Marlins: 3 Questions facing the team ahead of Spring Training

The month of February  and March should be full of questions the Miami Marlins front office and coaching staff must answer during Spring Training.

The month of February took long enough to get here as I sit at the computer waiting for Marlins pitchers and catchers to report to the team’s Spring Training facility in Jupiter, Florida.

For me and other fans who are going through what we all call baseball withdrawal, it’s been a tough few months without the sounds of the crack of the bat and the hustle on the diamond. For the Marlins, it’s been a chance to improve the team’s roster, analyze roster needs and look to minor league prospects as they hope for the chance to star in The Show.

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I’m getting a bit anxious as I know there are still over two weeks until the leather is slapped and players take infield practice.

The Marlins are in a good situation if you look at things with an open perspective. Yes, there are plenty of new faces who will walk into Spring Training, but the balance of the roster, mostly with starting pitching, is intact. Manager Don Mattingly has plenty of depth to choose from and the front office took another step forward in addition, not subtraction of talent once the final out of the World Series was registered.

Miami has a team that looks better on paper this coming season and could approach 75 wins. It’s not unreasonable to think it can happen given the changes made by Derek Jeter and the front office and how the offseason hasn’t been as huge as other franchises, but enough improvement suggests it.

I have been on and off the Marlins bandwagon the past two seasons with the way the front office has torn this team down. Now, after seeing it being built back up the right way from the foundation – I am fully invested in how things are going to turn out in South Florida for this season and beyond.

Here are three questions the Marlins must still answer once Spring Training begins.

Will Lewis Brinson Make The Team?

We can debate this all through February and March. Does Lewis Brinson make the 26-man roster? does he deserve a spot when there are other worthy candidates who may perform better on the Major League level?

I think of this question like debated the Wei-Yin Chen roster spot last season. Money was the reason for Chen’s place in Miami last season. This season, the Marlins are hoping the third time is the charm for Brinson, who still has all the tools to be a solid MLB player if he could learn to hit on this level. In the minors, he is a good player with 30-home run potential.

Right now, it does not translate.

I suspect he makes the roster, but he also has one more option the Marlins can use. I also think he is a DFA candidate if the right moves are made during camp to find the right balance in the outfield. Don’t get me wrong, I like Brinson’s ability, and I want the South Florida native to make the roster, but I also think there is a crowded outfield and too many other talented players to give up a roster spot for him.

Which Prospects Can Make the Opening Day Roster?

Do you want to talk about pitchers or look at the every-day roster?

The Marlins have several players who are almost MLB ready and could take the next step in Spring Training. We have talked a lot about Monte Harrison, who is my pick to win the open centerfield job. Jesus Sanchez is another player who looks to fit the role.

He should start the season in Triple-A at Wichita. There will be plenty of changes to the Marlins roster during the season. Both players should make an impact early in the season. If Harrison does not make it to the first 26, then he will be the first player called up when there is an injury or Mattingly wants to make a change to his roster.

If you want to talk about other candidates, look no further than Jazz Chisholm, who must get better at the plate, and Lewin Diaz, who could be a 30-40 home run threat once he gets comfortable with Major League pitchers.

Sixto Sanchez, Edward Cabrera and Jorge Guzman will all start the season in Wichita and wait their turn to crack the rotation. Nick Neidert should be the first arm called up to The Show unless he can show enough in camp to fill the fifth starter spot.

Mattingly and his staff have plenty of options and depth to work with. That is a great thing.