9:54PM: Marlins CEO Derek Jeter backed up Ng’s comments, telling Bally Sports Florida that “For the first time really since we’ve been here as an ownership group, I expect to be pretty active” in the offseason. Jeter also said the focus will be on adding hitting to augment “one of the top pitching staffs in baseball.”
7:35AM: The Marlins are wrapping up their 11th losing season in the past 12 years, with last year’s shortened-season playoff berth looking like an aberration. Miami’s young but promising pitching staff actually put together an above-average campaign, but they were let down by a lack of run support. The Marlins’ 615 runs scored is the third-lowest tally in the majors, with the team’s .241/.308/.387 slash line (excluding pitchers) checking in sixth from the bottom.
Bolstering the lineup will be an obvious priority for the club this offseason, and general manager Kim Ng acknowledged as much Friday afternoon in an appearance on the MLB Network. Most notably, Ng suggested ownership is prepared to support at least some measure of activity in free agency. “We are going to have some money to spend. … We feel that we are primed to do very well with the pitching set up as it is and with us being able to spend some money on bats this offseason.”
Miami typically runs one of the lowest payrolls in the league, but their ledger is fairly open. Miguel Rojas’ $5.5MM option recently vested, and Anthony Bass’ $3MM salary is the only other guaranteed deal on the books. (Miami also owes the Yankees $3MM as part of the Giancarlo Stanton trade). The Fish will have one of the game’s more significant arbitration classes, with Jesús Aguilar, Brian Anderson, Sandy Alcantara, Pablo López and Elieser Hernández among those in line for raises. Even then, Miami should have a bit of spending capacity before closing in on this year’s estimated $63MM payroll (via Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez).
Ng was unsurprisingly vague about precisely how much money the front office will have to play with, but they’re seemingly at least considering one of the more notable players likely to be on the market. On his Swings and Mishes podcast, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald suggested the Marlins could be in the market for South Florida native Nick Castellanos, who is expected to opt out of the remaining two years and $32MM on his current deal with the Reds.
On the surface, the Marlins certainly seem a long shot to wind up landing Castellanos, as Mish acknowledges. The 29-year-old placed tenth on MLBTR’s most recent free agent power rankings, with a four or five-year deal worth $20MM+ annually seemingly within the realm of possibility coming off a season in which he’s hitting .308/.362/.570 with 33 home runs. For a Miami team that balked at meeting Starling Marte’s reported four-year, $50MM asking price this summer, an earnest Castellanos pursuit would require a significant change in direction, although it’s at least theoretically possible ownership and the front office would be willing to make an exception for one of the younger potential free agents on the market.
While a Castellanos deal would register as a major surprise, the team agreeing to an extension with Alcantara seems entirely plausible. There’s reportedly growing optimism the two sides can get a long-term deal done this winter, and Mish adds that such talks could result in a more team-friendly arrangement than one might expect. MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently broke down the factors that could go into an Alcantara extension, although Mish hears the first-time All-Star might be willing to settle for a bit less than his maximum earning power in order to lock in some financial security before the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement on December 1.
They really need to bring in at least impact bats and a closer. In terms of bats, they should bring in Canha and trade for either Ketel Marte or Bryan Reynolds
They aren’t getting Reynolds
The Marlins have Sanchez and De La Cruz to man the corner OF with Garrett Cooper potentially backing up both. They need a CF, its not Brinson or Sierra. Maybe Ketel Marte but the Diamondbacks will ask for a hefty return and it seems like Marte’s preference is to play 2B. J.J. Bleday, Griffin Conine, and Peyton Burdick may all factor in the picture next season as well so it would make no sense for the Marlins to spend big on a corner OF
Would the Fish be interested in Joey Bart? Pair him with another hitter for say Max Meyer and another arm
A solid idea, as long as the second arm coming to the Giants is a starter and close to major league ready.
Agreed, and Helio coming along with Bart to Miami.
Bart and Ramos for Myer, Perez and Faulton? Would consider it
As long as Luciano comes along as well, f*** it.
Hahahaha! Alright well Trevor Rodgers comes too SF haha
Aussiegiants and Mjm117 must be really fun to have as members in an FLB. /S
In an FLB? Help me out here mate?
