Starting

 

2 words which signals spring is here for any Baseball fan, Pitchers & Catchers.

With the first Uniformed workout (for Pitchers & Catchers) in the books today for the 2024 Marlins Campaign, and with many players having already trickled into Jupiter early this week. It's that time of year again.

 

It's also been a busy week on the Transaction side for the Fish. Granted, the Marlins have not signed a single Major League Free Agent Contract as Camp opens, but that hasn't stopped new President Peter Bendix from piecing together the final few 40 Man Roster spots. The most shrewd of said moves may have come this past Super Bowl Sunday, when the Marlins flipped Arbitration Eligible Reliever Steven Okert to Minnesota for once Top-Prospect Nick Gordon.

Avon Park's own Nick Gordon is the younger brother of former Marlins All-Star/Batting Champion/Gold Glover/Silver Slugger/Stolen Base leader Dee Gordon. The younger Gordon is coming off an Injury (broken shin bone) in May of 2023 that cut short his Season. He was however, able to play in 136 Big League Games for the Twins in 2022, Batting .272 with a .316 OBP, and could pay big dividends for the Marlins as a bounce back candidate. All for Okert, who is scheduled to make $1.0625 Million as an Arbitration Reliever, despite a 6.75 2nd Half ERA in 2023 for the Marlins.

Speaking of Prospects, two once well regarded Prospects inside the Marlins System were recently let go by the Organization in Jordan Groshans and Peyton Burdick. Groshans & Burdick were later acquired by the Yankees and Orioles, but their DFA's may have signaled a new way of doing business for Bendix & his recently discovered Staff; in that perhaps the Organization no longer continues to beat a dead horse when it comes to Prospects who've simply not panned out in the Marlins Organization.

Rumors have circulated all Winter pertaining to if/when the new Front Office would be willing to part with Starting Pitching in order to acquire Offense. Jorge Soler just signed a new 3 Year Deal with the San Francisco Giants. But take into consideration the Marlins are not as deep when it pertains to Starting Pitching as they were say a year ago when the Fish Traded Pablo Lopez to Minnesota for Luis Arraez.

Sandy Alcantara is out, having had Tom John Surgery in October, but he's not the only Marlins Starter coming off a big Injury in 2023. Trevor Rogers had a pretty much waisted '23 Campaign due to multiple health concerns, while Max Meyer missed the entire year coming off his own TJ Surgery in 2022.

Meyer, having not Pitched in any kind of Baseball Game since July of 2022, pretty much tells us he won't start the Season (or at least shouldn't) in the Big League Rotation. One has to assume the Marlins will be ultra careful early and often with their once Top Pitching Prospect concerning Innings Piched in 2024.

On the Innings topic, no Marlin had that subject talked about more last year than Phenom Eury Perez. How much of a longer leash will the Fish give their 21 Year Old in 2024, having Pitched a Career High 128 Innings between Double-A and the Big Leagues last Season? Does he even start '24 with the Marlins, who may find it easier to monitor his Innings in the Minor Leagues before an eventual MLB return??

Perez wasn't the only member of the Rotation who well surpassed and had his IP's monitored late last year. Jesus Luzardo & Braxton Garrett both blew past their Career highs in Pro Innings Pitched in 2024. Both Lefties have also dealt with Injuries in the past. All reasoning perhaps behind the Marlins' unwillingness to part with Pitching this Off-Season, rightfully so.

Now, if a Team offered an Ace type return to the Marlins in a package for say a Luzardo.. ..Also tough to say no, and understandably so.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has the ability/potential to put up similar power numbers to the ones Soler racked up in Miami, but it will all remain simply potential if Jazz can't keep himself healthy and on the Field. 

The loss of Soler to the Fish Lineup leaves a dent. Though 3 years is also a risk for a Player who seems to play more motivated on a year to year basis. The emphasis also increases for Jazz Chisholm to remain as Injury free and available as possible as a prolific power Bat left inside the Marlins Lineup. While the additions of Jake Burger & Josh Bell at the Trading Deadline seem even larger now.

Non Roster Invitee Trey Mancini looks to have a leg up on the competition (just based on experience) to split time between 1B and DH this year, allowing First Baseman Josh Bell a breather here or there. Bell could also see a lot of time as the DH, sliding Arraez to 1B and allowing some 2B time to the aforementioned Gordon and Xavier Edwards.

All things that should sort themselves out in the next month and beyond. It's Spring Training after all, and it is a wonderful time of the year.