Kevin Barral

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 reliever A.J. Puk. 2023 Timeline February 11—traded by Oakland Athletics to Miami Marlins for OF JJ BledayMarch 31—made Marlins debut and recorded first save with the teamMay 13—placed on the 15-day injured list (left elbow nerve irritation)May 30—sent on a rehab assignment to Pensacola Blue WahoosJune 6—activated from the 15-day injured listJuly 30—removed from closer's role (overtaken by David Robertson)Season stats: 3.97 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 12.39 K/9, 2.06 BB/9, 15 SV and 56.2 IP Just mere hours after the Miami Marlins had wrapped up their annual FanFest, news broke that former first-round draft pick JJ Bleday had been dealt to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for A.J. Puk, himself also a former first-rounder. A change of scenery made sense for both players. Bleday struggled as a rookie and was blocked from getting playing time in the Marlins outfield moving forward. Puk had been adjusting to life as a reliever on an A's team that was nowhere close to be competitive. Entering Skip Schumaker's first spring training as Marlins manager, he explained that high-leverage situations would be handled based on specific matchups. He didn't announce a full-time closer. Puk had saved four games with Oakland in 2022. Teammates Tanner Scott, Dylan Floro and Matt Barnes all had experience in that role as well. Within the first week or two of the regular season, it became clear that Puk was Miami's go-to guy in the ninth inning. In the month of April, Puk appeared in 10 games and had a 0.00 ERA with four saves. Puk brought refreshing reliability to the closer's role that the Marlins hadn't seen in several years. He combined swing-and-miss ability with soft contact. However, Puk wasn't quite the same after his IL stint. Things really fell apart for him during the month of July as he allowed home runs at the worst possible times. Using the July 7 game against the Philadelphia Phillies as an example, Miami was leading and Puk was one out away from recording the save. Going up against light-hitting Cristian Pache, Puk's 0-1 sweeper was taken deep for a two-run homer to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. The Marlins lost. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/e96cb2fc-6948-4a9d-b303-7bdbf5f64186.mp4Giving up the long ball would become Puk's issue. Through the end of June, he pitched 25 innings and allowed only two home runs, but the lefty gave up eight homers the rest of the way (31.2 IP). All 15 of Puk's saves came in the first half. David Robertson and Tanner Scott took over those responsibilities over the final two months of the season. Even after the demotion, Puk showed good control in his first Marlins season. He walked only 5.4% of total batters faced, which is much better than the MLB average. Puk made an interesting change to his arsenal in 2023, but one that worked well. He turned his slider into a sweeper and used it 42.6% of the time. Puk did make the Marlins postseason roster. When he previously made it as an Oakland Athletic, he didn't make an appearance. This time around, he threw one inning, which included a Bryce Harper strikeout with his sweeper. Future with Marlins Despite the inconsistency, the expectation is to see Puk back in the Marlins bullpen. Puk was still a strikeout machine, as he ranked 12th amongst qualified relievers in K/9 to go along with the low walk rate mentioned earlier. Puk will be tendered a contract for the 2024 season. Assuming that Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi are back, he probably won't see many save opportunities. The question is how will Skip Schumaker put him in the best position to be successful.

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 starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo. 2023 Timeline March 15—pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball ClassicOctober 3—started Game 1 of the NL Wild Card SeriesSeason Stats: 178.2 IP, 3.63 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 10.48 K/9, 2.77 BB/9 (age-25 season) Jesús Luzardo made a great impression on the Marlins in 2022, but he had to miss several months during the season due to injury. This year, he was on a mission to prove he could perform at that level while being available to his team from start to finish. After performing well in the World Baseball Classic and spring training, Luzardo got off to a great start, shutting out the Mets and striking out 10 Minnesota Twins. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/31/222cd193-74c63b6d-8f9ab3cd-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/05/0097d543-64d70668-83c52a76-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Luzardo was the most impactful pitcher on the Marlins in the first half, posting a 3.29 ERA through 109 ⅓ innings pitched. Although his second half wasn't as consistent, the lefty had his best start of the season when the Marlins desperately needed it against the Colorado Rockies shortly after the All-Star break. He struck out 13 in seven innings of one-run ball to snap an eight-game losing streak. Luzardo picked up his 10th and final win of the season against the hot Atlanta Braves when he punched out eight in six shutout innings. In Luzardo's final regular season start against the New York Mets, he set a Marlins single-season record for most strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher. He finished with 208 K's, surpassing Al Leiter (200 K's in 1996). In terms of pitch mix, Luzardo's only significant change was moving away from his sinker and increasing his four-seam fastball usage to 46.0%. The slider (28.9%) was his main secondary pitch, followed by the changeup (21.0%). Luzardo rated well defensively in 2023. That included controlling the running game by allowing only 11 stolen bases in 32 starts despite being paired with a catcher (Nick Fortes) who doesn't have a strong throwing arm. He was named a finalist for the NL Gold Glove, though the award went to Zack Wheeler. With Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez both injured, Luzardo got the assignment to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Luzardo had his positive moments, striking out postseason icon Bryce Harper once and leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber twice. Ultimately, his final line was nothing special (4.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 90 pitches/54 strikes) and the Marlins lost. Combining the regular season and postseason, Luzardo totaled 182 ⅔ innings pitched, shattering his previous career high in terms of workload. There were periods where he clearly dealt with fatigue. Fortunately, he was able to battle through it to make all of his scheduled starts. Future with Marlins If it hasn't been made clear by now, Jesús Luzardo is here to stay and be a staple of the Marlins rotation for years to come. Luzardo is the favorite to be the Marlins' 2024 Opening Day starter with Sandy Alcantara out for the year. This offseason is the Marlins' best opportunity to extend Luzardo before his value gets to the point where they would be unable to afford his contract. He's currently under club control through 2026 via arbitration. Now that Luzardo has been able to go through a full season at the big league level, the next step for him is pitching even deeper into his starts. With the right adjustments, he has the potential to be an All-Star next year. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

When the Miami Marlins selected Zach McCambley with their third-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the goal was to turn him into a big league starter. Barely a year after signing, the right-hander was already part of the AA Pensacola rotation. That goal appeared to be well within reach. However, injuries and uneven results followed. McCambley posted a 5.51 ERA while working as a starter with Pensacola from 2021-22. That's when Marlins pitching coordinator Scott Aldred approached him about transitioning to become a reliever. "(Aldred) showed me numbers at the end of the year, explaining that the first two times through the lineup were really good and then the third time was obviously not, so that was the reason behind moving into the 'pen," said McCambley on a media call earlier this week. Midway through the 2023 season, McCambley made his return to AA-Pensacola after recovering from a UCL sprain. Working as a reliever full time, he found a lot more success: 3.76 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 10.33 K/9, 5.17 BB/9 in 38.1 IP. That has continued to be the case during the Arizona Fall League. McCambley has the best AFL numbers of any Marlins pitcher, posting a 3.38 ERA, 13.5 K/9 and 5.6 BB/9 in 8.0 IP. "I'm really enjoying myself out here," said McCambley. "It's a really cool experience to be around all this good talent, to kind of get a fresh set of eyes on you, having different coordinators from all different teams being your coaches. Just learning from all the prospects out here, seeing how they go about their business every day." McCambley admits he was initially "standoffish" about going to the 'pen. He wanted to continue to develop his changeup rather than specialize as a two-pitch fastball/breaking ball guy. The bright side to the transition was he'd have an opportunity to reach the big leagues faster as a reliever. "Obviously there are differences between the two," said McCambley. "As a starter, you have all this time before the game to get your body and mind right. Coming out of the 'pen is a little different. You kind of gotta have your A-plus stuff right away. There's no time to try and get in a groove out there." The AFL ends next week, but McCambley will be hard at work beyond that to improve in one particular area entering the 2024 season. "I have more velocity in the tank," said McCambley. "Personally, I know I have more velocity. It's just about getting in front of the right people and getting the proper training done in the offseason. I know going into this offseason is huge for me." His fastball velo typically sat around 92-93 mph this season. Assuming he doesn't get picked by another team in December's Rule 5 Draft, McCambley will likely earn a non-roster invite to Marlins spring training. Photo courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Following a season where Jorge Soler hit 36 home runs, made the National League All-Star team and was a finalist for the NL Silver Slugger award, he has decided to decline his 2024 player option and enter the free agent market. Soler was set to earn $13 million next season had he stuck with his original contract. In March 2022, the Marlins signed Soler a three-year deal worth $36M with opt outs in between each year of the deal. Soler slashed .207/.295/.400/.695 with 13 home runs, 34 RBIs and a 95 wRC+ during his first season in Miami. He missed most of the season with a back injury and didn't opt out. Things went much better for Soler this past season. Not only did he play 137 games, but he was one of the Marlins' best hitters, slashing .250/.341/.512/.853 with 36 home runs, 75 RBIs and a 126 wRC+. It was just a matter of when he would officially opt out in search of one final long-term contract. Soler now enters a free agent market that is weak when it comes to sluggers, but his injury history and lack of playing time in the outfield could hold down his earnings. In 2023, Soler was in right field for only 32 games and didn't look good out there. He spent the rest of his games as the designated hitter. Turning 32 in February, he's still managing his back issue. He also spent time on the IL this season with an oblique strain. The Marlins have until Monday to decide whether or not to extend a qualifying offer to Soler, which is worth $20.325M. They are awarded a 2024 draft pick as compensation if Soler ends up declining the offer and signing with another team. All in all, it does seem unlikely that the Cuban slugger will return to Miami in free agency. That would mean he finishes his time with the Marlins slashing .235/.325/.473/.798 with 46 home runs, 109 RBIs and had a 116 OPS+. The Marlins 40-man roster temporarily sits at 33 players as we wait for players to be activated from the 60-day IL and the option decisions for Josh Bell (player option), Johnny Cueto (club option) and Matt Barnes (club option). Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish on First

More than two weeks after Kim Ng's departure as general manager, the Miami Marlins made some roster moves on Tuesday. To clear space on their 40-man roster entering the offseason, Enmanuel De Jesus, Jeff Lindgren and Jonathan Davis were all outrighted to AAA-Jacksonville. Miami's 40-man roster now stands at 37. Before being outrighted, the other 29 MLB teams had opportunities to claim these players off waivers. They passed through unclaimed. De Jesus and Lindgren both made their major league debuts this season, but mainly in mop-up situations. De Jesus threw 6 ⅓ innings and had a 11.37 ERA. As for Lindgren, he threw seven innings with a 5.14 ERA. They spent most of 2023 in Jacksonville's starting rotation. The surprising move was outrighting Davis. Acquired from the Detroit Tigers in May in exchange for Brady Allen, Davis proved to be nice outfield depth for Miami when filling in for an injured Jazz Chisholm Jr. He slashed .333/.407/.542/.949 during his first seven Marlins games along with solid defense in center field. Even when his bat cooled off, the team continued to have success with him in the lineup. On July 4, Davis attempted to make a diving catch, injuring his right meniscus and undergoing surgery a couple days later. He would miss the remainder of the season. Davis wound up playing 34 games for the Marlins and slashed .244/.307/.378/.685 with an 85 wRC+. Although the numbers don't look too pleasing, that was a big improvement over his previous career numbers. Combined with his speed and defense, it seemed like he had a good shot of being tendered a contract for 2024 and sticking on the 40-man roster. Instead, Davis is likely headed for free agency. He has the ability to reject the outright assignment because he's previously been designated for assignment. With Chisholm recovering from his own surgery and Davis having built strong relationships in Miami, it would make a lot of sense for the Marlins to re-sign him to a minor league deal and invite him to spring training so he could fight to regain his roster spot. Photo courtesy of Miami Marlins

Happy Halloween! If you're looking for a scare, join Kevin Barral and Ely Sussman in reflecting on the last five Miami Marlins MLB Draft classes. We discuss the news that DJ Svihlik, Miami's senior director of amateur scouting, won't be returning in 2024. Please rate and review Fish On First wherever you get your podcasts!Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel to watch video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. Svihlik was hired by the Marlins in November 2017 and ran their MLB Draft operation from 2019-2023, selecting JJ Bleday (No. 4 overall pick), Max Meyer (No. 3), Kahlil Watson (No. 16), Jacob Berry (No. 6) and Noble Meyer (No. 10) with his first-round picks. https://fishonfirst.com/news/marlins-part-ways-with-dj-svihlik/Follow Kevin (@kevin_barral), Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from. Photo courtesy of _kahlilwatson_/Instagram

