Marlins catchers were the least productive group of backstops in the National League last year, batting a combined .200/.272/.298. Jacob Stallings and Nick Fortes caught every inning for Miami in 2023, but Stallings was non-tendered last week as the Fish look to turn the page and bring in a more productive all-around option. Newly hired president of baseball operations Peter Bendix addressed the need when chatting with reporters — link via Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald — plainly stating that the Marlins need catching help this offseason and that adding multiple catchers to bolster the organizational depth would be “ideal.” He added that the Fish are open to both trades and free-agent options at the position.
That’s not necessarily an indication that the 27-year-old Fortes is on borrowed time with the organization. While he hit just .204/.263/.299 in 323 plate appearances last year, Fortes grades out as a superlative defender and has multiple minor league options remaining. Depending on the magnitude of the seemingly inevitable catching additions Miami makes, he could be in a timeshare, a strict backup role or even retained as depth in the upper minors.
Also under consideration (but not on the 40-man roster) is 24-year-old prospect Will Banfield, the No. 69 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Banfield went through Double-A for a second time in 2023, turning in a respectable .258/.302/.472 slash with 23 home runs. He rarely walks and might never be reliable to post even an average on-base percentage in the big leagues, but Banfield had a power breakout in ’23 after being labeled a glove-only catcher throughout most of his time in the minors. He’s not yet on the 40-man roster and is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, but if he goes unclaimed he could be in line for his big league debut at some point in 2024.
Still, it’s clear that Bendix and his staff will need to bring in catching help at some point. The free-agent market isn’t especially deep at the position. Mitch Garver is the top offensive option available, though he’s coming off several injury-shortened seasons and might be used in more of a hybrid catcher/DH role wherever he signs. Alternatives include Gary Sanchez, Victor Caratini and Tom Murphy. There are several glove-first options available (e.g. Austin Hedges, Roberto Perez), but their generally lackluster offensive track records would only position Miami to find itself with subpar production similar to that which they endured in 2023.
The trade market could feature a few more interesting alternatives. There are some notable change-of-scenery candidates like San Francisco’s Joey Bart and perhaps St. Louis’ Ivan Herrera, neither of whom has a path to regular at-bats thanks to the respective presences of Patrick Bailey and Willson Contreras. The Twins are looking to scale back payroll and had a breakout 2023 showing from Ryan Jeffers, which likely makes veteran Christian Vazquez available. He’s still owed two years and $20MM. Vazquez had a tough year at the plate in 2023 but was only a bit below the league average at the plate from 2019-22. That, of course, is simply a speculative handful of names rather than any kind of comprehensive rundown of potentially available names.
In terms of payroll, the Marlins might not have much space with which to work. Roster Resource currently projects them at just over $96MM — about $14MM shy of where they wrapped up the 2023 season. But in addition to help at catcher, the Marlins could also stand to explore upgrades at shortstop and in the outfield, to say nothing of some moves to deepen the rotation mix.
While the starting staff has long been a strength in Miami, it’s not quite as robust as it once was. Sandy Alcantara will miss the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Pablo Lopez was traded to the Twins in last winter’s Luis Arraez deal. Top prospect Jake Eder went to the White Sox in exchange for Jake Burger. Fellow prospects Max Meyer and Sixto Sanchez have been injured. The Fish still have a talented rotation group — Jesus Luzardo, Eury Perez, Braxton Garrett, Edward Cabrera, Trevor Rogers — but they’re not as flush with arms as they once were. That’s significant both because it creates a possible need to add to the group and also reduces the ease with which they can trade from their stock of arms in order to address other deficiencies, such as the glaring need at catcher Bendix recently referenced.
How does Austin Barnes sound?
Willians Astudillo is looking for work!
standuptriple;
How does Hunter Feduccia for Jesus Luzardo sound?
How does Hunter Feduccia for Jesus Luzardo sound?
Like a very stupid trade suggestion.
I like a pile of wood in Texas
How about trades? Hmm Alejandro Kirk for Jazz Chisolm? Thoughts?
Where were you going to play Chisolm? really has not learned the centerfield position, would be a liability in the outfield, his best position is 2B.. Trade wish sound alright though.
Jays don’t have the depth at C they once had. Doubt they are much interested in moving Kirk, especially not for an infielder (unless he’s a really good third baseman, which Jazz isn’t).
Kirk doesn’t have the upside Jazz has. Don’t think that there’s it done
Salvador Perez?
No, he has to stay in KC as they’re getting the band back together. Moose, Zach, Perez…. who else is coming
Jazz seems to get hurt alot doesnt he?
Marlins need to send a SP like Eury in order to pry Kirk away from the Jays.
Or at least pay Jazz’s arb years plus competitive balance picks and the next 5 years of pool money for Kirk
Only fair
@Mjm117
lol. You’re in mid-offseason form!
