MLB Notebook: Miami Marlins Preview

After a surprising playoff trip in 2023, the Miami Marlins did what this organization does best—conducted a fire sale, and collapsed to 100 losses in 2024. The franchise begins yet another rebuilding era with new manager Clayton McCullough.

Here’s an overview of how the Marlins look coming into a new season:

POWER

Jesus Sanchez had a career-high 18 home runs last year in rightfield. Jonah Bride got some playing time and the DH hit 11 homers and slugged .461 over 71 games. Third baseman Connor Norby played 45 games, hit nine home runs and slugged .498. That’s the extent of the power. It’s minimal and what is on hand is unproven over any length of time.

GETTING ON BASE

Shortstop Xavier Edwards is the player to keep an eye on. In 70 games last year, Edwards hit .328. He can also steal bases. Second baseman Otto Lopez, in his first shot at regular playing time a year ago, batted .277. Dane Myers is in centerfield and in very minimal playing time, hit .272. Bride can also contribute in this area. His patience at the plate led to a .357 on-base percentage.

STARTING PITCHING

Any hope for the Marlins’ season has to be built around a return to form for Sandy Alcantara. After winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, Alcantara was mediocre in the playoff run of ’23, and then missed all of last year. Miami went out and acquired Cal Quantrill from Cleveland, who has had some nice years, but has also been in a fade for the last two seasons.

The rest of the rotation—Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer, is unproven, but ERAs in the 4s over a modest number of starts suggest they could turn into something. It’s at least possible that the Marlins get decent starting pitching this year.

BULLPEN

Calvin Faucher looks like he’ll get the closer’s job and there’s nothing good or bad to say about that right now. Which really sums up the entire bullpen. Jesus Tinoco has thrown the ball well over some limited work the past couple years. Connor Gillespie had some very limited work in Cleveland—eight innings in total. But he only gave up two runs, so we’ll see.

OUTLOOK

This is a bad team. Even if the starting pitching comes together, they can’t score and there’s no reason to expect the relievers to hold up. Betting markets place their Over/Under on wins at 63.5, which would narrowly avoid the 100-loss threshold and mark mild improvement. I’m not making final picks until closer to Opening Day, but I’m not even seeing reason for that level of optimism.