#24
The Miami Marlins slipped into the playoffs in 2023 to everyone's surprise. Could they do it again in 2024?
#17 - 4th in NL East
MIH - Jazz Chisholm Jr.
MIP - Sandy Alcantara
PTW - Eury Perez
FP - Sandy Alcantara will win a second straight Cy Young.
2023 Results
#15 - 84-78, 3rd in NL East, lost in NLWC
Highest WAR (Position) - Luis Arraez
Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Jesus Luzardo
Rookie manager Skip Schumaker found some of that Marlins magic in year one at the helm. In one of the toughest divisions in baseball, Miami found some success despite Sandy Alcantara not finishing the season, needing Tommy John and keeping him out for this season as well. Jesus Luzardo stepped up and showed some of the promise that made him a top prospect back in the day. Also, Luis Arraez continued to just hit.
Additions / Subtractions
The Marlins continue to play the low budget game. Many of their veterans have moved on and are replaced by different veterans. So out is Yuli Gurriel, Joey Wendle, Jean Segura, and (most notably) Jorge Soler. Brought in is veteran shortstop Tim Anderson, joining mid-season pickups last season in Jake Burger and Josh Bell to fill these holes. The pitching staff remains pretty much the same.
Most Important Hitter
Avisail Garcia
It's rare the Marlins throw money at a player, and when they do it's rarely much. With that said, when they signed Avisail Garcia to a 4 year, $53 million deal two years ago, it was a big deal. Now, halfway through the contract, Garcia has only played 135 games with very little production. The biggest question with the Marlins this season is if they can score runs. They let a lot of production walk out the door and need someone to step up and replace it. If Garcia can find some new life in his career, stay healthy, and show a small sign of why he was given that contract, the Marlins lineup might be okay.
Most Important Pitcher
A.J. Puk
The strength of this Marlins team is their pitching, even without Sandy Alcantara this season. Jesus Luzardo, followed by phenom Eury Perez, can be a pretty good 1-2 punch. Then there's A.J. Puk. Puk was supposed to be the ace of the A's staff by now. Instead, after struggling in the bullpen, he was traded to Miami for a change of scenery. Last season, Puk had limited success splitting time as the closer. Now, the Marlins are giving Puk a chance to fulfill his potential as a starter. At 6'7" with velocity from the left side, we still could see Puk take off. If he does, this rotation truly shows some great depth.
Prospect to Watch
Max Meyer
Another pitcher that could help that depth is Max Meyer. The Marlins have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, ranking 29th with only 1 prospect in the Top 100 (and he's still a couple years away). However, Max Meyer is a wild card. The 3rd overall pick in the 2020 draft, Meyer was my Prospect to Watch in 2022. He was poised to break out until he went down with the dreaded Tommy John in his second big league start. Now he's finally healthy again, and he has another chance to show what he can be. If he gets back to where he was before the injury, the Marlins have another solid starter.
2024 Predictions
4th in NL East
The Marlins always seem to find a way to be relevant, but it looks like it could be hard to get there this year. They just lack offense. Their pitching is great, but can they make up for the lackluster lineup. There are too many teams on the rise for the Marlins to compete, especially without their best player this season.
Fearless Prediction
Half of the Marlins Opening Day lineup will not be on the roster by the end of the 2024 season.
When you try to build a lineup through veteran bats, they get traded away if your season goes south. If they don't look like they have a shot, there's a good chance we see a mass exodus mid-season of players like Tim Anderson, Josh Bell, Jake Burger, and Avisail Garcia.
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