Hans Herrera

Interested in submitting your own FanPosts? Leave a comment on this article with your preferred email address and we will set things up! The last couple of days have been exciting after a mostly quiet and boring MLB offseason. We saw important players like Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo both traded to the Yankees, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jeimer Candelario signing multi-year deals, Craig Kimbrel going to the Orioles, and the Winter Meetings closing with the Rule 5 Draft, where the Marlins lost Nasim Nuñez to the Nationals. Next up: Shohei Ohtani? The good news is that Troy Johnston will remain with the organization, and it is also important to highlight the 5 players selected by the Marlins in the minor league phase of the draft without losing any, somehow restocking the upper levels of the system. But that also tells you something about the quality of the minor system. It seems like the newly built front office is more worried about restructuring the managerial and coaching positions rather than acquiring players and addressing what the team needs on the field. So far this offseason, they have hired as many FO officials as players added to the 40-man, and none of the latter group can be tagged as “impactful." Now allow me to replicate what Ely posted several weeks ago, where he impersonated Peter Bendix and shared his vision of the 2024 Opening Day roster. There is still a deep pool of players the Marlins can acquire, but the proposed players here will be based on all previous FanPosts. Areas where the lineup is weak will be addressed under the premise of “long-term solutions” widely advocated by Mr. Bendix ever since he joined the organization. Cleaning the RosterTransaction: RHP Sixto Sanchez, INF Jordan Groshans, and OF Peyton Burdick are designated for assignment. There is no indication that any of them will become regular MLB players in the short term and they have zero trade value. Hopefully, they will remain with the organization, but I have lost all hope in them. The roster sits now at 36 players. CatcherEarlier this offseason I thought the catcher was the most pressing need. The catching situation got even worse after non-tendering Stallings and the current 40-man roster only has Nick Fortes as a catcher. Is now obvious that the Fish needs to acquire not only one but at least two other mitts. Transaction: Sign C Yasmani Grandal to a one-year, $4M deal with escalating incentives for plate appearances ($500k when reaching 400 PAs) with a $6M club option for a second year and $500k buyout. Transaction: Trade RHP Eli Villalobos for C Ben Rortvedt (NYY). Transaction: Sign C Austin Hedges to a minor league deal with good incentives ($2M salary) if he makes the Opening Day team. My first option was Caratini, but he signed with the Astros. Plan A is that Grandal will hopefully provide better ABs throughout the season, serving occasionally as a DH and backup catcher, plus some experience at 1B. If Hedges makes the team, it means that neither Fortes nor Rortvedt showed any improvement so can be sent down trying to figure out their problems. If Rortvedt makes the team, then Fortes will end up in Jacksonville and Hedges will hopefully continue with the organization. After the Yankees pulled the Soto trade, they lost Higashioka and 4 arms, but they still have 5 catchers in their 40-man so makes sense to try replenishing the minor league pitchers. If Grandal doesn’t sign, then Gary Sánchez. If Hedges doesn't sign, then Andrew Knizner. If Rortvedt is not traded, then go after Tucker Barnhart. The roster has now 38 players after adding Grandal and Rortvedt. ShortstopPhoto by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty ImagesThere are some options in the current 40-man roster—Jon Berti, Jacob Amaya, and now Vidal Bruján—but none of them are regarded as everyday solutions at the position. Transaction: Trade LF Bryan De La Cruz and LHP Tanner Scott for SS Geraldo Perdomo and INF Tristin English (ARI). Perdomo will platoon(ish) the position with Berti when facing LHP. Will be somewhat costly, but in return the team gets a solid regular player with several years of control. I insist on the real possibility of acquiring Perdomo since the Diamondbacks have uber-prospect SS Jordan Lawlar almost ready to join the team. After having acquired Eduardo Rodriguez, they now need a replacement for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in LF. Perdomo and DLC had a similar