flaherty as an ideal pick-up, but early indications are that there's a strong enough starting pitching demand for relatively young guys like him to fetch multi-year guarantees. Maybe Martín Pérez instead? The Marlins farm system is depleted. Whatever new ideas that Bendix and Gabe Kapler bring to player development, they can only do so much without talent. The silver lining of potentially struggling at the major league level in 2024 would be reloading the system by selling vets at the trade deadline. Can't sell vets unless you have some in the first place! ExtensionsPhoto by Danis Sosa/Fish On FirstI won't spend much time on contract extensions here because those are generally sorted out toward the end of the offseason. I'll just reiterate how useful it has been for teams like the Rays to buy additional years of club control over core players while it's still efficient enough to do so. Luis Arraez is the Marlins' most obvious extension candidate, followed by Jesús Luzardo. It would be worthwhile to at least broach the subject with Eury Pérez, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and several others. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports