Miami Marlins lost 100 games last season and could do so again this season. They will be terrible and are in a competitive National League. That said, they have a new manager who hails from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and has a history of winning and developing young players. Both should work well with the Marlins. Former New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter has sold his interest in the team and is no longer part of the organization.
Miami Marlins Starting Rotation
Getting Sandy Alcantara back to be the ace of the pitching staff is important for the Marlins. The 2022 Cy Young winner in the National League could be the ace for many teams. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers is the second starter for Miami. He needs to have a bounce-back season. However, he did post a respectable 3.63 earned run average last season.
The third starter for the Marlins is left-handed Edward Cabrerra. This is a make-or-break season for him. He has great stuff; if he ever harnesses it, he could be a star. The team acquired Cal Quantrill to be the fourth starter. He agreed to a one-year $3.5 million free agent contract to come over from the Colorado Rockies. Max Meyer, the fifth starter in Miami’s rotation, has a high ceiling as the third player selected in the 2020 draft. Maimi is counting on him to realize his potential.
Miami Marlins Bullpen
The Marlins used 45 relief pitchers last season, and they hope they do not have to do that again in 2025. Calvin Faucher is the closer. Declan Cronin and Anthony Bender are also back. Together with Faucher, they are three of the four relief pitchers who made the most appearances for Miami last season. Faucher had five saves after the Tanner Scott trade and came over from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Jesus Tinoco provides another reliable option out of the Marlins pen. Lefty Andrew Nardi, who is dealing with lower back inflammation, needs to return to his 2023 form. Anthony Veneziano and Lake Bachar looked good in late-season auditions.
Catcher
Nick Fortes caught over 100 games for the Marlins the past two seasons. He is an excellent defender, particularly in throwing out baserunners, but he has trouble hitting. Liam Hicks will back up Fortes. Hicks came over in a trade with the Texas Rangers.
Infield
Shortstop Xavier Edwards has an excellent contact rate and can play well defensively at second base or even in the outfield. That defensive versatility should keep him atop the Marlins lineup for years to come. Edwards does not have much power, but that is not the case with third baseman Connor Norby, who does have power and can also play multiple positions.
The Miami second baseman is Otto Lopez. He was a nice surprise last year after Luis Arraez was traded, stealing 20 bases. The trade of Josh Bell left a void at first base for the Miami Marlins. Matt Mervis was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in exchange for utility prospect Vidal Bruján to fill Bell’s vacancy.
Outfield
Dane Myers is going to play center field for the Marlins. He does not hit much but can play all three outfield positions well. Jesus Sanchez will play right field. He strikes out a lot but has immense power. Kyle Stowers will now play left field. He, too, has a lot of power but strikes out too much. He does, however, show the most potential out of all of Miami’s outfield prospects. He came over from the Baltimore Orioles.
Designated Hitter
Jonah Bride will likely get the first crack at the designated hitter role. The erstwhile first baseman does have some power potential. However, what is interesting here is a prospect the Marlins will deploy here. Deyvison De Los Santos led the minor leagues with 40 home runs last season, and his exit velocity on balls hit ranked among the best in the minor leagues. He was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Management
The Marlins traded away Jazz Chisolm Jr., A.J. Puk, Luis Arraez, Tanner Scott, Josh Bell, and Trevor Rogers to acquire skill and depth in the minor leagues. They have done that but at the expense of their major league roster. Peter Bendix was brought over from the Tampa Bay Rays as the chief of baseball operations because he has a track record of developing talent. He will get his chance. Owner Bruce Sherman said the Marlins will spend to fill the necessary roles and new manager Clayton McCullough will bring Dodgers pride to the organization.
Conclusion
The Miami Marlins have some good young players who have a lot of potential. However, fans of the Marlins, few though they may be, should prepare for more losing. They have traded away too many star players. Another 100-loss season could happen.