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 first baseman Yuli Gurriel. 2023 Timeline March 10—signed to a minor league dealMarch 30—contract selected by MarlinsSeason stats: .245/.304/.359/.663 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and a 79 OPS+ The Marlins reportedly had negotiations with free agent Yuli Gurriel throughout the 2022-23 offseason. They offered him a major league deal at one point, but the Cuban first baseman was not in a hurry to commit. Deep into spring training, the Marlins still didn't have a clear idea of who would be the back up to Garrett Cooper at first base. Gurriel was still available and he accepted a minor league offer to compete for the final spot on the Opening Day roster. At the same time as Gurriel, the Marlins also signed shortstop José Iglesias. The idea was to take whichever one looked more ready to contribute and fit best with the surrounding roster. Gurriel ultimately won the job. He didn't hit much in spring games (.227/.261/.273/.534 in 7 G), but made several smooth plays defensively to show why he had won the American League Gold Glove in 2021. Miami valued Gurriel's extensive playoff experience as a member of the Houston Astros, which included winning two World Series titles. He also came with excellent contact skills, just like fellow offseason acquisitions Luis Arráez and Jean Segura. For the first time in his career, Gurriel had to adjust to life as a backup. He put up solid numbers early on—through the end of May, his OPS (.769) was over 100 points higher than Cooper's (.655) and the playing time split between them was much closer than anticipated. His defense at first base helped the Marlins consistently hold leads in the later innings. However, in the second half, Gurriel was unable to maintain that success, slashing .202/.250/.288/.538 with one home run and nine RBIs. Despite his reputation for being a good situational hitter, he stopped coming through in clutch situations. The Marlins got creative at the trade deadline and brought in Josh Bell to be their primary first baseman while sending Cooper to San Diego. Bell's combination of durability and switch-hitting cut down on Gurriel's playing time. The Marlins still felt it was important to keep the 39-year-old on the roster throughout the season because of the leadership he brought to the clubhouse. Gurriel started only five games during the month of September. His final big moment as a Marlin, driving in the go-ahead run against the New York Mets on Sept. 28, was erased from the record books when the game was suspended due to rain and never completed. Future with Marlins It is hard to see Gurriel coming back for another season for any major league team. He has produced a positive WAR in only one of the last four years. The Marlins would not have a clear plan at first base if Bell decides to opt out of his contract, but expect them to look at options who hit for more power than Yuli does. If Gurriel does call it a career, he will finish with 12.9 WAR, slashing .281/.326/.440/.766 with 98 home runs, 462 RBIs and a 108 OPS+. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

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 left-hander Trevor Rogers. 2023 Timeline April 21—placed on the 15-day injured list (left biceps strain)May 30—sent on a rehab assignment to Jupiter HammerheadsJune 2—rehab assignment transferred to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpJune 10—suffered right lat strain while warming up for rehab startJune 14—transferred to the 60-day injured listAugust 25—started playing catchSeason stats: 18.0 IP, 4.00 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 9.50 K/9, 3.00 BB/9 Yes, Trevor Rogers did pitch in 2023 for the Miami Marlins. Expectations for Rogers weren't especially high coming off a miserable 2022 season and an up-and-down spring training, but the Marlins saw him as a back-end starter with the potential to be much more than that. Rogers struggled in his first two starts of the season, both against the New York Mets. He was at his best on April 14, throwing six innings of one-run ball to earn a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struck out seven, walked one and gave up five hits. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/14/23dc4fad-fb8cdd70-05f5ec78-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4Rogers' season went off the rails in his fourth start when he was only able to go three innings against the San Fransisco Giants, leaving early with what was later revealed to be a left biceps strain. The absence of Rogers contributed to Eury Pérez's arrival to the majors. In early June, with Rogers looking sharp in minor league rehab games (nine scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in two starts) and Pérez living up to his top prospect reputation, the Marlins rotation depth seemed to be in good shape. Unfortunately, while Rogers was preparing to make a rehab start with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on June 10, he felt discomfort in his non-throwing arm. He was scratched from the start and diagnosed with a lat strain. The recovery from that took even longer than his biceps injury and he didn't have enough time to make it back before season's end. In a very tiny sample, what stood out most about Rogers was his increased sinker usage. He threw 62 sinkers in four starts, which is more than he threw during his first three MLB seasons combined. It represented 18.8% of his pitch mix. He was consistent about spotting it toward the bottom of the strike zone. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/a9cc4022-fb11-4edb-86fe-80671913aa0f.mp4Future with Marlins It is impossible to say what Rogers will look like in 2024, but the Marlins hope he can help fill the void in their starting rotation created by the absence of Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery). Three rotation spots are accounted for by Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Eury Pérez. Rogers will be battling with Edward Cabrera, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer, Patrick Monteverde and others for one of the two remaining spots. Despite his lack of 2023 production, Rogers is due a pay raise entering his first year of arbitration eligibility. He is under club control through the 2026 season.