seasons in terms of OPS+ and wRC+, and while the former offers solid defense at a premium position, the latter has more power and is entering his prime years. It is probably an overpay, but I’ll try to get it done. Plan B: Trade SS Joey Ortiz for LHP A.J. Puk. Plan C: Just promote Amaya and share duties with Berti. The first option will settle the position for at least the next 3 years, the other 2 options come with uncertainty but both Ortiz and Amaya have nothing else to prove in AAA and the Marlins cannot do any worse than last year at the position. The roster goes back to 37. Starting PitcherA reminder that the Marlins might be interested in an SP capable of 150+ innings throughout a season, especially if they decide to trade one of their own. Transaction: Sign RHP Jake Odorizzi to a one-year deal ($7M) with incentives based on innings pitched ($1M for every 30 innings pitched after 100 IP) and a mutual option for a second year at ($10M and a $1M buyout). I know, I know. Odorizzi is just coming from TJS, so it doesn’t make sense to consider him a “workhorse,” but before the surgery Odo threw a bit over 100 innings in both 2022 and 2021, at 4.40 and 4.21 ERA respectively. Between 2014 and 2019, he averaged 165 innings per season, so it is not crazy to expect some 120-140 innings of 4.50-ish ball. Just like it was expected from Cueto last year. Plan B: Sign RHP Michael Lorenzen to a 2-year, $22M deal. I just think he'll get a better deal somewhere else. Personal first options (Maeda, Miley) have already signed for other teams. The roster goes to 38 players. Other Positions to be CoveredSome transactions have been completed, it is now time to round the active roster. Transaction: Trade LHP Trevor Rogers for OF Jake Fraley and LHP Sam Moll (CIN). Transaction: Trade minor leaguer RHP Luis Vizcaino for UTIL Kyle Farmer (MIN). Transaction: Trade LHP Steven Okert for minor leaguer RHP Braxton Ashcraft (PIT). After trading DLC away, there is a need to cover the corner OF position. Cincinnati has an excess of OFs, so I'll bring a solid big leaguer who might be the odd man out in the mix. Farmer is a replacement-level utility player who can play all over the infield and is that RH bat needed now that the OF is completely left-handed. After acquiring Moll, Okert became expendable, so bringing back a minor leaguer with good potential was on the table. That brings the roster to 39 players. Invitations to Spring TrainingTransaction: Sign Ps Shintaro Fujinami, Eric Lauer, Lou Trivino, Trevor Gott, Alex Reyes, Brad Keller, and Jimmy Nelson; 1B/OF Trey Mancini, C/OF Eric Haase, OFs Jesse Winker, Kyle Lewis; old friend 3B/OF Brian Anderson; INFs Nick Ahmed and Hanser Alberto to minor league contracts with an invitation to spring training. Summarizing, acquisitions are Grandal, Rortvedt, Perdomo, Odorizzi, Moll, Fraley, and Farmer; minor leaguers Baum and Ashcraft. Conversely, subtractions: Sixto Sánchez, Groshans, Burdick, Rogers, Okert; minor leaguers Villalobos and Vizcaino. And here is what the active roster would look like, followed by the rest of the 40-man roster after all the proposed transactions: Starters (5): Luzardo, Pérez, Garrett, Cabrera and Odorizzi.Relievers (8): Puk (CL), Nardi, Moll, Brazoban, Soriano, Bender, Meyer, Chargois.Catchers (2): Fortes*, Grandal.Infielders (6): Bell, Arraez, Burger, Perdomo, Berti, Farmer.Outfielders (5): Fraley, Chisholm Jr., Sánchez, García, Bruján (out of options)*.*There are 2 roster spots that will be awarded at the end of Spring Training, with front competitors being Fortes vs. Rortvedt. Mancini, Lewis, and Anderson can be in the mix vs. Brujan, according to their performance. The rest of the 40-man: Pitchers (7): Weathers, Faucher, Hoeing, Jensen, Maldonado, Ort, Simpson.Position Players (5): Amaya, Edwards, Myers, Mesa Jr., and hopefully Rortvedt (out of options) or Fortes.60-day IL (1): Alcántara.As there is still one open spot on the roster, it will also be subject to performances during spring training with prospects Troy Johnston, Tristin English, Will Banfield, Patrick Monteverde, and Luarbert Arias as frontrunners, plus some of the aforementioned NRIs. I am also very intrigued by what Fujinami can do, and maybe Mel can “fix” him to become a late-inning weapon. A regular day lineup (vs. RHP) would look like: Arráez 2BBurger 3BJazz CFBell 1BFraley LFSanchez RFGrandal / Farmer / hopefully Avi García DHFortes CPerdomo SSIn the end, the Marlins will have a weaker pitching staff by losing Scott and Sandy, but a more consistent middle-of-the-order lineup. The extra budget to the payroll would be around $12-15M, depending on bonuses, which is reasonable to expect from Sherman. Can this team make it to the playoffs next year? Comments are much appreciated. Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Interested in submitting your own FanPosts? Leave a comment on this article with your preferred email address and we will set things up! After analyzing some potential offensive targets, today the focus shifts toward pitchers. Although there is a big number of arms available for next week’s draft, there aren’t a lot of names you can say will improve Miami’s bullpen corps. But teams never have enough pitching and it is particularly true during Spring Training when injuries start to appear. The success rate is historically higher when picking up pitchers than batters in the Rule 5 Draft, therefore the chance of the Marlins drafting a pitcher is a bit higher than a field player. What pitcher profile can this team actually use? Tanner Scott (closer), Andrew Nardi (setup), A.J. Puk, Huascar Brazoban, JT Chargois (late-inning relievers), Steven Okert, George Soriano, and Bryan Hoeing (long relievers/low leverage) all have more or less defined roles in the current bullpen. However, someone to replace David Robertson (right-handed high-leverage/setup) is a good start, though one can expect Anthony Bender, Anthony Maldonado, and/or even Max Meyer will be given the chance to replace that profile, with recently acquired arms Calvin Faucher and Ryan Jensen ready to compete as well. In addition to Robertson's spot, a long reliever/spot starter or low-leverage multi-innings reliever can have a space on the roster, especially if Hoeing doesn’t recover from his 2023 late-season struggles. Repeating the exercise from last week, here are a handful of pitchers that can be interesting to add to the 40-man. Both starters and relievers are considered. Given the variety of profiles, players have been divided into three categories. Ready for a ChanceThis group has nothing left to prove in AAA. Each of them comes with question marks, which is natural for any Rule 5 player available. 1. Misael Tamarez (AAA, HOU)–With raw tools, Tamarez has a mid-90s FB which can reach 99 at times, paired with a SL and a CH. This season he worked both as starter (17 Starts, 4.32 ERA, 73 Ks in 73.0 IP) and reliever (9 G, 7.07 ERA, 27 K in 28.0 IP), drawing more BBs than needed and unattractive peripherals (5.35 BB/9, 6.10 FIP, 5.34 xFIP, .270 BABIP). The Marlins have a history of “fixing” these types of players and Tamarez might be that low-risk, high-reward player teams are looking for at the draft. 2. Mitch Spence (AAA, NYY)–Never a top prospect, the 25-year-old had a solid season for the Rail Raiders leading the International League with 163.0 IP allowing 4.47 ER per 9, with similar peripherals. He struck out 153 batters and his best offering is an above-average SL which complements with a decent CV, a low-90s FB, and good control (2.93 BB/9). Meet Daniel Castano’s replacement: he can give you multi-inning efforts plus some spot starts. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/fb1d619d-7bd9-4a0d-bdb6-9389d062a5f8.mp43. Cam Sanders (AAA, CHC)–A former starter who transitioned to the bullpen due to control issues, Sanders has a tremendous arsenal with FB, SL, CV, and CH all evaluated as average or better pitches. He threw 64.2 innings out of the bullpen in Iowa, striking out 97 (!!) while walking 69 (also !!). Hello, Scott, Cabrera? Potential fits in the long runThis group might need a bit more seasoning in AAA, but if they can limit the damage during their first taste of the majors, could be worth keeping on the active roster in 2024 and prove to be a good investment in a few years. 4. Evan McKendry (AAA, MIL)–Traded during midseason from Durham (TB) to Nashville for old friend C Alex Jackson, McKendry is surely a familiar name to Mr. Bendix. Evan had better results on the former team, but still put some similar numbers between teams with a deceptive, "kitchen sink” delivery which allows a plus CH to play up. His fastball velocity is a concern, typically sitting in the low 90s and occasionally dropping even below that. He’s done with AAA, but also looks more like a depth piece. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/42899c4a-aafa-4292-998b-24dc8fc18b70.mp45. Taylor Dollard (AAA, SEA)–After a great 2022 when he won the POTY award in the AA Texas League, Dollard had an injury-marred season where he started only 3 games before joining the IL in late April and did not pitch again. He has a deep pitch mix relying more upon control than stuff. 