Marlins: Three bold predictions for Spring Training

Will the changes the Marlins made this offseason finally prove to be the missing links to a successful MLB campaign in 2020?

The Marlins are putting their puzzle together, piece by piece, with the hope it means a move from obscurity to mediocrity and beyond this coming season.

With many new faces to organize and remember, this franchise begins Spring Training this week in Jupiter, Florida with a simple mantra everyone is getting behind – to be better than last season.

That shouldn’t be hard to do given this roster has to improve from a 57-105 record that left the front office and other MLB insiders scratching their heads a bit. The Marlins were better in 2019 from the previous season, but statistics and their record did not show change for the better.

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Never fear as this team right now on paper is better than the previous two seasons, and the players who walk into camp know the buzz is about progression, not regression.

“All offseason, the Marlins searched for fits to help upgrade a lineup that ranked last in the Majors in homers (146) and second to last in runs (615) in 2019,” writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. “The front office feels it has addressed many of the needs with the additions of infielder Jonathan Villar, first baseman Jesús Aguilar, outfielders Corey Dickerson and Matt Joyce and catcher Francisco Cervelli.”

Those are just a few of the improvements made. The coaching staff is changed as well, with a new gameplan to get more out of the players at the plate. The rotation will be tweaked a bit and the bullpen has new arms to fit in the right moments.

Miami is on the rise. Baseball is about to become exciting again for the Marlins. And with the smell of Spring in the air, here are three bold predictions for this squad heading to camp this week.

Brandon Kintzler Becomes the Marlins Closer

This is going to be one of those moves in the middle of Miami’s offseason that we all look back on and discover how genius it really was. Brandon Kintzler gives the Marlins a dependable arm out of the bullpen, which allows Drew Steckenrider to become one of the better setup men in the Majors.

“Kintzler, who signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract, is likely the favorite to earn the closer role,” writes Wells Dusenbury of sun-sentinel.com. “Working as a set-up man for the Cubs, the 35-year-old right-hander posted a 2.68 ERA in 62 appearances last season. Two years ago, Kintzler recorded 29 saves in 35 opportunities with the Twins and Nationals.”

Now, he becomes the specialist the Marlins need to stabilize the bullpen.

There is still a chance Steckenrider wins the job. I thought Jarlin Garcia would get an opportunity as well, but the Marlins designated him for assignment. The bullpen got a makeover this offseason. It should be much better in 2020.

If Kintzler is as good as Sergio Romo or even better than Miami could hold onto late-inning leads instead of squandering opportunities.

Lewin Diaz Wins the First Base Job

Lewin Diaz came to Miami in the deal that sent Romo to Minnesota prior to the MLB Trade Deadline. All he did was display power in the minors and give the team its best first base prospect in some time.

Diaz hit 24 home runs last season at three minor league stops but belted eight of them in 31 games at Double-A Jacksonville, the Marlins affiliate. He comes to camp with everything to prove and nothing to lose. If he does not make the opening-day roster, he will swing for the fences at Wichita, at the Triple-A level.

Miami picked up Aguilar off waivers this offseason, hoping he becomes a 35-40 home run threat in the middle of the batting order. The team now has depth and options at a position that was used as a hot potato last season.

Matt Kemp could win a spot on the roster out of camp and provide a veteran bat at the corner as well. Garrett Cooper is a possibility, as he hit 15 homers last season playing in the outfield and at first when he was in the lineup.