Catcher Paul McIntosh was one of several Marlins prospects who were sent to the Arizona Fall League this year. Through nine games thus far, McIntosh is slashing .267/.405/.400/.805 with one home run and three RBIs. McIntosh has been one of the most productive hitters in the Marlins organization since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2021. However, there are questions about whether he can stick behind the dish defensively. As a non-roster invitee at 2023 spring training, McIntosh worked with Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defensive coach José Ceballos. They later reunited at the AAA level when P-Mac earned a midseason promotion. He has continued to progress from there. "I feel better than I ever have defensively out here in the Arizona Fall League," said McIntosh on Tuesday. He added that he feels like he has most improved in the receiving and blocking aspects. Injuries limited McIntosh to 77 games during the regular season. Participating in the fall league helps him make up for those lost reps. Offensively, McIntosh noticed that he has been tapping into more of his raw power. On Saturday, he became the first Marlin to hit an AFL home run. The catcher position was a major weakness for the Marlins this season. With Jacob Stallings unlikely to return in 2024 and limited options to choose from in free agency, the door is open for prospects like McIntosh and Will Banfield to earn a spot on the 26-man roster. In the meantime, McIntosh and the Peoria Javelinas have 11 games left on the AFL schedule. https://fishonfirst.com/news/marlins-fall-winter-ball-tracker-2023/

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 right-hander Johnny Cueto. 2023 Timeline January 19—Miami Marlins signed Cueto in free agencyMarch 15—pitched for Dominican Republic in the World Baseball ClassicApril 4—placed on the 15-day injured list (right biceps tightness)May 2—sent on a rehab assignment to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpMay 6—suffered sprained ankle during rehab startMay 23—transferred to the 60-day injured listJune 11—sent on a rehab assignment to Pensacola Blue WahoosJune 22—rehab assignment transferred to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpJuly 10—activated from the 60-day injured listAugust 21—placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 18 (viral infection)September 2—activated from the 15-day injured listOctober 3—left off of NL Wild Card Series rosterSeason stats: 52.1 IP, 6.02 ERA, 7.02 FIP, 6.71 K/9, 2.58 BB/9 (age-37 season) When the Miami Marlins signed Johnny Cueto to a one-year deal worth $8.5M, they were hoping for him to replicate his 2022 success with the Chicago White Sox. He had been an efficient innings-eater who was pitching to soft contact early in the count to overcome diminished strikeout numbers. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be the case with Miami. As early as his first spring training game, the warning signs were there. Cueto did not appear to be in good shape, and he struggled during both the Grapefruit League and World Baseball Classic. Even though those games "didn't count," he was allowing way too much hard contact. It turned out that Cueto was pitching through an injury without telling the Marlins. He had to leave his 2023 regular season debut during the second inning and wouldn't return to the majors until after the All-Star break. Cueto pitched horribly during his minor league rehab assignment. The Marlins used the maximum 30-day window to try to get him back on track. Activating him during the All-Star break was done out of necessity given the club's concerns about young starters being able to hold up while dealing with career-high workloads. Initially upon returning, Cueto's fastball had more velocity and life than he had shown during rehab. That was fully on display against the Colorado Rockies on July 22. In his best outing as a Marlin, Cueto went six innings, struck out eight, walked one and gave up one run on two hits. Towards the end of the season, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker lost trust in Cueto. Aside from that Rockies game, he allowed home runs in every start (usually multiple homers) and posted the worst FIP in the National League among pitchers to throw at least 50 innings. Schumaker had to continue using Cueto after Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez suffered injuries, but he was on a short leash. Cueto didn't make it onto the NL Wild Card Series roster. The Marlins gave his spot to Ryan Weathers instead. Future with the Marlins Johnny Cueto has a 2024 club option for $10.5M that the Marlins need to make a decision on after the World Series. Everything points towards that option being declined, making him a free agent. If Cueto wants to continue his MLB career at age 38, it'll have to be through a minor league deal. In case this is the end of the road, he's had a great career, including two All-Star appearances, a World Series title, 36.4 WAR, 3.50 ERA, 2245.0 IP and a 144-111 record. Photo courtesy of Miami Marlins

