Live!

Bit of a busy last couple weeks on the transactional side for the Marlins. I mean sure, they're getting very close to finishing a complete Off-Season without signing a single full Major League Free Agent for the 2nd consecutive year heading into Spring. But that not incorporated, there's been some news surrounding the Fish. 

On the 15th, the Marlins were finally permitted to put pen to paper with their International class, whom the Team had allocated money for long before. Remember, there's a hard cap with how much each Team can spend, while you can only Trade for more International Bonus Pool money. The Fish's ceiling was around $7.5 Million Dollars, with 16 year old Venezuelan Prospect Andrew Salas receiving about half of that.

Tuesday the 14th, the Marlins announced a planned project on the west plaza of loanDepot Park. It comes without question that the Ballpark's surroundings have always been in need of ambiance/entertainment options since opening it's doors in 2012.

Over the years we've seen Clubs expand their Stadium's surroundings, if you will. Building so called 'Ballpark Villages' (St. Louis), 'Batteries' (Atlanta), while the Rangers previously partnered with the very same company the Marlins have now, building 'Texas Live!' outside Globe Life in Arlington.

Miami Live!, which is scheduled to open in 2026, is to feature "indoor-outdoor dining and entertainment spaces with year round activities".

Costs, which reports say will be privately funded by the Marlins, were not leaked. The same news outlet however, reported that the previous "Texas Live! was built on a $250 million budget". Though keep in mind, what was built in Arlington seems more immense, both in space and amenities.

St. Louis' Ballpark Village could be a little more applicable as it pertains to Miami Live!, phase 1 that is (seeing as the Cardinals are expending their original project which opened back in 2014). While indoors and still seemingly a little more sizeable than the Marlins proposition, the Cards built the 'Bp.V' on $100 Million Dollars, with $49 million coming in tax breaks.

The old adage that to make money you have to spend money is not in question. Neither is the disparity in revenue with Teams like the Fish & Cardinals. Yet when a Club like the Rangers delves into something like Texas Live! for example, payroll on the field (which was extremely high to begin with) doesn't seem to budge. How's about that Marlins Payroll again?

Yes, the Team made the Playoffs in 2023. Yes, Ownership and the new Front Office did not believe that model of the Organization to be "sustainable" over time, hence the complete lack of additions to the Roster heading into '24. Yes, the Club (after Injuries to the Staff) got off to an absolutely horrid start, which began the Player Payroll purge, igniting the Marlins into yet another Rebuild. All valid. If the Fish higher-ups felt that core wasn't a winner from the beginning and wanted to reshape the Organization to a structure of their choosing, that's more than their right. What is a bit curious of the Marlins current situation, is simply the timing of it all.

The Ballclub's a couple weeks away from opening Camp. We've mentioned they've yet to sign an MLB Free Agent, after ZERO activity in Free Agency last winter. The Marlins did go through the Arbitration process with 11 Players heading into 2024. Ten, let me repeat that, 10 of those 11 are no longer with the Franchise and were Traded at some point during the last calendar year (-minus Christian Bethancourt who was Released). Outfielder Jesus Sanchez is the lone of those eleven Arbitration Players of '24 remaining with the Fish (so far).

Now, I'm also not saying some of those 11 were not Dealt in an attempt to modify some Clubhouse culture (Jazz Chisholm Jr, talking about you). Or that P.O.B.O Peter Bendix did not receive young and inexpensive talent in return. Only that when mentioning this peculiar juncture, it's that you consider even Players heading towards future Salary bumps via first time Arbitration, the likes of Bryan De La Cruz in ('25) & Jake Burger ('26) were even Dealt. Coinciding with, what was it that was opening in 2026 again? All without question could just be a coincidence, no doubt, but it's certainly some interesting timing.