6. Justin Jarvis (AAA, NYM)–Another prospect traded during mid-season, Jarvis is currently the Mets’ No. 15 prospect. Admittedly, he has better projection than both Spence and McKendry, but his rather poor overall year refrains him from being looked with better eyes. Throws a FB, SL, SP combo and projects as a back-spot starter. Long ShotsSuccessful players still in AA who may be a great pickup during the minor league phase of the draft. It would be surprising if they can already contribute to an MLB team. 7. Matt Sauer (AA, NYY)–Sauer had a great season with the Patriots, punching out 83 in only 68 frames while maintaining good control rates. He operates in the 91-94 mph range with a SL as his punch-out pitch. Had a bit rough AFL season. 8. Luis De Avila (AA, ATL)–My “paisano” has been a consistent minor league starter throughout the Braves’ system ever since signed, but has only pitched 3.2 innings in AAA. Still young, would be a great minor-league pick up if available. 9. Coleman Crow (AA, NYM)–Relying on good command, solid slider, and changeup, Crow underwent TJS this summer and will miss a big chunk of the next season. He had a 1.88 ERA in 4 starts before going to surgery. Honourable MentionsThese players have intriguing raw tools, but need more sustained success in the minors to be considered. 10. Chih-Jung Liu (AA, BOS)–Liu has yet to debut in AAA, but had a solid season for the Sea Dogs. He possesses a good FB/SL combo with a CH and is now throwing a splitter consistently. Has a good ceiling, but is not yet MLB-ready. 11. Cole Wilcox (AA, TB)–Tampa Bay's 11th-ranked prospect is for sure well-known by Peter Bendix. He is a 6’5” righty with a FB/SL duet and below-average control. He had 106.1 innings in AA this season and needs to improve his long-ball proclivity. 12. Angel Bastardo (AA, BOS)–Another Portland Sea Dog, Angel gets good reviews for raw stuff, but lacks consistency. His best offerings are a mid-90s FB, CH, and CV. Projects as a starter. With two open spots on the roster, there is a good chance that the Fish catch one player in the draft. Which pitcher do you think has a better chance or profile to join Miami? Comments are much appreciated. Photo of Misael Tamarez courtesy of Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Interested in submitting your own FanPosts? Leave a comment on this article with your preferred email address and we will set things up! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Despite some reports from major league scouts (Kevin Barral’s on X), Miami’s minor league player of the year Troy Johnston will probably be gone in two weeks after he was left unprotected for the coming Rule 5 draft to be held on Dec. 6th. The Marlins will still need good offensive players, preferably those who can play 1B and OF. Would be a plus if is a left-handed bat who can also come off the bench. After hearing what Mr. Bendix has said so far since joining the Front Office, and more importantly, Skip Schumaker’s interview with the Fish On First staff a couple of days ago, there is little doubt about this team will continue to have a limited budget, or as they call it “maximise the dollar value” or “this is just who we are." The current Miami Marlins 40-man roster has 37 players, which leaves room for scooping some hidden gems. Over the last five Rule 5 drafts (2021 was cancelled), Miami has picked up 6 players, and despite results hasn’t been exceptional, players like Elieser Hernandez or Zach Pop (acquired via trade right after drafted by ARI) outperformed everyone’s expectations. At the minor league phase of the draft, Miami has also selected decent players such as Dane Myers and Charles Leblanc. Let’s now have a look at a handful of offensive players who can make sense to be added to the roster. Looking at the numbers only, Johnston stands out as one of the best players unprotected, which leaves not many options for who can be more impactful than him in the upcoming season. Chris Williams (AAA, MIN)–Has an interesting profile with strengths and glaring weaknesses. Last season he was mainly at 1B (60 games) but also caught 215 innings (25 games) for St. Paul, where nailed 6 base-stealers out of 35 (17%). His stats suggest power (.259 ISO and 21 HR) and patience (13.4% BB), but also tons of K's (32.4%). Williams has nothing else to prove in AAA, helping with some depth in the already thin catching position. