Miami Marlins outfield becomes a bit more crowded

With the signing of Victor Victor Mesa to a free agent contract on Monday, the Miami Marlins outfield became a bit more crowded.

For the Miami Marlins, having a crowded outfield full of prospects is a good thing to have. Deciding which outfielders fill the team’s 25-man roster for the 2019 season is the hard part. With the addition of Victor Victor Mesa, who was signed this week, the Marlins added more depth and potential to a young group of players fighting for playing time.

With the exception of possibly Lewis Brinson, the other three slots on the MLB roster are up for grabs. Mesa hopes to grab one of them after the top international prospect was introduced to the media on Monday with his brother, Victor Mesa, Jr.

“Miami has deepened its outfield over the past two seasons, acquiring in trades players like [Lewis] Brinson, Magneuris Sierra, and Monte Harrison,” Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes. “Mesa joins the mix, but still there is uncertainty how the three outfield spots will shape up next year. There are no fewer than eight players who are in the mix to either open 2019 with the big league club or join the roster at some point during the season.”

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In Brinson, the Marlins have a potential 25-30 home run hitter. Harrison is a big kid with a big bat but lacks discipline at the plate. Sierra is a slap hitter with little power. The Marlins do not figure to be part of the Hot Stove frenzy of finding free agents to supplement power in the middle of the batting order.

Austin Dean, who tore up both the Southern League in Jacksonville and New Orleans at the Triple-A level, figures to be part of the mix as well.

Derek Dietrich can play left field and Peter O’Brien has experience in the outfield. The addition of Mesa makes a mixed bag of talent a bit better even before the team comes to Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida next February.

“That’s our goal, to get better and add as much talent as we can, and put ourselves in position to where we can bring a championship back to South Florida,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said.

The Marlins started the 2018 season with an overload of pitching prospects who made a weak minor league system better. The team’s weakness was talent and depth in everyday positions. The Mesa signing makes that part of Miami’s roster stronger.

“When you think about what Victor Victor represents, he’s a five-tool player,” Hill said. “It fits what we’ve done through our trades [and] through our Draft picks on the amateur side: Athletic. Above-average bat. Above-average runner. Above-average defender. Above-average throwing arm. Fits very well with the type of player that we like.”