Garver lol.
Care to expound?
How about Joey Bart?
Depends if anyone still thinks he’s a major league player. He wasn’t even very good in the Pacific Coast League, where I think I could probably hit 200, last year.
I think Covid stunted his growth and he was pushed too soon. Still think he could become a stud.
Joey Bart is intriguing but I don’t think Miami will want a project
Come spring training, Giants fans are either going to be high on him or low. He’s going to have to make the jump this year for sure.
Right, Bart is going to have to show this season if he’s worth keeping around.
No mention of Salvador Perez? Pretty sure there were talks before the trade deadline last year
Gary Sanchez
Eric Haase. Calls a good game, and has a strong arm. One year removed from being a good bat.
I hear super utility player Josh Van Meter is available
Max stassi?
Will he even play in 24?
Yes
Austin Hedges has made EVERY pitching staff he’s been with better pitchers
Go get Austin Barnes.
He’s what they already have. Actually, he’s worse. His 36 OPS+ was I believe the single worst number in baseball last year. Not even that great a defender.
Kershaw would veto the trade.
Marlins catchers had a 65 OPS+ last season and their defense was not stellar either. Most catchers would be an upgrade.
Blockbuster centered around Tyler Stephenson and Jonathan India for *insert SP
Honestly haven’t followed Miami enough to know the scouting report on all of em but boy was Perez impressive
They don’t really have a major league ready SP to sell anymore. Maybe Max Meyer. If anything they’ll SIGN a SP this off-season.
Max Meyer for Ivan Herrera. Thats a deal I have been thinking about since June. I think Alacantara changed things for them but they still could trade 1 starter, especially one with question marks like Meyer.
Why would the Cards trade for a guy with question marks? Plus Herrera now figures into a role with Steven K. gone.
Herrera has question marks. Most importantly Herrera has no place to play except as a backup.
The Marlins should be looking at Knizner. He’ll be cheap and I think there is still untapped upside there. Looked like a completely different hitter last year compared to ’22.
Jose Molina
I would at least TRY to talk Posey into coming back first..Then move onto J. Molina.
Well, if these are the guys you think they should go after, why not check in on Johnny Bench too? Can Josh Gibson still play?
Go get Elias Diaz from the Rockies. He’s pretty reasonably priced, almost league average offensively, very solid defensively, and lives in Miami in the off-season. Rockies wouldn’t need major league ready talent in return and had the best catching prospect they’ve ever had (which isn’t saying much, granted) in AAA end of last year.
This seems like a very good possibility if the Rockies price tag isn’t too high.
Salvy Perez for Rogers or Cabrera makes a ton of sense
Not for the Marlins. They can’t afford Salvy.
Controllable SP for a washed up catcher making $20+ million a year? Maybe take a break from this website for a few months
Royals would be paying most of the contract. This deal almost happened last season
The Salvy part I mean
If the Marlins pick up Salvy for SP, it will be one of their lesser valued ones, and it would also require the Royals taking on Avi Garcia’s contract to offset a lot of Salvy’s contract. And the Royals may still need to kick in some money.
Bendix has added three guys (Bruján, Faucher, and Gray) from the Rays, so why not Francisco Mejía and/or Christian Bethancourt while he’s at it.
I think Bethancourt was DFA and Cleveland signed him.
Grandal on a year deal and hope for a bounce back
This is possibility, especially since he’s a local guy and doesn’t block or push out Fortes. He’s also an upgrade over Stallings even at his worse right now…unless he completely implodes below Stallings level.
Max Meyer for Ivan Herrera. Meyer is a good fit for the Cardinals he can compete for a rotation spot and possibly pitch in the pen. Lynn, Meyer and an ace isn’t too impressive but it’s tolerable. Meyer has upside.
if the Cardinals trade Herrera, it’ll be for more than Meyer.
There’s two sides to that opinion.
Try to get a prospect from Twins and take on Vazquezs remaining contact.
Would the Marlins take on Willson Contreras’ contract?
I*’ve wondered this. The problem with Contreras is the questions of his defense after the issues in St. Louis. The Marlins have this young pitching staff, so they need to make sure that they don’t have a catcher who is a defensive liability.
Should never have traded Realmuto.
Realmuto demanded to be traded.
Nor would the Fish have extended him like the Phillies did.
True but it is not like the Marlins should never have traded him, he didn’t want to play for them even though he still had 3 years of club control.
The Marlins could have waited another half a year or even another year to trade him. Mid-season teams get more desperate for bats in July than during the offseason.
I’m thinking perhaps Banfield is the best option we have. He found a Home Run stroke at age 23 and looks like someone who gets some guys in. Banfield and Fortes could improve the Marlins ofensively in 2024 without losing defense.