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/fdbab6bb-9830-4916-b530-513560752e3c.mp4Tristin English (AAA, ARI)–Another not-young, versatile, right-handed power bat able to play 1B, corner OFs and has previous experience at 3B. English had a fine all-around season for Reno (.894 OPS/114 wRC+) with better-than-average walking and K rates. A back up plan for Bryan De La Cruz and Josh Bell in case of an injury but can also be a solid bench piece. Max Schuemann (AAA, OAK)–The highly offensive environment at the PCL sometimes makes you wonder if a player is legit, especially if a needy team like Oakland kept him the entire year in Las Vegas despite his good general numbers. Max had a nice .831 OPS/109 wRC+ while playing mainly CF and LF, he can play SS on a pinch. Tirso Ornelas (AAA, SD)–The Tijuana native is a left-handed bat who can play both OF corners. He is more or less the same type of player as DLC but with less power, though he’s still 23 and scouts grade him as 55 raw power prospect (20-80 scale). Ornelas makes good contact (.348 BABIP), has oppo power and good BB and K rates. He was named one of the Padres’ organisation All- Stars. Trenton Brooks (AAA, SF)–Another left-handed corner OF option who can play 1B. Brooks is the closest to Johnston you'll find at this year’s draft. He is already 28 years old and has played in AAA over the last 3 seasons, which might be a red flag. Both BB and K rates have been 14-18% since 2021 and this season launched 23 HR in 523 PAs between Las Vegas and Sacramento. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/0be74764-65a4-4ae9-9faf-b5b9e9824b74.mp4There are some pitchers, both relievers and starters, who can be interesting additions to the team but improving the current lineup is the most important goal today. Nevertheless, next Friday’s post will cover some names for that matter. There is little indication that the Marlins will actually select any pieces for the major league roster, but with some open roster spots, at least one addition can make sense. Which target(s) looks better to join the big-league team? Maybe a name or two are missing here? Please comment! Photo courtesy of maxschuemann/Instagram

Interested in submitting your own FanPosts? Leave a comment on this article with your preferred email address and we will set things up! At the end of this post, there is some rant about the Rule 5 protection deadline. Let us get through what is factual right now and then we can vent later on. After going through the main needs for next season, namely C, SS, and SP, the Marlins cleared the air a bit more this week by protecting some of their Rule 5-eligible minor leaguers. On Wednesday, the Marlins decided to include on their 40-man roster Anthony Maldonado and Victor Mesa Jr. These moves can give us a better understanding of how the FO is going to approach the rest of the offseason. https://fishonfirst.com/news/marlins-select-victor-mesa-jr-anthony-maldonado/While some other roster fronts can be upgraded (RH reliever, LH bench bat, defensive OF), efforts will probably be now focused on improving the backstop position, acquiring a starting SS, and potentially an innings-eater SP. Offering contract extensions to core players should also be on the agenda, but fans never know what to expect from the shallow-pocketed Chairman (far from being true, Sherman). Let us work with what the team has today. The official roster breakdown for the current 40-man is the following: Starters: Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera, Trevor Rogers, Max Meyer, Ryan Weathers (8) Relievers: Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi, A.J. Puk, Steven Okert, Huascar Brazoban, JT Chargois, George Soriano, Anthony Bender, Bryan Hoeing, Sixto Sánchez, Josh Simpson, Anthony Maldonado (12) Catchers: Nick Fortes, Jacob Stallings* (2) Infielders: Miguel Amaya, Luis Arraez, Josh Bell, Jon Berti, Jake Burger, Xavier Edwards, Jordan Groshans, Garrett Hampson (8) Outfielders: Peyton Burdick, Jazz Chisholm Jr. Bryan De La Cruz, Avisail Garcia, Victor Mesa Jr., Dane Myers, Jesus Sanchez (7) Designated Hitters: None. For a total of 37 players, that leaves 3 spots available ahead of the Rule 5 Draft in early December and the rest of the offseason. As countlessly mentioned, there are flagrant improvement opportunities at C and SS. Another SP is highly recommended, as is another RH reliever. In the hypothetical case all those