Marlins: A Holiday Wish List for Santa Claus

MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 24: Miami Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on September 24, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 24: Miami Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on September 24, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Marlins have worked hard this past season to try and fix their problems within the organization. What should they ask Santa Claus to bring them next week?

Christmas has slowly come early for the Miami Marlins.

The team has picked up its pace over the course of the past 10 days, adding chess pieces to hopefully bring about change to its roster and its record for 2020. There is still hope and promise within the Marlins minor league system, but player development may take longer with some players over others. Patience is still the watchword for the franchise as Derek Jeter and Michael have made moves to make the feeder system one of the best in the Majors.

While watching these players get better at all four levels of the organization, the fan base is still in that mode of wanting to see more success on the field at Marlins Park. Frankly, so is the staff here at Marlin Maniac.

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Just like little – and not so little – children sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they want for the holidays, we too have done the same thing. See what we hope to see under the tree in the next week.

David Fernandez – Of all the Marlins should be asking Santa for this Christmas, first on the wish list should be a power bat. Miami’s offense was dead last in the MLB in home runs and runs scored last season. They’ve already added Jesus Aguilar, who is a year removed from 35 homers with Milwaukee, but the team needs more. Ideally, the power bat would be a left-handed corner outfielder. The Marlins would also love to have Yasiel Puig join the fold. That is, as long as Santa has a long talk with Puig about settling his differences with Marlins manager Don Mattingly.

Kevin Kraczkowski – What I want all year, every year, is a competitive team that is always in the hunt for the postseason. What I want for Christmas is a decent free agent acquisition that can be plugged directly into the lineup from the outfield. I would certainly be OK with Yasiel Puig.

If Santa is being generous, I’d also like a top-line reliever like Steve Cishek or Andrew Miller.

David Levin – If the Marlins are going to make a significant move in the standings this coming season, the front office must consider a bold move or two by adding big-name talent to the roster.

I had thought the team should kick the tires on bringing in Madison Bumgarner or look at Gerrit Cole. We all know there wasn’t a chance of that happening given the team’s desire to keep the payroll low while building through the farm system.

What the team needs to ask for during Christmas is for someone like Felix Hernandez or Gio Gonzalez to find the Fountain of Youth in Miami and to help stabilize the rotation.

Just like the team did with Matt Kemp this week, signing one or both of them to minor league deals than inviting them to Spring Training gives this team a chance to have a better pitching staff.

Next. Marlins Pickups: Getting to Know New Catcher Ryan Lavarnway. dark