Auditions and holdovers for 2018 taking place now

With hopes for a playoff berth 2017 season in the books, the Miami Marlins turn their attention to next season. A number of team audition are ongoing.

The Miami Marlins have resigned themselves to be sellers at the deadline. They won’t be trading away anyone you’d conceivably buy a jersey of, but they’ll be moving a few pieces. They’ve already started the process ahead of the deadline.

Moving Hechavarria to Tampa Bay could be considered the first deal. While it was more than a month ahead of the deadline, the emergence of JT Riddle and his inflated salary did him in. David Phelps was moved less than a week ago.

With the rotation in flux, and a few positional battles on the infield, the Miami Marlins are holding auditions from now, through spring training for the 2018 season.

Currently, Miami has Chris O’Grady and Adam Conley jockeying for the fifth spot in the rotation next year. Both are just over 27 years old. If they both perform well, the Fish might chose to keep them both as a fourth and fifth option in 2018.

With years and millions remaining on Wei-Yin Chen‘s contract, the team won’t be a spendthrift in free agency next year. They’ll save money where they can.

Riddle, Miguel Rojas, and Derek Dietrich are all competing for jobs next season. Riddle and Rojas likely for the starting job at shortstop. Dietrich should return as a left handed bat and infielder off the bench.

A lot will depend on what the Miami Marlins chose to do with Dee Gordon. He was a notable absence from the list of names GM David Hill said wouldn’t be moved ahead of the deadline this year. If he’s traded, both Riddle and Rojas could find themselves with everyday jobs.

Potential openings, and open battles

The biggest question mark ahead of the trade deadline for the Miami Marlins is that of Martin Prado. He was being pursued by both the Red Sox and the New York Yankees before going down with an injury.

Since then, the Yankees decided to make a move for third baseman Todd Frazier to solidify the position. Likewise, the Red Sox have solved their issues at the hot corner with an in-house promotion. For all intents and purposes, it appears that Prado will remain a Marlin.

But for how much longer? The team appears anxious to be out from under a massively overvalued contract. And with Brian Anderson seemingly waiting in the wings at third base, the first buyer willing to take his contract will have him.

Next: Reds series recap

The starting rotation is the main area of focus. There are open spots galore. Miami has only two guaranteed holdovers for next season in Dan Straily and Jose Urena. Edinson Volquez is under contract for next year, but he is a long-shot potential deadline casualty.