positions are fulfilled with players from other organizations, which players are now the most probable to lose their roster spot? A friendly reminder that later today (Friday 6:00 p.m ET) is the non-tender deadline, where the Marlins face some decisions. They might have one or two extra roster spots available afterwards. Based purely on performance, Stallings is the most obvious candidate to be non-tendered even though his contract is not particularly expensive. After him, other non-tender candidates are Sixto, Okert, Groshans, and Burdick. Sixto probably threw his last pitch within the organization after showing an 85-mph fastball in this past season. That is the only inning he has thrown in a professional game over the last 3 years. There is no reason to keep protecting him and most probably no team will claim him to offer a ML roster spot. As a fan, one really wishes Sixto can come back, but awarding him a roster spot at this point is indefensible. Peyton Burdick had 37 PAs this season in Miami, striking out 18 times. While he still hit 24 HRs in Jacksonville, he also punched out at a staggering 36.6% rate. It is very difficult to defend such production but to be fair, he didn't get an extended evaluation with the big team. All hope was lost when this season Jazz got injured of a turf toe and the FO decided to bring Davis from Detroit, knowing that Burdick could man the position. Jordan Groshans' prospect pedigree fell off a cliff after 2021. He was highly regarded while in Toronto, and the Marlins learned the hard way why the Blue Jays weren't bothered that much by trading him away. He hit 6 homers in 460 ABs this season, and his OPS finished the season at .669. With some depth in the positions he can play (3B and 2B), his roster spot is simply put, unjustified. In the unlikely scenario that the Marlins need another roster spot, Okert is probably the odd man out in a highly effective, heavy LH bullpen that also includes Scott, Nardi, Puk and potentially Simpson. He didn't have a terrible season (4.45 ERA in 58.1 IP with 73!! Ks and inducing a lot of weak contact), but other teams would value him more. Okert is entering his first year of arb projected to make a mere $1.2 M. Speaking of Simpson, himself might not be completely ruled out as a DFA candidate, ditto for Myers, however unlikely in both cases. Rule 5 Protection Deadline None of us can grasp what happened on Wednesday. The Marlins had 5 roster spots available to protect Rule 5-eligible prospects. The sure thing for all of us was to include Troy Johnston, with Maldonado as the distant secondary priority. After them, Mesa Jr., Will Banfield, and Nasim Núñez were the other realistic possibilities. Instead, the Fish chose to protect only Maldonado and Mesa Jr., leaving us in disturbing awe. Why not protect Johnston? The message this organization sends to any minor leaguer is that, you can crack your back an entire season and even win the Organizational Offensive Player of the Year, but that won't guarantee you an ML roster spot. Perhaps they know something about him that we don't. My humble opinion is that, even if he cannot hit MLB pitching, he deserves a roster spot over at least 5 players currently on the 40-man. To the eye of the inexperienced, it makes no sense. But again, they know better for sure. It is almost certain that any of Oakland, Washington, Pittsburgh, or even Detroit will claim Johnston in a couple of weeks; not so sure about any team claiming Banfield or Núñez, though. Can the strategy be preparing to "steal" some unprotected prospects from other organizations because they don't fully trust their own? Next week we will analyze unprotected Rule 5 prospects across the league that can be useful next season and worth considering for the Marlins if still available at their draft position. Having that many roster spots available is probably the silver lining of such a poor minor league system. Comments are much appreciated and see you all next week! Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos

Interested in submitting your own FanPosts? Leave a comment on this article with your preferred email address and we will set things up! In the third installment of the Marlins' offseason needs series, starting pitcher is about to step to the plate. After addressing two obvious pressing needs for the coming season, acquiring a SP is less urgent given the number of internal options currently on the team, though both injuries and inconsistencies still make us think that a dependable arm is probably a good idea. https://fishonfirst.com/fanposts/marlins-offseason-needs-catcher-2023-24/https://fishonfirst.com/fanposts/marlins-offseason-needs-shortstop-2023-24/Let us start with what is in place as of today. Without Sandy Alcántara next season, Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, and Eury Pérez are locked as starters. Then the team has Edward Cabrera, who had an up-and-down season but finished more or less on a high note. After him, Trevor Rogers and Max Meyer come to mind, who were absent all or almost all of the entire 2023 season. Lastly, Ryan Weathers' debut in Miami was not ideal yet he left a good impression in that outing vs. the Pirates in the last game of the regular season. There are another 2 or 3 options in the organization, but they'll be discussed later. There are so many questions about that group. Will Eury be ready for a full season (170-180 innings)? Will Eddy's unsustainable walking rates continue to prevent him from being a reliable starter? Are Rogers and Meyer going to be on an innings limit next year? Is Weathers once and for all ready? So much uncertainty is the main reason why the team's brand new POBO, Peter Bendix, might be pressed to acquire a so-called "Innings Eater." As in previous FanPosts, let us explore some names in different categories available. Free AgentsContrary to what both C and SS have to offer this offseason, the list of available starters via free agency is deep. Unfortunately, great options will come too expensive for the always frugal Marlins, which means you can forget about the Ohtanis, Yamamotos, Nolas, etc. Allow me to present you 5—in my opinion—very realistic options for joining the Fish next season: 1. Michael Lorenzen—coming from a mixed-bag season where he was pretty solid with Detroit, but faded away after some great starts in a Philly uniform. Never an innings eater, he reached a career high 153 frames last season. He will turn 32 soon and will be looking for 2 or 3-year deals, maybe in the $12-15M /yr range, which is affordable for the FO. He also has extensive experience in the bullpen and can turn into a swingman if the youngsters improve their game. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/03/05702b98-99181859-3cb54351-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp42. Kyle Gibson—the ultimate back-of-the-rotation, all-innings-you-can-eat, I-don’t-care-about-your-5.00-ERA guy. He did exactly that last season piling up another 192 innings for the O’s at a much better than Cueto’s 4.73 ERA. He did that during his 35 years old season, netting $10M. Since he already turned 36, he can get maybe a two-year at around the same price tag. 3. Kenta Maeda—roughly half a year younger than Gibson, Maeda offers less durability but more quality than the previous suggestion. One can think that Maeda will get a similar contract as well, probably a tad higher AAV. 4. Jack Flaherty—the Cardinals—and to be fair, most of the baseball world—expected Flaherty to become the next Waino in St. Louis. Never panned completely out but everyone can see he has the stuff and makeup to be a top rotation guy. I place him 4th here because he just turned 28 last month and even though he should be looking for a short-term redemption contract (like Bellinger this year), some teams will offer him $15M+ annually with multiple opt-out clauses. That can be a bit outside the price limit for the Fish, but hey, still doable. Makes a lot of sense for both parties even with the injury history behind him. 5. Wade Miley—another 36-year-old with some injury history. Miley has a notorious pattern: Starting in 2017, he is throwing 120+ innings in odd years, while 80 or less in even years. Kind of weird, nah? But still, his ERA over the last 3 years have never been above 3.37. Another swingman profile cheaper than Seth Lugo or Nick Martinez. Unconventional Free AgentsThis subset of pitchers were not in the big leagues last season, but had great results in foreign leagues. All of them are drawing attention to some extent. 1. Erick Fedde—the longtime Washington National jumped over the pacific ocean last offseason looking for a different approach to his arsenal and it paid off, having one of the best seasons for a pitcher in the Korean League ever: a sharp 2.00 ERA in 180.1 IP, coupled with 209 K. Maybe a one-year guaranteed deal with a second -ear option for less than $10M AAV can lure him to come back stateside. