Marlins Rumors: Team Looking at Free Agent Starters

Marlins Rumors: Team Looking at Free Agent Starters

A strength of the Miami Marlins roster coming into the 2014 season was supposed to be their starting rotation. All of that changed when Jose Fernandez went down with an elbow injury in May and had to miss the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery.

As a result of the Fernandez injury, the Marlins rotation depth was tested early on. Unfortunately, the team found out that many of their top prospects in the minors still needed more seasoning before they’d be ready for the big leagues.

With Jose gone until around the All-Star Break next season, the team has a starting pitcher high on their shopping list, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. (http://m.marlins.mlb.com/news/article/97732764/versatile-marlins-may-look-to-shuffle-players-roles-in-2015)

High on Miami’s shopping list this offseason is landing another starting pitcher. If that happens, Koehler could moved to the bullpen. Also, when Jose Fernandez returns, perhaps around the 2015 All-Star break, some shuffling to the rotation will occur.

Koehler proved to be more than capable of a number 5 starter, posting a 3.81 ERA, a 3.84 FIP, and a 4.15 xFIP. Koehler had the most impressive strikeout rate on the Marlins starting staff, coming in with 7 strikeouts per nine innings. The Marlins can certainly do worse than Koehler in the #5 spot as they seek to compete next season.

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For that reason, I am not high on the Marlins looking to add another starter. Even with Jose Fernandez out till at least July, the Marlins rotation seems like it can compete next season:

1. Henderson Alvarez
2. Jarred Cosart
3. Nathan Eovaldi
4. Tom Koehler
5. Andrew Heaney/Anthony DeSclafani/Justin Nicolino

The Marlins have enough depth, in my opinion, heading into the season that they don’t need to add another starting pitcher, especially since they just traded for Cosart at the trade deadline.

Instead, the Marlins should be seeking help for a lineup that looked lost for most of the month of September, after Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna went down with their respective injuries. The Marlins need offensive improvements from every position next season, excluding their terrific outfield.