Lucidity

 

Can you believe that in less than a week's time Major League Baseball's Regular Season initiates with the same two Teams whom kicked off the Exhibition Season in Arizona. As is beginning to become customary if you will, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin their new Campaign in the land of the far east. Tokyo, Japan will be the setting for the Defending World Champions & the Chicago Cubs, a quick 2 Game Series which promises to thrill the Japanese fateful, seeing as Nippon stars will be out for both Squads. From Shota Imanaga & Seiya Suzuki, to Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and some guy named Shohei Ohtani.

Camp has about 2 weeks left for the Marlins, whom open up on the 27th vs the Pittsburgh Pirates in South Florida again. Remember, it was the Pirates whom began the Fish's complete downward spiral to kickoff 2024, sweeping the Home Team in a 4 Game Series in Miami, and commencing their 100 Loss Season. How's about a little Jack Sparrow payback this month?!

As the finish line to Spring Training is in the vicinity, Roster decisions on the Position Player side for the Marlins may or may not have remained intact from the beginning. 

Matt Mervis has pretty much won the First Base job for the Fish, even with 2 weeks to go. Something which has to excite the Front Office, whom were hopeful Mervis would man the Position after being acquired from the Cubs during the Off-Season. 

  

Javier Sanoja seems to be battling Ronny Simon (a Peter Bendix guy from TB) for the backup middle Infield role. However, Sanoja should have a rightful advantage, after reaching the Majors last Season. All unless the Organization wants the Venezuelan native, quote on quote playing everyday in Triple-A.

Another winter acquisition's fate, in Eric Wagaman's may depend if the Fish carry 4 or 5 Position Players into Opening Day. After promoting Wagaman as their only Position Player Free-Agent signing during the Off-Season, even boosting his presence a little bit during Fan Fest, you could make the argument the former Angel would have a leg up on making the Team.

Ballclubs usually carry 13 Pitchers out of Spring, seeing as Starters' workloads are customarily lighter during the first few go arounds through the Rotation. If that's the case for the Marlins, and Wagaman makes the Club (could suit a platoon with Mervis btw), an extra Outfielder would be the Roster casualty.

Jesus Sanchez is a starting Outfielder on the Squad, especially against all Right Handed Pitchers, and certainly if he's still on the Team in a couple weeks. The longest tenured Marlin Position Player has been seeing reps in CF, a Position the D.R native hasn't played in the Majors since that failed experiment in 2022, and is obviously solely to build up trade value. Sanchez's $4.5 Million Dollar salary via 2nd Year Arbitration eligibility is the second highest on the Fish, behind only Sandy Alcántara.

If Bendix does not deal Sanchez, and Wagaman makes the OD Roster, the Outfielders who would remain in play for the Opener (not including Sanoja who can play all 3 Outfield positions) would be Left-Handed hitters: Griffin Conine & Kyle Stowers / Righty swinging: Dane Myers & Derrek Hill.

Conine hit a Dinger and drove in 4 yesterday. Stowers has been gifted an opportunity in the Marlins Outfield since being acquired at last year's Deadline in the Conor Norby/Trevor Rogers Trade from Baltimore, don't expect that to change. While Myers & Hill have similar profiles, both can play a solid Center Field, can swipe a bag on the bases, and have some power. One of these aforementioned 4 could possibly be left out of the Opening Day mix. 

The Rule 5 Catcher previously mentioned is Liam Hicks, whom since being selected in the Rule 5 Draft from Detroit in December, was always destined to backup Nick Fortes to begin the Year. While Joe Mack & Agustín Ramírez had solid Camps and look to become the Fish Catchers of the future, as the two have more than a legit shot at debuting in the Majors later this summer. Only that will not happen to begin 2025, as their Arbitration clocks wouldn't be started so early by the Marlin$.

A sleeper candidate, not necessarily to begin the Season in the Big Leagues, but certainly could be up at some point, Graham Pauley. Acquired in the Tanner Scott Trade, which is quickly becoming quite the dub for Bendix & staff, Pauley cruised through the San Diego Minor League system to actually Debut in the Show for the Padres in 2024. Though '24 was a struggle for the former Duke Blue Devil, Pauley's been swinging a hot bat in Marlins Camp.

It all should make for an exciting last couple weeks for the Fish, even if the majority of the decisions have already been made.