Seeing what is out there right now, that looks like about the best available plan going into Spring Training
Let him play at Jacksonville next year and see how it goes. If he’s doing well, then a promotion after the ASG is always a possibility.
I think sign Caratini, Grandal or trade for Adams (WSH) or Rortvedt (NYY) are pretty realistic options.
Why would you even bring up Rortvedt? He’s not even likely to make the Yankees.
Because he has nothing left to prove in AAA, he looked bad in a very small sample and would be very easy to get vía trade. The Marlins can send a LH reliever (like Simpson, for example) to get him.
Rortvedt might be a low risk, high potential steal if he manages to hit somewhere close to average for a catcher.
If the Marlins can get Rortveldt so easily, why not Okert as the LH reliever?
I mean, Okert can also be that LH guy, of course, but I think (not sure) that the Marlins would be over paying a bit… not much more, though.
Okert’s season wasn’t bad, he is just the least effective LH in the bullpen. He is still has excellent K-rate and is a proven ML arm. Simpson has yet to debut and we just don’t know how is he going to pan out.
I guess the Yanks would be more interested in Okert, of course. Him for Rortvedt + another low-key prospect sound about right.
Agree. Banfield is way better that what they had last year. So I dont know why he was not protected from rule 15. His defense is considered excellent and has some pop. Marlins can not afford to give away pitchers for mediocre players out there. Give Minnesota Sixto and take Vazquez at 7mil a year for the next 2. In reality there is not much out there in the Market. The only one I would consider is Caratini, very good defensive and can hit a bit which is Way Batter than what the had fir the last two years. Caratini is the only one I will spend money on. But even bwfore that Andrew Knizner would be my second choice.
Before spending any maney I will consider Andrew Knizner.
No team will take Sixto on a trade. As a matter of fact, I still don’t understand why is he still holding a 40-man spot.
Banfield is way better than what they had last year. So I dont know why he was not protected from rule 5. His defense is considered excellent and has some pop. Marlins can not afford to give away pitchers for mediocre players out there. Give Minnesota Sixto and take Vazquez at 7mil a year for the next 2. In reality there is not much out there in the Market. The only one I would consider is Caratini, very good defensive and can hit a bit which is Way Batter than what the had for the last two years. Caratini is the only one I will spend money on. But even need to consider Andrew Knizner he is my second choice. I believe Forte and Caratini would be a very good tandem. Please get some sense an get Banfield back in the fold.
I liked Tom Murphy when he was a prospect with Colorado, but I still personally think they should trade a bunch of guys out, and retool…maybe it still makes sense to grab someone though, b/c Mccintosh was hurt a lot of last year, and wasn’t as good when he came back, and also probably isn’t much of an option defensively, and Banfield has been a blackhole, despite his defense, prior to the end of this most recent season
I still like Fortes, so someone that can supplement him is the way to go
Caratini. Not expensive, good resume on the defensive side and definitely can hit way bettet than Stallings and Forte together. Add Knitzer and they are set way better than the last two years. Nees to be smart using funds. Besides their pitching is in good shape.
I think they’re just fishing.
TDA for a starting pitcher.
Why would the Marlins help the Braves?
Higgy is available.
I was surprised that they didn’t acquire PJ Higgins from the Cubs for AAA depth. Higgins became a 6 year FA and signed with the Reds last week. He would have been a serviceable 3rd catcher/CI for when they need to pinch hit for Fortes.
Christian Vazquez and a few million of his contract for Josh Bell? Each team upgrades at a position of need by exchanging bad contracts. Then Arraez can go back to 1B and the Twins can give a spot to Jair Camargo.
@Arrogant Analyst. I like Bart, Herrera, or Mitch Garver. Target those guys. Also, keep Josh Bell and promote Troy Johnston (if he remains unclaimed). Then maybe you can jettison Avi Garcia and finally be done with him.
How about Salvy Perez for Sandy Alcantara?
If you can get Herrera go for it! I was hoping Stalling would improve after moving from the Buccos, however that didn’t happen. Too bad, Jacob should be able to catch on somewhere.
Message from Farhan please take Bart for anyone that can play baseball. I didn’t draft him. He is a solid defensive catcher with moderate power
I’ll do Avi Garcia for Bart.
Oh wait…I just noticed the part of “anyone that can play baseball”. I guess that takes Garcia out of the equation…unless he can get back to using whatever he was using before he got the big contract.
@MarlinsFanBase. Garcia is useless. If all else fails, we need to release him and eat the rest of his contract. The team would be better served having Dane Myers, Troy Johnston (if we don’t lose him in the Rule 5 draft), Xavier Edwards or someone else equally capable occupying his roster spot. Maybe Peter Bendix can include Avi in a deal this winter. One can only hope.