Miami Marlins: Way-too-early Roster Prediction for the 2022 Season

With the 2021-22 Miami Marlins offseason now underway, there will be many decisions facing the club throughout the offseason, many of which will affect the roster-outlook for the 2022 campaign.

Now obviously we are about five months away from Opening Day for the 2022 season, and the roster will likely change in numerous different ways between now and April. However, it never hurts to make a few predictions based on what the 2022 Opening Day roster may look like.

Way-too-early 2022 roster prediction for the Miami Marlins.

This will take a look at a way-too-early prediction for the Miami Marlins 2022 Opening Day roster that will include the starting rotation, lineup, bullpen, and bench. Included in these predictions will be both returning players, as well as a few predictions for some new faces.

For new faces who could potentially feature a starting-role, I have decided to list three-to-four potential options who could fill the position during the 2022 season, each of whom the Marlins could target either via free agency or a trade in the offseason. Yes, it is possible that none of those options actually happen, but it provides a few options who could or should be considered.

So, here is the way-too-early roster prediction for the Miami Marlins for the 2022 season, beginning with the starting rotation.

Infield

The Miami Marlins infield will likely return many familiar faces in 2022, as well as a potential for some new faces also.

C – Mitch Garver/Jacob Stallings/Tucker Barnhart

The Marlins could see a new primary catcher in 2022 with Garver (Twins) and Stallings (Pirates) as the likeliest potential trade options as Garver posted a .875 OPS this past season, while Stallings is coming off a career-year. Barnhart holds a team option with the Reds this offseason, and would be one of the top veteran options available should he reach free agency.

1B – Lewin Diaz

Widely considered as the Marlins first baseman of the future, Diaz should claim that role full-time in 2022. Appearing in 40 games in the big leagues a year ago, the 24-year-old slashed .205/.242/.451 with eight home runs, as well as hitting 20 home runs with an .845 OPS in Triple-A last season.

2B – Jazz Chisholm

Arguably the one 100% given in the infield is Chisholm who will enter the 2022 campaign coming off an impressive rookie season. Appearing in 124 games with Miami this season, Chisholm slashed .248/.303/.425 with 18 home runs, 53 RBI’s, and 23 stolen bases.

SS – Miguel Rojas

Holding a team option for the 2022 season, it makes sense for Rojas to return for year eight with the Marlins after slashing .265/.322/.392 a year ago. However, with multiple top shortstops available in free agency, don’t be surprised if one possibly ends-up with the Marlins next season moving Rojas to a possible bench role.

3B – Brian Anderson

Coming off a 2021 season that was shortened by injuries, Anderson should return for the 2022 campaign as the Marlins starting third baseman. Appearing in 67 games with Miami last season, Anderson slashed .249/.337/.378 with seven home runs and 28 RBI’s.

Outfield & Designated Hitter

In what is arguably the hardest position group to predict for the 2022 Miami Marlins, the outfield features numerous potential options, while the DH is a no-brainer.

LF – Jesus Sanchez

You could make an argument that the Marlins have one 100% given in their 2022 starting outfield with that being Sanchez who posted an .808 OPS with 14 home runs at the big league level last season as a rookie. Capable of playing either corner outfield spot, Sanchez will likely see time at both next season with a majority of his starts this past season coming in right.

CF – Starling Marte/Mark Canha/Tommy Pham/Peyton Burdick

If the Marlins truly spend in the offseason, center field could be the position that it happens. There are many potential intriguing options via free agency such as Marte, Canha, and Pham, as well as No. 14 prospect Peyton Burdick.

RF – Garrett Cooper

Enjoying arguably the best single-season of his career, Cooper slashed .284/.380/.465 with nine home runs and 33 RBI’s across 71 games before missing the remainder of the season with an injury. Splitting time last season between first base and right field, Cooper likely slots in at right field, while also potentially seeing time as the Marlins DH.

DH – Jesus Aguilar

If the DH returns to the National League for the 2022 season, there is arguably no team that may benefit more than the Marlins. One of the top run-producers in the NL during the 2021 season, Aguilar will return as Miami’s DH, and will allow the Marlins to get both Aguilar and Diaz in the everyday lineup.

Bullpen

The potential Miami Marlins 2022 bullpen will likely feature many names from last seasons group, a unit that saw success throughout the 2021 campaign. In addition to this group, the Marlins could also opt-to bring in another experienced late-inning option.

RHP – Anthony Bender

After an impressive 2021 rookie season, Bender will return in 2022 as an important piece of the Marlins bullpen. A potential closer option, the right-hander posted a 2.79 ERA a year ago with three saves across 61.1 innings pitched.

RHP – Dylan Floro

Floro played an important role in the Marlins bullpen during the 2021 season, and should return for the 2022 campaign where the right-hander could play a similar role. Making 68 appearances this past season, Floro posted a 2.81 ERA with 15 saves, 25 walks, and 62 strikeouts.

LHP – Jesus Luzardo

After acting solely as a starter after being acquired by the Marlins at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline, Luzardo could begin the 2022 season in the Miami bullpen. The southpaw will likely split time during the 2022 campaign as both a starter and reliever, an area where he has experience in both.

RHP – Zach Thompson

Thompson enjoyed success during his rookie season as a starter, with that success continuing as a reliever toward the end of the season. Posting a 3.24 ERA this past season, Thompson should return in 2022 as a middle-inning relief option in the Marlins bullpen.

LHP – Richard Bleier

Bleier posted a 2.95 ERA during the 2021 campaign striking out 44 batters to six walks across 58 innings pitched. The left-hander should return for the 2022 season as an important piece of the Marlins bullpen.

LHP – Steven Okert

The left-hander enjoyed a strong 2021 season, and should return in 2022 as a middle-inning relief option in Miami’s bullpen. Pitching a total of 36 innings this past season, Okert posted a 2.75 ERA with 15 walks and 40 strikeouts.

CP – Brad Hand/Andrew Miller/Yimi Garcia/Kendall Graveman

The last spot in the bullpen may be the hardest to predict as it will likely feature either a trade or free agent signing for a late-inning option who can close games. A few intriguing options could be reunions with former Marlins such as Hand, Miller, and Garcia, as well as others coming off strong seasons such as Graveman.

Bench

The Marlins 2022 bench could look similar to this past season, featuring many potential known names.

OF – Bryan De La Cruz

While it is possible that De La Cruz claims a starting outfield spot going into the 2022 season, you could certainly make an argument that the 24-year-old would be best as a fourth outfielder. After being acquired from Houston at the trade deadline, De La Cruz saw time at all three outfield spots while slashing .296/.356/.427 across 58 games in his first big league action.

C – Alex Jackson

While No. 30 prospect Payton Henry is also an option to fill the backup catcher role, Jackson will likely begin the 2022 season as the backup option. Acquired from the Braves at the trade deadline, Jackson posted a .538 OPS with three home runs across 108 at-bats.

INF – Jose Devers

Making his major league debut in 2021, Devers slashed .244/.304/.317 in 21 games before suffering an injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the season. An infielder capable of playing multiple positions, Devers will likely feature a role on the Marlins bench next season, potentially to begin the 2022 campaign.

UTL – Jon Berti

Berti appeared in 85 games with the Marlins during the 2021 season in which he posted a career-low .624 OPS. Forced into a starting role due to injuries to the Marlins starters, Berti should return to a reserve role next season where he excelled during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Obviously it is still way-too-early in the offseason, but when looking ahead to the 2022 season, there are obviously some decisions that need to be made concerning the roster. Will the Miami Marlins 2022 Opening Day roster look similar to this, or are we in for an offseason full of surprises?