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 third baseman Jake Burger. 2023 Timeline March 30—optioned to Triple-A Charlotte KnightsApril 5—recalled from Triple-A Charlotte KnightsMay 4—placed on the 10-day injured list (strained left oblique)May 11—sent on a rehab assignment to Charlotte KnightsMay 14—activated from the 10-day injured listAugust 1—Traded by Chicago White Sox to Miami Marlins for LHP Jake EderOverall season stats: .250/.309/.518/.828, 34 HR, 80 RBI and a 120 OPS+ Marlins stats: .303/.355/.505/.860 with 9 HR, 28 RBI and a 130 OPS+ After being held back by injuries, in 2023, Jake Burger finally looked like the player that the Chicago White Sox selected with the 11th pick of the 2017 MLB Draft. Slashing .214/.279/.527/.806 with 25 home runs, 52 RBIs and a 113 OPS+ through the end of July, Burger was a huge power threat, especially against left-handed pitching. That being said, he didn't get on base much and struck out at high percentages. He was used as a designated hitter for a period of time after returning from his oblique injury, but otherwise found a home at third base. The White Sox turned out to be one of MLB's worst teams and it was no question that they would be sellers as the trade deadline approached. However, Burger wasn't thought to be among their main trade chips because he still had many years of club control ahead of him. Meanwhile, the Marlins found themselves in a position where they had a shot at the postseason. The offseason signing of Jean Segura to handle third base had gone horribly wrong and was holding back their offensive production. A few hours before the deadline arrived on August 1, they acquired Burger to take his job in exchange for Eder, one of their top prospects. Right after that, Miami sent Segura to Cleveland in the Josh Bell trade. With the Marlins, Burger continued to build upon his breakout year. His strikeout rate dipped down and he was getting on base at a higher rate. He found a better balance between hitting for power and contact, leading all Marlins hitters with 1.1 fWAR during August and September. With the White Sox, Burger was striking out at a 31.6% rate and walking at a 6.8% rate. Although his walk percentage went down even more to 4.6% after the trade, his strikeout percentage improvement to 21.7% more than made up for that. Burger also went from a .225 BABIP to a .354 BABIP (only Garrett Hampson had a higher mark among Marlins hitters during this period). The ball just made a different sound off of Burger's bat and his quality of contact stats demonstrate that. His 91.9 mph average exit velocity put him in 89th percentile among MLB qualifiers and about half of all his batted ball were hard-hit, per Baseball Savant. With the single below, Burger had the top exit velo for a Marlins player in 2023. He also had 12 of the top 20 exit velos despite spending just two months with the club. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/7f097854-615c-4cc8-94d9-fab21338d496.mp4Although the statistics claim that the 27-year-old struggled at third base, he didn't look too bad from the eye test. Aside from a couple moments, he was able to hold down the position well. Future with Marlins A huge factor behind the Marlins' acquisition of Burger was that he won't be a free agent until after the 2028 season. He's not even eligible for arbitration yet, so he will be an incredible value even if he regresses a bit from his end-of-season hot streak. Burger needed to play third base because the Marlins had Jorge Soler and Josh Bell occupying DH and first base, respectively. Both of them have the opportunity to opt out of their contracts and test free agency. The Marlins' internal options at third base include Jon Berti, Garrett Hampson and Jordan Groshans, but none of them project to be everyday starters, so the most likely outcome is that Burger spends a lot of time there again in 2024. Burger emerged as a nice building block for the Marlins lineup. However, he'll need some outside help from the new front office, especially if Soler and Bell both sign elsewhere. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

On Monday, Kim Ng and the Miami Marlins parted ways despite making it to the postseason for only the fourth time in franchise history. In the days since then, we have heard both sides of the story and there are still some unknowns because principal owner Bruce Sherman hasn't taken any questions from the media. What's clear is Sherman felt changes needed to be made in order to succeed as a small-market team moving forward. Those changes included bringing in a president of baseball operations to work above Kim and address the Marlins' player development struggles. Over the last three years, the Marlins have developed very little of their own major league talent, relying instead on making upgrades via trade. Especially on the hitting side, their homegrown prospects haven't played up to their potential in many cases. In 2021, for example, the Marlins' first draft with Ng as general manager, they selected infielder Kahlil Watson with their first-round pick (16th overall pick). Watson was generally considered a top-five player in his draft class and the Marlins got lucky that he fell all the way to them. Watson had attitude issues from the beginning of his pro career, missing time during the 2022 season because of internal discipline. However, even when he was on the field, he wasn't progressing as hoped. Watson slashed .234/.331/.412 (110 wRC+) in parts of three seasons in the Marlins system while striking out 31.2% of the time. His stock had fallen so much by this past summer that the Marlins were willing to trade him to the Cleveland Guardians (along with Jean Segura) in exchange for Josh Bell. The top seven players drafted by the Marlins in 2021 were all hitters. None of them have come close to reaching the majors yet. The