Starling Marte: The Missing Piece

Newly acquired Miami Marlins Starling Marte is the center fielder the Miami Marlins has desperately needed over the past 3 seasons.

Marte was acquired at the deadline for expendable pitchers Caleb Smith, Humberto Meija, Julio Frias, and a player to be named later. The cost was cheap as those players were never going to be featured in the Marlins plan for contention, and Starling Marte fills an immediate need at center field. It is unknown the leadership impact that the center fielder has had so far, but having a 31-year-old presence who has been an All-Star and a prominent player in the league can only be a good thing for the young team.

You saw at the beginning of the season Magneuris Sierra began to break out in a Juan Pierre style, but Starling Marte offers the speed combined with consistent power the team desperately needs. The offense has been present this more consistently than in the past, but despite the efforts, the team made they still remain at the bottom 5 of total runs scored in the league. In just nine games, Starling Marte is now in the Top 10 on the team in RBI with eight and will likely find himself in the top 5 by the end of the season. Starling Marte is a game changer the Marlins desperately needed this season.

Starling Marte serves as the missing piece because unlike the other center fielders on the roster he is the most complete player that does not have an obvious flaw and excels in multiple categories. The two-time gold glove winner will finally bring stability to the center field position for the next 2 seasons that the team has desperately needed.

Here is the list of players that played prominent roles in the Marlins center field over the past 3 seasons.

2018 Lewis Brinson, Cameron Maybin, Magneuris Sierra

2019 Lewis Brinson, J.T. Riddle, Harold Ramirez, Cesar Puello, Rosell Herra, Isaac Galloway,

2020 Starling Marte, Monte Harrison, Magneuris Sierra, Jon Berti.

Do you see the difference now that Starling Marte is there? The team has multiple outfield prospects that will eventually supplant him at the end of next season as he is unlikely to remain with the team after next season concludes. While he is with the team you have no other option than to just enjoy the production that the team has lacked at the position for far too long.

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