MLB Winter Meetings: The Miami Marlins Edition

With the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings set to begin on Dec. 10, the Miami Marlins should be one of the active teams looking to make a splash this offseason.

If there is one thing we can expect at the Baseball Winter Meetings, it’s that the Miami Marlins should be one of the more active teams looking to make deals to strengthen their roster and potentially trade away their biggest star.

Team CEO and co-owner Derek Jeter, along with Michael Hill, the president of baseball operations, will be two of the popular figureheads in Las Vegas who will have plenty of front office personnel offer up their best deals to take veteran players off their hands in return for prospects and maybe an established MLB player or two.

This is not 2017 and this is certainly not the firesale the team encountered last season around this time when Giancarlo Stanton was dealt to the New York Yankees for Starlin Castro and prospects. Ironically, it is Castro who could become a hot topic for a team looking to add an infield bat and leadership in the dugout.

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The player seemingly on everyone’s mind, J.T. Realmuto, is one of the biggest in baseball’s shallow pond. Whether he will be wearing another uniform before the Marlins front office staff leave Sin City is the question baseball writers want answered.

"“The 27-year-old Realmuto established himself as one of the top catchers in the Majors in 2018. But with two years remaining in arbitration, and the fact it is unlikely he will sign a contract extension, the timing appears right to make a deal,” writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.“According to a source, 14 teams have expressed some level of interest, headlined by the Mets, Dodgers and Astros. But Miami’s asking price is extremely high — a top prospect and more — and it isn’t automatic that a match will be found.”"

There could be a surprise team or two that decides to throw their hat on the diamond, hoping to woo the Marlins with an offer they cannot refuse.

The team gaining steam in the rumor mill is the Milwaukee Brewers, who took Christian Yelich away from South Florida for a handful of players and prospects last year.

Those aren’t the only topics on the table for this team this coming week.

• Can Miami find veterans to help balance the bullpen?
• Will the Marlins seek a veteran starter for the rotation?
• Is there a first baseman out there in free agency they sign?
• Will there be more depth added to the bench?

Jeter has his finger on the day-to-day operations of this organization and will count on his staff to help find the best possible deals for the present and the future. It would not surprise me if there is one or more changes made to the 40-man roster when all is said and done.

"“After ranking last in the Majors in runs (589), home runs (128), doubles (222) and slugging percentage (.357), the Marlins are aiming to acquire impactful bats. They could find them either through modestly priced free agents looking to sign one-year deals or via trades,” Frisaro added.“That’s why you are hearing reports that Miami is seeking at least one big league-ready player with controllable years in any trade talks for Realmuto. Bullpen depth also is on the priority list.”"

Look for Miami to continue to be active at the Winter Meetings and beyond. Ober the past year and a half, they have made more than 12 deals and there are 30 new players within the organization. This is a team that will continue to build from the ground up through its minor league system.