Fantasy League Baseball I assume
Yeah that sounds about right! Haha
They can’t afford Marte but they can Castellanos? Not to mention he once called hitting in Comerica Park (DET) “a joke” — and loanDepot is quite similar, ask Jesus Aguilar.
There’s a 3 year age difference between Marte and Castellanos. I’d rather give Castellanos a 5 year deal into his early 30s, as opposed to Marte a 4 year deal into his late 30s.
I recall castellanos saying he’s tired of losing some time ago. I’d be surprised for him to sign with a consistent loser like the Marlins, even if it is his hometown.
I get what you’re saying, but they’re probably the second best positioned team in that division. They have an insane amount of young pitching and the financial flexibility to really do whatever they want this off-season. If they make shrewd moves this team can be in the playoffs next year. The Phillies, Mets and Nationals should be gearing up for rebuilds honestly. All three teams have significant money tied up with barren farm systems.
I actually agree with Chemo. If I were a GM I would much rather take over the young talented Marlins and have the financial flexibility to make my own decisions rather than take over a team who already spent the money on guys like Lindor, Corbin or Strasburg and then expect me to make their bad decisions look good. It’s less about having a big payroll when that payroll is already spent. It’s more about having young, inexpensive, controllable talent combined with less future payroll on the books that’s already tied up. Lindor and some of the other guys may turn it around but they will never be worth what they are already getting paid. That makes their entire presence on the roster a net negative once you consider the price and what you could’ve done with that money if they weren’t there.
Absolutely. The Mets have a mess that a new GM will have to work with; no clean slate, no ability to trade away mistakes and start fresh. Not very appealing.
The Marlins should trade at least one of their starters for a couple of young hitters. One trade scenario I can see is they trade a starter to Cleveland for promising infielders Palacios and Arias. Cleveland has good infield depth which is what the Marlins lack. I could see the Marlins signing a veteran hitter as well this offseason and improve for next year. 2023 could be the year that they establish themselves as playoff contenders.
Agreed except Nolan Jones and Bo Taylor make more sense for the Marlins IF they are to trade one or two SP’ing prospects for ready or almost ready bats
I can see that happening as well. I actually see the Marlins going after Christian Vazquez or Omar Narvaez for the catcher spot. If I’m not mistaken, they’ll both be free agents after next year and the Marlins could sign one of them as the long term catcher. Nolan Jones could be untouchable since he might replace Jose Ramirez if he gets traded. Brayan Rocchio could be another interesting acquisition if the Marlins work out a trade with Cleveland. Could be an interesting offseason for the Fish.
The Marlins should trade at least one of their starters for a couple of young hitters
dont agree unless it like Oakland trade take change on sp in return.
hitter for hitter
only way that happens is for young catcher .
Marlins will sign Anthony Rizzo and immediately regret it
They aren’t signing a first baseman when they seem to believe that Diaz is their best prospect in the entire organization. And based on the small sample size as far as his power numbers and how good his swing looks, that kid is going to absolutely rake
Exactly. And Lewin Diaz has a great glove that looks GG caliber so far. The Marlins are very unlikely to add a 1B or DH since Lewin Diaz looks ready and they already have Jesus Aguilar.
The Marlins offensive move looks more along the lines of an OF. There is also the slight chance that, if they see a favorable musical chairs effect in SS free agents, they could look to grab either Marcus Semien or Troy Story or Carlos Correa, and move Miggy Rojas to a Utility role.
The Marlins also need a legit Closer and another strong bullpen part. They need to move on from Anthony Bass as well.
if they have dh it just be worst version of rays and Oakland.
than you prove to be yanks and jeter fan fist or that what it feel like.
Why is signing Rizzo regrettable? Signing him and Castellanos could move them into contention. Mets a mess. Nats rebuilding. Phillies, who knows. Braves and pitching, big if.
Weren’t you the same person on another thread who said “the Dodgers aren’t going anywhere”? Where do you get these ridiculous takes? The Dodgers are amongst the best run, if not the best run, organization in MLB. Same with the Giants who you also degraded.
The Marlins are highly unlikely to sign Rizzo. Lewin Diaz looks like he has secured 1B for next year. Jesus Aguilar will have DH.