Last season, the Miami Marlins were the most surprising team in baseball. Despite being picked by many to finish toward the bottom of the NL East, Miami snagged a wild spot. This was the first time the Marlins made the postseason in a full year since 2003. For his efforts, Skip Schumaker was named NL manager of the year. Given the moves they made last year and this offseason, I believe the Marlins could be even better this year.
Miami Was A Surprise Team Last Season
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore last season, many publications picked the Marlins to finish near the bottom of the NL East. This was perhaps due to the prowess of the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets the year before. On paper, all three of those teams were better and had outspent the Marlins by a wide margin. Miami also had a first-time manager in Skip Schumaker and the transition to being the bench boss is not easy. However, the players have the final say on what happens on the field.
The 2023 season saw the Marlins shock the baseball world. Thanks in part to great pitching and the offensive prowess of Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz, and Jorge Soler; Miami was able to snag a postseason spot. This was the first time since 2003 that the Marlins made the playoffs in a full season. This was despite Sandy Alcantara struggling and eventually needing Tommy John and Jazz Chisholm and Eury Perez battling injuries all year. They also overcame a 19-32 stretch from July to August and a poorly handled late in the season by the Mets. For their efforts, first-year manager Skip Schumaker was awarded NL Manager of the Year. However, the Marlins would be swept by the division rival Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card round 2-0.
The Marlins Roster Was Flawed Last Year
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite strong seasons from Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz, and Jorge Soler; Miami had many holes in their lineup. Not a lot of other players made positive contributions. The positions of catcher, first base, and shortstop were unsettled all season and were platoon situations. Starters Joey Wendle, Yuli Gurriel, and Jacob Stallings, weren’t productive. However, at the trade deadline and this offseason, the Marlins upgraded their roster significantly.
A Trade Deadline That Benefited The Team Beyond Last Year
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring last season’s trade deadline, the Marlins made a shrewd move by acquiring Jake Burger from the Chicago White Sox. Burger became a big bat for the Marlins during the second half of the season. After coming over from Chicago, Burger put up a slash line of .303/.355/.505 with nine home runs and 28 RBI. He also had an OPS of .860. The great thing about acquiring Burger is that the Marlins have five years of team control. Heck, the first year he’s eligible for arbitration won’t be until 2025!
Another great move Miami made during last season’s trade deadline was acquiring Josh Bell from Cleveland. All the Marlins gave up was Jean Segura and a prospect. Upon arriving in Miami, Bell put up a slash of .270/.338/.480 with 11 homers and 26 RBI down the stretch. He also had an OPS of .818 after being traded as well. Miami made smart moves that not only benefited them last year but will also help them this season.
Shortstop Was Finally Addressed
Embed from Getty ImagesOne problem area the team finally addressed was the shortstop position. This offseason, Miami signed former batting champion Tim Anderson to a bargain contract. This could pay big dividends to the Marlins this year. Anderson had the worst year of his career last season and is motivated to get back to contending for batting titles.
This Marlins Roster Is Significantly Better Than Last Years
Embed from Getty ImagesThis offseason, the only key player the Marlins lost was Jorge Soler. However, despite losing Soler, Miami still has put together a better roster than last season. Jake Burger is manning third base instead of Jean Segura. Josh Bell will be the starting first baseman instead of Garrett Cooper or Yuli Gurriel. Tim Anderson will be playing shortstop instead of Joey Wendle. Christian Bethancourt will be one of the other catchers instead of Jacob Stallings. The team also returns all of their starting rotation as well as Bryan De La Cruz, Jesus Sanchez, and Jazz Chisholm.
A Contention Window Has Been Opened
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 2024 Miami Marlins made great moves both during the trade deadline and this offseason. With the moves they’ve made, the Miami Marlins have opened a contention window. If things go right, Miami could appear in the postseason in consecutive years for the first time in franchise history. This is certainly a possibility this season given that outside the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Phillies, and Braves; the National League isn’t very strong right now. Brighter days are coming soon for the Marlins and they will once again be a fun team to watch.
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