"Let the Kids play"
With the MLB All Star Game having been Played last night, let's take a slogan straight from Major League Baseball itself when assessing the 2nd Half of the 2022 Season for the Marlins. "Let the kids play".
Before Derek Jeter starred in Documentaries on ESPN, and before he left or was Fired (depending on who you talk to 😉) as C.E.O of the Marlins prior to Spring Training. There was a quote that Jeter himself used more than once when speaking on up and coming Prospects inside the Marlins Organization. Saying "we must be responsible when filling gaps (in regards to adding to the Club whether through Trade or Free Agency), that we're not blocking the young prospects that we have".
It's a bit ironic (or moronic 🤐) that the last Free Agent addition for Jeter as head of the Marlins, today is doing exactly that. Jeter & the Fish signed Avisail Garcia this past November to a 4 Year Contract to fill an Outfield spot. An Outfield spot that could easily go today to Prospects such as J.J Bleday, Jerar Encarnacion, or Peyton Burdick (All Outfielders). Garcia ended his 1st half in Miami with a Batting Line of .225/.262/.317.
An even worse Free Agent Signing took place after the Jeter/Marlins split. Kim Ng & Co. thought that inking Jorge Soler, another Corner Outfielder, to a 3 Year Contract would be beneficial to both sides. Soler's Batting Average sits at .209 with a .299 OBP. Sure he's been able to hit a meaningless Home Run or 2 (has 13 total), but has certainly not been able to produce the big hit in the clutch. A Hit that at least Garcia has delivered for the Marlins from time to time of late (Think St. Louis & the Pirates Game last week).
Soler's Contract, which includes 2 Opt Out Clauses, is 1 total Year less than Garcia's. Couple that with the productive 2nd Half Soler produced for Atlanta a Season ago, may (big may) allow the Marlins to explore a Trade that would not only give them some sort of Salary relief, but also allow them to Play a couple of those aforementioned Prospects.
Whether or not the Marlins stay in or fall completely out of the Race in the next 2 weeks (they played some extremely bad Baseball last week at a very inopportune time), I don't believe should sway in the decision to allow the Bleday's/Encarnacion's playing time at the Big League level. The Marlins need to find out what they have in said Prospects, period.
Jesus Sanchez, the Marlins Center Fielder since Opening Day, has a Batting Line of .170/.235/.323 since April 22nd. That's 69 Games Worth! And despite the big Home Runs in Colorado & Washington, it's simply not gonna cut it. Jesus Sanchez should not start the 2nd Half of the Season Thursday in Miami under any circumstance. But remember, we're talking about our Marlins here.
To be fair, it's not like Bleday, Encarnacion, or Burdick are absolutely tearing it up at Triple-A Jacksonville as the Miami Herald pointed out. All 3 Outfielder's Batting Averages are under .250. However, the On Base Percentages and particularly the Power Numbers are strong 💪. This seems to be the same story again for 1st Base Prospect Lewin Diaz, whose in the exact same boat he's been in for 3 years now.
The Marlins have two 1st Basemen/DH's in Garrett Cooper & Jesus Aguilar. The fact that the All-Star Cooper has a year of control left with the Fish, while Aguilar only has a mutual Option at the end of the year, are certainly factors heading towards the Trading Deadline. Not to mention Lewin Diaz, after those 3 years, is still awaiting his every day turn.
Of Diaz, Bleday, Encarnacion, and Burdick, we could possibly see at least 3 of those 4 in the coming weeks. Three, not 4, because Garcia's Contract is unmovable in Right Field, thanks 'Capitan'. Regardless, "it's time to let the kids play", which unlike the Soler Contract, this time may really be double beneficial to the Marlins.
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