Can the Marlins add more players without losing its team core?

By David Levin | Dec 12, 2019

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Don Mattingly #8 of the Miami Marlins adjusts the line before the game between the Houston Astros and the Miami Marlins at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on February 28, 2019 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

The Miami Marlins want to add players to their organization, but do not want to part with key pieces to the franchise’s future.

With the recent addition of Yimi Garcia to the Miami Marlins bullpen, the front office continues to add pieces of its incomplete puzzle. The low risk, high reward potential of this kind of deal also opens the door for the Marlins to make other deals to add more players to their minor league system and Major League roster without parting with top talent.

Garcia is a solid addition to a bullpen that faltered too many times last year. However, if the pitching staff is to get stronger, the ball club will likely need another arm or two to make this area of the roster stronger.

Yes, there is still hope the team can reach an agreement with Sergio Romo on a return to South Florida for 2020, but nothing is a guarantee.

What the Marlins are stressing from a management standing, is the need for addition with much subtraction. Taking too many pieces away from their minor league system or the first 26 could change the outlook of how the franchise is still counting on building from within, starting with pitching and moving forward.

More from Marlins Rumors

"“I’d say a majority of the marketplace has checked in on the availability of our starting pitching,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said on Wednesday night at the Winter Meetings via MLB.com."

Prior to the start of the Winter Meetings, it was believed the Marlins would make a serious move to acquire Nicholas Castellanos, but because of financial consideration and how the roster is being built, the cost might be too much for the organization to handle. Finding other players to fill that void might make more sense.

The team has been linked to Corey Dickerson and Kole Calhoun who played last season with the Los Angeles Angels. It’s been constant communication between the Marlins front office and staff in San Diego and the representatives of free agents looking for new homes.

"“That’s been the majority of the meetings here,” Hill said. “Most of our peers we deal over the phones for 11 months. We sort of just work from our rooms with ideas and go back-and-forth. It’s more of the agent that wants the face time here.”"

There are other names the team might consider, including Avisail Garcia, Eric Thames, and Justin Smoak. I would not rule Castellanos out yet, but other teams like the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants have been rumored to be interested as well.

The Marlins wealth of pitching has made them an attractive team to reach out to this winter.

"“There’s still teams, a lot of teams, that call on our starting pitching, because it’s young, it’s good and it’s affordable,” Hill said. “That’s always the case. If you have good, young affordable pitching, you’re going to get phone calls.”"

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