Mets NL East Sunday Battleground: Offseason recap and grades

Miami Marlins

Notable Additions: RP Anthony Bass, RP Adam Cimber, RP John Curtiss, RP Ross Detwiler, OF Adam Duvall, RP Dylan Floro.

Notable Subtractions: C Francisco Cervelli (Retired), SP Robert Dugger (SEA), RP Brad Boxberger (MIL), OF Matt Joyce (PHI), RP Brandon Kintzler (PHI), RP Ryne Stanek (HOU), SP Jose Urena (DET), RP Stephen Tarpley (NYM), RP Nick Vincent (TEX), SP Jordan Yamamoto (NYM).

Who would have thought that the Marlins would even make the playoffs, let alone win a playoff series? The Marlins were one of the good stories in the 2020 season which probably wouldn’t have happened if a full 162 game season occurred.

While 2020 was a great story, the Marlins know they are still in rebuilding mode and didn’t make any huge moves to jeopardize what they are building.

I love the Adam Duvall signing a lot for the Marlins. He can play a corner outfield spot and provide some much-needed power. The Marlins were 25th in all of baseball in home runs and play in a massive ballpark. Duvall hit 16 home runs in the shortened season, which puts him on pace for 43 home runs in a 162-game season. While I’m sure he won’t hit that number playing a majority of his games at Marlins Park, he has had two 30+ home run seasons in the past and will provide a big boost for a pretty weak lineup.

The Marlins’ biggest strength is their pitching. They have a young solid rotation headlined by Sandy Alcantara, Sixto Sanchez, and Pablo Lopez that should only get better. Their bullpen has some solid arms as well like Anthony Bass, Yimi Garcia, and John Curtiss who was a pretty big part of the Rays bullpen.

The one loss they shouldn’t have let get away was Brandon Kintzler. Yes, he is 36 years old but is coming off of a really good year and only got a one-year $3 million-dollar deal. The Marlins could’ve accepted his team option for only $1 million dollars more. Without Kintzler I doubt they make the playoffs as he had 12 saves in 14 tries while posting a 2.22 ERA in 24 appearances. I’m sure the production will tail off a tad but he won’t go from being that good to someone who is not worth $3 million dollars.

The Marlins are a small market team in a brutal division. They know their time is not now to go all in and didn’t try to make a move that would jeopardize anything they do in the future.

While I don’t expect the Marlins to be a playoff team, they are no longer the pushover they were for years. They should be a tough out for all four other teams in the division.

They were never going to make a splash in the free agency market but they did so in their front office, hiring the first female MLB General Manager. That was an excellent hire by the Marlins and one that will bump their grade up a bit.

Grade: C+