With No Pending Free Agents, Marlins Look Toward The Future

The Miami Marlins do not have any pending free agents that could impact this organization next season. Does that mean the team’s foundation has been set?

The Miami Marlins traded away their one key pending free agent, reliever Brad Ziegler at the MLB deadline in July. Now that the team appears to have found some solid ground, does it mean this team’s foundation is set? And no free agents to deal with in 2019.

I am not sure of that answer, but I do agree with the blueprint team owner Derek Jeter has stuck to – developing young talent and using the MLB Draft to select young players for the future. The results will not be felt for at least another two seasons, but the work put in by Jeter and his front office will be the thing we all talk about in 2020 and beyond.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Will Leitch of MLB.com wrote a piece picking out the top pending free agent for each of the 30 MLB teams. He agreed, the Marlins have none.

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"“Now that they traded Brad Ziegler at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Marlins have no pending free agents — though that could change when the 40-man roster gets tighter this offseason,” he wrote. “But this is a good thing. The Marlins are laying a foundation.”"

And for those of us still made at the “process” the organization has pitched and fans swung and missed it, it’s not too late to jump on the bandwagon and enjoy the ride.

Aside from the deal that sent slugger Justin Bour to Philadelphia, the Marlins have made the right in-season moves. It will never be determined if keeping the “core” of players from last season’s roster together for one more year would have brought a playoff berth in 2018.

It might have been fun to watch, but after losing season upon losing season, something has to give with all that talent in the middle of the batting order with plenty of individual honor to go along with it.

The Marlins are still part of the landscape of this league.

"“With trade season in the past, we can now look forward to two wonderful baseball things: the postseason and the Hot Stove,” Leitch added. “The fun thing about the Hot Stove is that, unlike the postseason, everyone gets to be involved.“Whether your team won the World Series or finished 50-plus games out of first place, you’re a part of the Hot Stove. The offseason is for everyone.”"

There should be changes to the roster next season. Veterans could be traded or released because of financial reasons. The pitching staff will look younger.

The middle of the lineup needs power. The bench could resemble the same usual suspects.

The lack of free agents to worry about means this team is headed upward. When they reach mediocrity won’t happen as soon as some would like. That’s normal for fans who have been patient.

Now comes the time in trusting the system.

National pundits are beginning to see that change will do this franchise well. Hopefully, this means the Marlins will handle free agency with a different approach in the next few seasons.