Derek Jeter’s impact on the Miami Marlins pitching staff this season

The plan to make the Miami Marlins rotation a force through trades the past two seasons is beginning to pay off.

Ever since the middle of last season many of us Miami Marlins writers projected the team would either release or trade starting pitcher Jose Ureña. So far, he remains an important part of the team’s starting rotation. There’s even some talk he may have earned the right to start again on Opening Day.

It’s funny in an odd way how we are talking about the veteran given the fact Major-League baseball is at a standstill right now and all the while fans and organizations alike are waiting for the signal to go back to work. Ureña could be a huge part of the Marlins plans in 2020, or as I have said before, could be traded to a team that is contending for a playoff berth and need a solid veteran presents on the back end of the rotation or in the bullpen.

"“The Marlins’ rotation has a collection of young hurlers with plenty to like. It’s not a group chock full of certainty, but the unit performed reasonably last season and comes with varying degrees of future upside,” writes Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors.More from Marlins NewsMiami Marlins news: Another target goneWhy didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offerMiami Marlins are pursuing Michael ConfortoMiami Marlins need to spend to win“Four of the team’s starters came up in trade rumors over the offseason, but the Fish elected to hold onto all of them.”"

Urena has a place in Marlins’ history. One of only a handful of players who remain on the roster and in the organization from the days before Derek Jeter took over as team CEO. Most of the Marlins who were here prior to the team being sold in 2017 are in organizations, some of them thriving. What Jeter has done is put together a pitching staff that is primarily made of players who came via trades in free agency that should be much better than any staff we have seen in the past few seasons.

If this is how the former New York Yankee captain planned it, the blueprint is starting to work just fine. It still may take another two years, but Miami is assembling a starting five that could be dominant. And as I said before in many articles here on Marlin Maniac, it could rival the early Atlanta Braves staffs of the 1980s in the 1979 Baltimore Orioles.

For all of us, including myself, who screamed and yelled when the 2017 roster was broken up, it looks as though Jeter is getting his wish.

Caleb Smith came over from the Yankees. Sandy Alcantara was sent over by the St. Louis Cardinals. Pablo Lopez was part of a 2017 deal with the Seattle Mariners. Jordan Yamamoto was once with the Milwaukee Brewers. And then there is Ureña. It’s a strange brew that might surprise folks in 2020.

Even if this season is remarkably short because of the threat of the COVID-19 virus, I contend it this group will leave a lasting impression or 2021 and beyond.

"“It’s been less than smooth sailing for the Marlins in a number of ways in recent years. But the Miami organization has picked up a few notable starting pitchers from elsewhere along the way,” Franco added. “Whether some or all of these young arms will form the core of the Marlins’ next contending club or themselves wind up on the move for future assets remains to be seen.”"