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-08/24/2897fdba-67391e32-c4a314ab-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp42. Trevor Bauer—the always controversial Bauer is reportedly receiving tons of attention lately. After settling the sexual harassment allegations brought against him, he looks ready to make a comeback. He had a 2.59 ERA in 156.2 IP for Yokohama in Japan. Is Bauer a good fit for Miami? 3. Yariel Rodriguez—the Cuban-born also pitched very well in Japan but last pitched in 2022. His contract can definitely be in the Marlins range but he never threw more than 96 innings in the last three seasons, therefore probably not the best fit. Spring Training Invitees with Intriguing ProfilesBetting on Mel’s magic to help them taking a step further in their rough careers. None of them should come expensive. 1. Brad Keller—a talented starter through the Royals system who showed some promise. Keller pitched more than 130 innings in both 2021 and 2022, allowing more than 5 ER per 9. This season he suffered a should injury in May but made it back with the team in September, pitching 2 innings as reliever, finishing the season with 45.1 IP and a 4.57 ERA. 2. Chris Flexen—after back-to-back solid seasons in 2021-22, Flexen’s production plummeted this year. He’s still capable of providing 100+ innings of 5.00+ ERA, still younger than 30 and can contribute both as either starter and long reliever. 3. Jake Odorizzi—missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury, which is a big red flag. However, this can be a low-risk, high-reward move if he proves to be healthy. Odo has been around average starter over the last decade, and may look for a short-term deal with lots of incentives based in appearances or innings pitched. Trade TargetsIt is very difficult to find a team with a surplus of SP, in fact, the Marlins might be one of them. It is even more difficult to name a specific trade target, so the focus is turned into teams instead. Here three potential trade partners for starters are presented, adventuring to propose the best trade target in each case. One more thing, if the Marlins are going to pull a trade, the area where they have kind of a surplus is pitching. That means, trade targets here must be acquired over a pitching-pitching swap. With a very decent bullpen last season, one can think the Fish can consider trading pieces like JT Chargois, A.J. Puk or even Tanner Scott. 1. Cleveland Guardians are the AL version of the Miami Marlins: lots of young controllable starters working for a below-average offensive team. Entering his last year of arbitration, Shane Bieber can be intriguing for a team like the Fish as well as for every other team. He made $10.1M this season and should get a rise in his last year of Arb, an affordable rise for the Marlins. After him, Cleveland’s depth chart has 7 potential starters. 2. Toronto Blue Jays have the best quartet in the big leagues is pretty much safe: Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt and Kikuchi are almost locks, barring injuries. After them, the Jays have some interesting options, that’s a reason to believe they can listen to offers for Alek Manoah. (With all due respect, Manoah reminds me a lot of the late José Fernández.) 3. The Seattle Mariners are the most loaded team in terms of SPs, they have already 7 starters in their depth chart while Robbie Ray should be ready to join them this coming Spring Training. Marco Gonzales is clearly the odd man out and by making $12.25M next season with a team option of $15M for 2025, the Marlins would be doing the Mariners a favour. As a matter of fact, a Gonzales/Avisail García trade is not a terrible idea for either team. Internal OptionsSeveral Marlins players were mentioned at the start of this post as leading candidates to cover all the rotation spots. Beyond them, there are a few other players who made progress this year and can be stretched as starters for some spot starts, but clearly not for a full season. George Soriano and Bryan Hoeing were solid coming out of the bullpen, and even starting one and seven games, respectively. Jeff Lindgren started 17 games for the Jumbo Shrimp and can get a shot if some injuries happen. Chi Chi González, Devin Smeltzer, Daniel Castano, and Enmanuel De Jesus all left the organization already via minor league free agency. Next week we’ll discuss the 40-man roster construction right after the Rule 5 protection deadline. What do you think? Comments are always welcomed. Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images