Atlanta Braves have set the standard for building a core of homegrown players. Currently, 17 members of their 40-man roster are homegrown, according to Roster Resource. They drafted stars like Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider while signing Ozzie Albies and soon-to-be NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. in the international market. The Baltimore Orioles also have 17 homegrown guys on their 40-man (Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, etc.) with many more on the way, including baseball's number one prospect Jackson Holliday. The O's have so many MLB-ready hitters that the expectation is they'll trade some of them this offseason to address other parts of their roster. Baltimore put themselves in this position despite their ownership spending less money than Sherman does. Then there are the Tampa Bay Rays, another small-market team that has made the postseason five years in a row. They are constantly trading players when they reach their peak value or get too expensive, but the root of their success is finding ways to unlock the best version of whoever they have. This applies to more than just prospects. Look at how reliever Shawn Armstrong has turned his career around, posting a 10.80 ERA with the Marlins in early 2022 compared to a 1.38 ERA with Tampa Bay in 2023. The Marlins will have a lot of options to choose from during their executive search. The dream would be for the new front office leader to lead this organization to postseason appearances in back-to-back seasons. However, the main focus needs to be sustainable winning long term, which comes from strong player development. It'd make sense to hire somebody who has hands-on experience with that and can bring those best practices to Miami. Photo by Kevin Barral/Fish On First

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 right-hander Edward Cabrera. 2023 Timeline June 17—placed on the 15-day injured list (right shoulder impingement)July 8—sent on a rehab assignment to Jupiter HammerheadsJuly 18—activated from the 15-day injured listAugust 1—optioned to Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpSeptember 6—recalled from Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpSeason Stats: 22 G/20 GS, 99.2 IP, 4.24 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 10.66 K/9, 5.96 BB/9 Coming off an effective but injury-shortened 2022 season, Edward Cabrera's name was frequently brought up in trade rumors last winter. As the Marlins aimed to upgrade their offense, it made sense that they would consider flipping a relatively inexperienced starting rotation candidate who had his fair share of durability concerns. Ultimately, the Marlins held onto Cabrera and entered 2023 with him in their rotation. From the very beginning, Cabrera was struggling with control issues. Through two starts, he led the entire major leagues with 13 walks. Although he settled down a bit as the season progressed, his season total of 66 walks was the most on the Marlins pitching staff—that's despite missing time on the injured list and also spending a month in Triple-A. Cabrera's only scoreless start of 2023 came against the Oakland Athletics on June 2. The A's finished with the worst record in the majors. On the other hand, it's worth mentioning that Cabrera avoided disaster starts as well. He never allowed more than five runs in an appearance. He had a habit of making his best pitches in the most important situations, holding opponents to a .172 batting average with runners in scoring position. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/bfa990c4-ce59-48f3-8c7a-c8f78da28f48.mp4Cabrera continued to rely very heavily on his secondary pitches. Fastballs (four-seamers and sinkers) accounted for only 37.2% of his pitch mix. It's a surprising approach for somebody who ranks in the 86th percentile in average fastball velocity, per Baseball Savant. Cabrera has repeatedly needed to leave starts early due to blisters on his throwing hand. That continued to be the case this season, raising questions about whether a starting role is best for him if pitching deep into games keeps causing this to happen. The decision to demote Cabrera to Jacksonville after the trade deadline was partly based on performance and also in part due to his attitude. Cabrera posted a 2.22 ERA in five starts with the Jumbo Shrimp. Recalling him in September was done out of necessity given the Marlins' lack of rotation depth at that stage of the season. Cabrera's second stint with Miami was a lot better. He had a 2.38 ERA during a stretch that included matchups against postseason-bound teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. Cabrera was included on the Marlins playoff roster with the expectation that he would be used in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series if necessary. Since Miami was swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in two games, he did not make an appearance. Future with Marlins Given that Sandy Alcantara is out for the entirety of the 2024 season and Johnny Cueto is doubtful to return, it is a possibility that Cabrera ends up back in the starting rotation. Between guys returning from injuries and offseason acquisitions, it would be ideal for the Marlins to have enough depth to transition Cabrera to the bullpen. Either way, he'll need to have a role on the major league team because he's out of options. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First