Will Derek Dietrich Stay With the Miami Marlins in 2019?

Will the Miami Marlins retain Derek Dietrich for the 2019 season or release the veteran utility player in the offseason?

It may be a tough decision to make by the Miami Marlins organization. Does the front office decide to keep utility player Derek Dietrich and pay him a larger salary in 2019, or do they release him without offering him a new deal based on his arbitration status?

That was one of the questions presented to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro in his most recent “Inbox” feature, but it is something I have wondered for some time. Dietrich had a solid season for the Marlins and was invaluable as a veteran presence on the field at multiple positions.

Walking into his third year of arbitration does present some issues for the team, and with their salary structure, can they afford to keep him? Will they not tender him this offseason or seek a deal for him with minor league prospects coming to the farm system in return?

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Part of the problem may be placed on the former ownership group and management for making deals that have saddled the team (see Wei-Yin Chen’s salary and what is owed Martin Prado in 2019).

Starlin Castro is another player who may be on the way out based on the contract that is to pay him $11 million next season. For the price, Dietrich could be viewed as a bargain.

"“The speculation [of him not getting tendered] is raised because Dietrich, 29, will be entering his third year of arbitration, and his salary likely will jump at least a couple million more dollars from the $2.9 million he made in 2018,” Frisaro explained."

Miami did receive some interest in Dietrich as the trade deadline neared but no deal was made. He could still be a chess piece to move after the first of the year. In that case, should no team want to acquire him, then a non-tender is certainly a possibility.

There is plenty to like about Dietrich, who had 16 home runs and 45 RBI this past season. But his true position is not known yet. He spent time in left field for the Marlins out of necessity. The outfield is not a natural position.

He can play multiple positions around the infield and could be in the mix to win the first base job in Spring Training.

The Marlins will have plenty of players vying for the only open spot in the lineup as the rest of the order seems locked up unless the team decides to trade Castro this offseason.

Will the Miami Marlins retain Derek Dietrich for the 2019 season or release the veteran utility player in the offseason?

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