Miami Marlins: Sports Illustrated projects team’s 2020 season

Another national website takes aim at the Miami Marlins without many favorable things to talk about this coming season.

If you read what Sports Illustrated has to say about the Miami Marlins for the upcoming 2020 season, the staff’s baseball writers don’t think much about the changes the front office has made this offseason.

With a win projection of 67, which is 10 more than the team had in 2019, the belief is this is still a baseball team that will pay rent in the basement of the National League East for at least one more season. That’s not something fans want to hear and it’s certainly something the organization and its front office are trying to overcome.

This is the third year of the rebuilding effort set forth by Derek Jeter and Michael Hill, but you already knew that.

Even with the changes the team made this offseason, as the story written by the SI.com staff states, there will be little cause for celebration in South Florida.

"“MLB’s woebegone franchise brought in a few veteran bats and has a young rotation with some promise, but it will continue to reside far from contention,” the story explains."

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It’s not hard to understand the hard-line baseball analysts have taken with this season, knowing last year produced just 57 wins and 64 the year before. But there is optimism in the minors with solid prospects on the rise. There are also changes to the batting order to accommodate the need for better hitting and power in the middle of the lineup to test the outfield fences at Marlins Park.

"“Are there reasons for fans to return in ’20? Not many, though the team has tried to get better, trading for Jonathan Villar to play third base, picking up first baseman Jesús Aguilar, signing Corey Dickerson to patrol leftfield and adding Brandon Kintzler to collect saves,” the story continues. “These moves might keep Miami from another 100-loss season but they pale in comparison with what the rest of the division has done.”"

The National League East might be the closest race in baseball this season. Miami does not figure to be part of a pennant race, but the team could play a spoiler role in determining who does capture the division flag.

And when you look to the team’s future, there are plenty of prospects waiting their turn to show the baseball world they are the ones who will send this team to the postseason – in time. The last time the Marlins entered the postseason was 2003 and the last time they enjoyed a winning season was during the first four years of the Obama administration.

There is hope, however, as it is explained with a solid nucleus of pitchers.

"“Things look rosier on the mound, where the Marlins could go the whole year without starting a single pitcher who has reached 30,” writes Joe Sheehan.“Their young arms, led by All-Star right-hander Sandy Alcantara, are largely low-ceiling, No. 4 starter–types, but top prospect Sixto Sanchez will arrive shortly to bring some sizzle to the group.”"

Even with change and promise, the Marlins cannot buy a break from the website. Hopefully, it means the team will have to show what they can do on the diamond to prove SI.com and other analysts wrong about the upcoming season.