Miami Marlins All-Decade Team: 2010-2019

The past decade has been a tough one for the Miami Marlins. Though there were some high peaks and low valleys during the 2010’s, the Marlins are ending the decade with hope.

The Miami Marlins experienced some lean years this decade. While the team opened Marlins Park in 2012 and rebranded the franchise from the Florida Marlins, Miami suffered through 10-straight losing seasons.

The Marlins’ best record this decade came in 2010 when they finished 80-82, 11 games back of a Wild Card birth. Miami suffered through two 100-loss seasons this decade, in 2013 and last season, 2019. Marlins Park hosted the 2017 MLB All-Star game.

Here’s a look at Miami Marlins All-Decade team (2010-2019).

All-Decade team: Catcher J.T. Realmuto

J.T. Realmuto was the most productive catcher for the Marlins this decade,. And thanks to the haul that came back to Miami via Realmuto’s trade to Philadelphia, numbers will continue to be put up for the franchise.

During his four-plus seasons with the big club, Realmuto was a steady defensive force and swung a hugely productive bat. He finished his Marlins career with 59 home runs, 243 RBI and 114 doubles. His batting average was .279 and he hit a staggering 16 triples as a catcher. In his time wearing a Marlins’ uniform, Realmuto put up a 13.2 WAR.

Realmuto was the team’s All-Star in 2018 and won a Silver Slugger Award as well. The trade package from Philadelphia provided the Marlins with his replacement in Jorge Alfaro (who may someday be on our next all-decade team, in 10 or so years). It also included top-prospect Sixto Sanchez, minor league lefty Will Stewart, and international signing bonus money.

All-Decade team: First Base Justin Bour

Justin Bour was far and away the most productive first baseman for the franchise in the 2010s. He was the primary first baseman from 2015 until his trade in 2018. Other first basemen during this decade included Logan Morrison, Carlos Lee and Gaby Sanchez.

Bour provided pop with his bat, hitting 83 homers during his time with Miami. He knocked in 272 runs and hit 63 doubles. He was susceptible to the K though, striking out 382 times. He slashed .262/.346/.470 as a Marlin and earn a 5.0 WAR over almost five seasons with the franchise.

All-Decade team: Second Base Dee Gordon

Dee Gordon did not spend much time with Miami, but he was the most productive second baseman the team had this decade. Acquired via trade with Miguel Rojas and Dan Haren for prospects, Gordon was an All-Star in 2015, and won both a Golden Glove and Silver Slugger that year. He led the league in batting average (.333), stolen bases (58) and hits (205).

Gordon provided the franchise with its most bittersweet moment when he hit a lead-off home run in the team’s first game after the tragic death of Jose Fernandez. He finished his time as a Marlin with a .309 batting average, 493 hits, 51 doubles, 23 triples and seven home runs. He swiped 148 bases and tallied a 9.2 WAR for Miami. And his trade to Seattle in 2017 netted the Marlins prospects in Nick Neidert, Robert Dugger and Christopher Torres.

All-Decade team: Third Base Brian Anderson

Brian Anderson has spent 163 games manning the hot-corner for the Marlins over the last three season, and while he may end up as the everyday right fielder, Anderson was the most productive third baseman for Miami this decade. Some of the other third basemen included Derek Dietrich, Martin Prado, Casey McGehee, Placido Polanco, Greg Dobbs and Wes Helms. It’s been a revolving door over there.

Anderson has put up good numbers, with 31 homers, 74 doubles and 139 RBI. He has a .954 fielding percentage at third base and has a 7.6 WAR over the last three seasons.

All-Decade team: Shortstop Miguel Rojas

While Adeiny Hechavarria played the most games at shortstop (596) for Miami this decade, Miguel Rojas earned his spot on this list with his overall production this decade. Cast as a utility man early in his career, Rojas has 350 starts at SS for the Marlins (and 247 starts at other positions). Since joining the franchise in 2015, Rojas has a 7.9 WAR, far better than Hechavarria’s 2.3.

While Hech’s defensive play was incredible, he struggled with the bat. Rojas has a .270 batting average and .360 slugging percentage with 77 doubles, 19 homers and 156 RBI for Miami. 2019 was a career year for Miggy Ro. He slashed .284/.331/.379 with 29 doubles, five homers and 46 RBI and a 2.4 WAR playing primarily at short. His leadership is a key factor for the franchise.

All-Decade team: Left Field Christian Yelich

Christian Yelich has become an MVP since leaving Miami, but the Marlins were able to cultivate and see the start of that emergence this decade. The rangy outfielder patrolled left field in Marlins Park from 2013 to 2017, putting up a 18.9 WAR over that span.

Yelich’s time in Miami saw him hit 59 homers, 146 doubles and steal 72 bases. He knocked in 293 runs and posted a .290 batting average and .432 slugging percentage. He won a Gold Glove in 2014 and his breakout season came in 2016 when he posted a .298/.376/.483 slash-line with 38 doubles, 21 homers, 98 RBI and a 5.4 WAR.

While it was bittersweet to see Yelich become the NL MVP in 2018, the trade with Milwaukee landed Miami some foundational prospects in Isan Diaz, Monte Harrison, Jordan Yamamoto and Lewis Brinson.

All-Decade team: Center Field Marcell Ozuna

Marcell Ozuna was the less heralded than his outfield teammates, but he was hugely productive in his four-plus seasons with the Marlins. Ozuna earned an All-Star spot in 2016 and 2017 for Miami, and finished his Marlins career with a 14.4 WAR. He won a Gold Glove in 2017.

With Miami, Ozuna hit 123 doubles, 96 homers and knocked in 361 runs, with a slash-line of .277/.329/.457. He posted career numbers in 2017 with a .312/.376/.548 slash-line and 30 doubles, 37 homers and 124 RBI. He led the league in fielding percentage (.984) as a left fielder that year. The Marlins trade with St. Louis landed them Sandy Alcantara, Magneuris Sierra, Zac Gallen, and Daniel Castano.

All-Decade team: Right Field Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton was not only the most productive player of the decade for Miami, he was one of the most productive Marlins in franchised history. Stanton finished his Marlins’ career as the franchise leader in home runs (267), RBI (672) Total Bases (1983), Slugging Percentage (.554) and WAR (35.5).  He’s also the franchise leader in strikeouts (1140).

A four-time All-Star with Miami, Stanton brought home the 2017 NL MVP, as well as Hank Aaron Awards and Silver Sluggers in 2014 and 2017. Stanton’s 2017 MVP campaign saw him slash .281/.631/1.007 with a league-leading 59 home runs and league-leading 91 extra-base hits. In 2014, he lead the league in homers (39) and extra-base hits (69) as well.

The trade of Stanton to New York landed the Marlins Starlin Castro, Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers, but it was mostly money driven, with the Yankees agreeing to take on more than $250 million of Stanton’s remaining salary.