Is Starlin Castro now the face of the Miami Marlins?

With his sudden surge in offense and his veteran leadership on the diamond and in the clubhouse, has Starlin Castro become the face of the Marlins?

The most home runs Marlins third baseman Starlin Castro has hit in a season is 21, which he did in 2016 with the New York Yankees. This season, he could approach that mark or pass it the way he has been swinging a bat lately for his current team in South Florida.

If you read my story three days ago on Marlin Maniac, you know my feelings about releasing the veteran infielder have changed, that I can see a situation where keeping the only MLB player that was part of the deal that sent Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees would be a good thing. The Marlins will still be a young organization next season, possibly younger after Neil Walker, Curtis Granderson and possibly Martin Prado are released.

There is no proven player to come out of the dugout and serve as the next “leader” of this ball club. Castro would be dynamic in that situation and with one more year on his current deal with the team, that will yield him $16 million in 2020, it might be worth the Marlins front office paying their all-important third baseman.

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Castro by example and out of necessity has become the leader of this baseball team.

As I explained, per a story by Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the door is not closed on Castro leaving Florida for a new location just yet.

“Until a few days ago, I never considered bringing Castro back as a possibility. But I haven’t ruled it out. Castro is making $11 million this year, and he has a club option for $16 million in 2020 with a $1 million buyout. The Marlins are not expected to pick up that $16 million club option, which would make Castro a free agent,” Frisaro writes.

Castro’s bat is even more valuable now with the absence of Brian Anderson in the lineup. The second-year player leads the team with 20 home runs and batting in 6 RBI. The team has gotten contributions from Jorge Alfaro and Garrett Cooper as well. All three players figure to be part of a core the front office builds around for the future.

“Should Castro remain in Miami, Anderson will once again assume the role in the outfield, solving a question that needed to be answered in Spring Training and [Isan] Diaz continues his education at second base with Castro at the hot corner, serving as a mentor,” I explained. “The Marlins would move on from Castro after 2020, with Anderson moving back to his natural position.”

There are 23 games left in the Marlins 2019 season, enough time for Castro to pad is stats and challenge his own personal home run mark. I would not bet against it. Veterans get hot at the right time and hit in a groove. Maybe that’s what has happened the past month for 29-year-old.

Whatever the reason, he has been a much better player in the second half of 2019. It stands to reason the organization may want to take what Castro has done and build on it, helping the younger players on the roster and keeping him around for one more season as one of the faces of the franchise.