Marlins: A deep outfield provides endless possibilities in Miami

With plenty of depth in the outfield, the Miami Marlins have endless possibilities of how the Major League roster will look in 2020.

The Miami Marlins continue to build their roster for the 2020 season but also must determine which veterans will remain on the 26-man roster on Opening Day.

That decision will come sometime in March as the Marlins coaching staff and front office begin their evaluations of players once the team heads to Spring Training in Jupiter. Unlike the past two seasons, decisions will be tougher as management has sunk its teeth in developing the organization through the farm system and free agency since December.

The move to add players instead of selling off key veterans is a new approach Derek Jeter has taken to hopefully ensure more wins this coming year. If this does not pay off – as the Marlins have waited for this moment since the team was sold by Jeffrey Loria to Jeter and Bruce Sherman – there will be plenty of questions to answer about the true direction of this organization.

The outfield is a crowded group of players who will have as much of an impact on the 2020 club as any. As Joe Frisaro wrote for MLB.com, he believes there are certain locks – Brian Anderson, Harold Ramirez, Lewis Brinson, Magneuris Sierra, Jon Berti, Austin Dean – to make the roster. As I look at the organization as a whole, I’m not so sure those are the names we will see when the team opens its first series of the MLB season against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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Frisaro also points out Corey Dickerson, Monte Harrison, Jesus Sanchez, and Garrett Cooper are “possibilities” to make the ball club.

"“Before New Year’s Day, the Marlins completed their search for a veteran free-agent outfielder by coming to terms with Dickerson, who split time in 2019 with the Pirates and Phillies,” Frisaro explains. “Once Dickerson’s two-year signing becomes official, he projects as the starting left fielder.”"

The move also means that Anderson, who split time in left field and at third base in 2019, should be the Opening Day right fielder, also opening the door for stiff competition for the starting job in center field. Berti and Sierra are speedy outfielders who play solid defense and have the flexibility to move to the infield if needed.

Dean is a candidate who can also play first base, as he did the final few games of the season. Ramirez had a good rookie season and can play multiple positions as well. Cooper is not viewed as an every-day option because of his injury history, but he could be a 25-30 home run hitter in the right situation.

He projects to have the same kind of season Dickerson could have if he stays on the field and off the Injured List.

That means once again the biggest wild card is Brinson, who also has one more option remaining. If he does not make the Opening Day roster, he could be sent to Triple-A Wichita or could still be traded or released. The Marlins hope he finally puts together a complete season where he hits the ball better and with more consistency.

He is too talented to give up on now, but the timer is almost up on how he develops in the organization’s system.

As for Harrison and Sanchez, they are prospects just biding their time. Both could make the roster to start with, but it’s also a strong possibility they will begin their campaigns in Wichita at the Triple-A level before being called up for their Major League debuts.

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