What should the Miami Marlins do next?

Every offseason, I look at the Miami Marlins roster, and I make the moves that I think would be best for the franchise.

I try to keep things within reason. Things like signing Jake Arrieta, or signing JD Martinez to replace Giancarlo Stanton are obvious fantasies. Instead, I try to make moves that fit the Miami Marlins real-life direction.

The Miami Marlins are rebuilding, and they will most likely sign veteran players to cheap contracts to allow the prospects to develop.

With the market value of recent free agent signings, I will project the value of a contract that I believe they would be willing to sign. I am not a real GM, so some of the numbers may not be accurate.

The numbers will be based off the recent signings of Yovani Gallardo, Yonder Alonzo, Jhoulys Chacin and Matt Adams.

I am assuming all of the recently acquired prospects will be sent to the minors to adequately develop. With that in mind, Miami will be in need a new centerfielder, and right fielder. They’ll need need of multiple starting pitchers and relievers as well.

The infield has good depth so I do not think they will be in the market for any infielders.

As things stand right now, the starters are projected to be:

C: J.T. Realmuto,   1B: Justin Bour,   2B: Starlin Castro,   SS: JT Riddle,   3B: Martin Prado

LF: Derek Dietrich,    CF: Christian Yelich,   RF: TBD

Starting Pitchers: Dan Straily, Wei-Yen Chen, Jose Urena, Adam Conley, Dillon Peters

Bullpen: Brad Ziegler, Junichi Tazawa, Kyle Barraclough, Brian Ellington, Jarlin Garcia, Drew Steckenrider

Although that team isn’t likely to instill fear into opposing teams, with some tweaking and additions, they may be better than people expect. That’s where I step in. If I were the GM, I would be pursuing the following players.

Outfielders:

Melky Cabrera: 2y/10M.

Peter Bourjos: minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training(MLD, IST).

Austin Jackson: 1y/2M not guaranteed, w/ incentives.

Ichiro: 1y/1.5M.

Seth Smith: 1y/4M with team option for second year.

Starting Pitchers:

Brett Anderson: 1y/2.5M w/incentives.

Clay Buchholz: 1y/3m w/incentives.

Scott Feldman: 1y/5M.

Jaime Garcia: 2y/12M.

Ubaldo Jiminez: MLD, IST.

Tyson Ross 1y/ 4M/ w/incentives and vesting Option.

Relievers and spot starters:

Francisco Liriano: 1y/4M w/incentives.

Anibal Sanchez: 1y/2M not guaranteed w/incentives.

Travis Wood: 1y/1.5M w/incentives.

Tyler Clippard: 1y/2M w/ vesting option.

Oliver Perez: 1y/1.5M w/incentives.

Obviously the Miami Marlins would not sign all of these players. But if they signed a few of them, they could pan out and become trade assets later in the season. Most of these players coming off sub-par seasons and could be obtained cheaply.

There would be little risk on the Marlins end, because they are not expected to compete. If they can get them at a good price, the worst case scenario is they cut their losses. After following baseball for years, I feel that these guys could bring value to their next team.

The Marlins need guys to fill in and be veteran leaders for the younger talent while they eat up innings and potentially prove themselves to be traded to a contending team down the stretch.

I feel their ideal lineup would be:

1. C, Realmuto, 2. CF, Yelich, 3. 3B, Prado, 4. 1B, Bour, 5. 2B, Castro, 6. RF, Melky Cabrera,                7. LF, Seth Smith, 8. SS, JT Riddle, 9. Pitchers Spot

With the rotation being:

1. Straily, 2. Jaime Garcia 3. Urena, 4. Chen (if healthy), 5. Clay Buchholz/ Tyson Ross/ Anderson

All of this is contingent on if the Marlins stay put the rest of this off-season. Trades of Straily, Yelich, Realmuto, Prado, Bour, Ziegler, Tazawa or anyone else currently on the roster would derail them.