How the Miami Marlins can Improve from Within: Position Players

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Enrique Hernandez (12) shakes hands with third base coach Brett Butler (2) after hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals in game two of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Miami Marlins defeated Washington Nationals 15-7. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Just one season removed from a 100-loss season, the Miami Marlins finished their 2014 season with 77 wins, a 15-game improvement from last year. While the season should be seen primarily as a success, there will be a small faction of fans that will be upset that this current Marlins squad won’t be playing in October.

Fortunately for the team and their fans, the Marlins have the makings of a roster that could contend for the same wild card spot they are chasing next season, without going outside of the organization to make a move. To do that though, the Marlins would need to be wiser about their players and play them in the correct spots and not waste their ability.

We will first take a look at how the Marlins can configure their roster, using their current 40-man roster and others currently in the organization. The team will need to use their best players and be willing to platoon them at times.

First up, the position players. We know that the outfield is not going to be a problem for the Marlins next season, with Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton patrolling the outfield. That is granted Stanton is not traded in the off-season. So we’ll gloss over the outfield in this discussion.

Short stop is also not a strong point for the Marlins, but it’s unlikely the team even considers replacing Adeiny Hechavarria any time soon. The team is extremely high on him, for some reason. The team and a faction of the Marlins fanbase believe that Hech is an upper echelon short stop, which is far from the truth.

Here’s how the Marlins can improve the rest of their position players:

Catcher: 

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Jacob Realmuto (60) hits a two run triple during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals in game two of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Marlins major splash last off-season was signing catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia away from the defending World Champions, the Boston Red Sox. While the deal has not played out like many had hoped, Salty has still been a major improvement for the Marlins from who they had playing the position a year ago.

Two main issues have impeded Salty from having the impact that many had hoped he would have with the team.

1. Defense
2. Inability to hit left-handers

Salty has committed a career-high 13 errors and caught just 20% of the base runners that have ran on him. He has also struggled with his pitch framing. Combine this with his inability to hit left handers, you’re looking at a player that should not be a full-time player.

Even with all of that, Salty has been worth his contract, as his FWAR (Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement) has him at a 1.4 WAR for the season. That kind of production is estimated to be worth $10 million when he is making $6 million this season.

He could be even more valuable if the Marlins use him correctly next season, in a platoon role against right handed pitchers. Here’s a look at Saltalmacchia’s platoon splits this season:

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Salty has been a better than league average hitter against right handed pitchers, but his numbers are Adeiny Hechavarria-bad when it comes to hitting from the right side, against left-handed pitchers. He needs to be a platoon player for the Marlins to get good value out of him. His numbers looked a lot better a couple of weeks ago against right handed pitchers, but dipped recently near the end of the season. He should bounce back against right handed pitchers next season though,

Unfortunately, the backup catcher this season, Jeff Mathis, does not provide much offense and should not been a part of the other side of that platoon.

However, the Marlins do have a candidate in the minors that is having a break out season in a major way that could fill that platoon role with Salty: Jacob Realmuto.

After a rough first season at Double-A Jacksonville, Realmuto rebuild his prospect stock big time, posting a .299/.369/.461 slash line with a .374 wOBA in Double-A. He also added 8 home runs and stole 18 bases, as well as playing top notch defense behind the plate.

Realmuto already got his first taste of the majors this year, but the playing time was sparse and he never really had a chance to develop a rhythm. Realmuto was recalled to the majors shortly after the Jacksonville Suns won the Southern League championship and had a tremendous outing in his first start since being recalled.

Next season, he should replace Jeff Mathis and become part of a platoon for the Marlins at catcher.

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Justin Bour (48) singles during the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals in game two of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Miami Marlins defeated Washington Nationals 15-7. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

First Base:

Signed to a two-year contract, with the 2015 season worth $5 million, the Marlins are could decide to trade Jones and move on from the first baseman this off-season. To say he’s had a disappointing season would be an understatement. Garrett Jones ended the season with a 0.2 WAR, which is actually .2 worse than Hech this season. Justin Bour is likely being a better option and even posted a 106 wRC+ in the final month of the season, compared to Jones’ 99 for the season.

Jones got off to a good start to the season, peaking in May, and has gotten worse each month. As was known by everyone but the Marlins before the season, Jones cannot hit lefties. Manager Mike Redmond for some reason did not believe the numbers and gave Jones AB’s against lefties and it was not pretty.

If the Fish part ways with Jones, they could go with Bour as their left handed bat for the first base platoon. Bour has immense power and his defense, granted in a short stint, seemed to be better than what Jones provided at the position in his time.

For the other side of the platoon, the Marlins have several options. The two best options for the Marlins would be using Jeff Baker or minor league prospect Kyle Jensen.

The Marlins have passed over Jensen several times, so that’s hard to see as a realistic option at this point, though his power would be a treat for the Marlins lineup.

Sticking with the same platoon as this season would not be a bad option for the Marlins, that’s in this scenario where we only use players currently in the Marlins system. Baker owns a .350 wOBA against left handed pitchers, but would need to hit for more power.

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Donovan Solano (17) a catches Washington Nationals left fielder Scott Hairston (not pictured) fly ball in the sixth inning in game two of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Second Base:

NO MORE DONOVAN SOLANO, PLEASE!

Okay maybe Solano can be a useful utility player, but the days of him starting at second base should be over. Solano is not a very good hitter and his numbers are heavily influenced by a unsustainable BABIP when he gets hot. While his defense is a nice thing to have, it’s not enough to warrant starting him everyday.

Last off-season, the Marlins decided to sign Rafael Furcal and pray to the baseball god’s that he’d stay healthy. The baseball god’s instead spit in the Marlins direction and said they don’t perform miracles that big. They advised owner Jeffery Loria to turn to Tim Tebow for this, but Loria refused when he realized Tebow wanted to be compensated with cash.

Anyways, jumping back on topic, the Marlins should go the opposite direction of their plan a season ago and go with youth over experience.

The best platoon situation for the Marlins for the upcoming season would involve banished second baseman Derek Dietrich and breakout prospect Austin Barnes.

Dietrich has handled the Triple-A level as well as he can the past two seasons, proving he needs to be hitting against major league pitching, instead of rotting away in the minors. His 160 and 158 wOBA the past two season’s at the level are as about as good as it’ll get in the minors.

In the majors, Dietrich has proven he can handle his own as a hitter, as he was one of the top hitters for the Marlins in his stint in the majors to begin the season. His power would do wonders for a Marlins lineup that has struggled to generate offense for much of the season.

While his defense is not too great at second base, if the team allows him the playing time, his offensive skill can more than make up for those shortcomings.

Dietrich, a left handed hitter, would primarily play against right hand pitchers, taking advantage of his bat against opposite hand pitchers.

On the other side of the platoon, the Marlins could use the quick emerging Austin Barnes, who has done nothing but his since being drafted by the Marlins out of Arizona State University in 2011, with his most impressive season coming this year.

For the 2014 season, Barnes owns a .296/.406/.507 slash line in 348 PA’s in Double-A Jacksonville, following up a .317/.385/.417 slash line in Jupiter. Barnes has a combined 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases between the two levels.

Probably more compelling than his bat is the versatility he has displayed. Not often do you find a middle infielder that can also play the catcher position. Barnes has throw out 36% of base stealers in his four-year minor league career, with his worst campaign at 30% taking place this season.

While he has ceded the majority of his starts at catcher to Realmuto in Double-A, Barnes has still racked up 29 games behind the plate, 30 at second base, and 15 at third base.