Miami Marlins: 10 former players to consider bringing back in 2022

Happy New Year, Miami Marlins fans!

With the calendar having officially flipped to 2022, we can now begin to fully turn the page and take a deeper look in anticipation of the upcoming Marlins season. Speaking of the Marlins in 2022 as well, could this year be one full of reunions for the club?

Will the Miami Marlins bring back any former players in 2022?

There are currently multiple former Miami Marlins players available in free agency, a majority of which are intriguing options to consider bringing back for the 2022 season. Let’s take a look at who those 10 players are, starting with a former reliever.

10. Kyle Barraclough

A key part of the Marlins bullpen from 2015-18, Barraclough is coming off back-to-back down years in 2019 and 2021 (did not pitch in 2020), and would be a cheaper bullpen option to take a chance on.

As mentioned previously, Barraclough enjoyed success with the Marlins from 2015-18 where the right-hander posted a combined 3.21 ERA across four season’s, a span that included a phenomenal 2016 campaign headlined by a 2.85 ERA across 72.2 IP with a career-high 113 strikeouts.

Yes, Barraclough has struggled in recent years since being traded to Washington after the 2018 season, but the 31-year-old has had success in Miami before, could he do it again?

9. Andrew Miller

One of the more high-profile names on this list is Miller, a former starter with the then Florida Marlins from 2008-10 who transitioned to a full-time reliever role in 2012.

Becoming one of the top left-handed relievers in the game in the process, the two-time All-Star (2016-17) has however struggled in recent years with the St. Louis Cardinals, but did post a 2.77 ERA during the shortened 2020 season.

A veteran reliever who does having closing experience in recent years (62 combined saves since 2015), Miller would be an intriguing option to return to Miami in 2022 as a late-inning option in the bullpen.

8. Brad Boxberger

On the topic of bullpen arms, why not consider bringing back Boxberger in 2022, a player who had success in Miami back during the shortened 2020 season?

Signed to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training back in 2020, the veteran right-hander would make a total of 23 relief appearances where Boxberger posted a 3.00 ERA with the Marlins before electing free agency at season’s end.

Coming off a strong 2021 campaign with Milwaukee (3.34 ERA across 64.2 IP), Boxberger would be another cheaper relief option who has experience in the late innings (81 saves in 10-year career).

7. Dan Straily

If the Marlins are looking to add a veteran starter to the rotation this offseason, there aren’t many former Marlins who stick out as more intriguing options than Straily.

A key piece of Miami’s rotation in 2017-18 where the right-hander made a combined 56 starts, Straily posted two strong season’s with the Marlins after being acquired from Cincinnati in 2017 before being released in March of 2019.

Coming off two impressive season’s with the Lotte Giants of the KBO (3.22 combined ERA across 62 starts), the 33-year-old would be an intriguing veteran starter to add to Miami’s impressive group of younger starters.

6. Derek Dietrich

A super utility player for the Miami Marlins from 2013-18, could the club bring back Dietrich in 2022?

Despite spending the entire 2021 season in the minor leagues with the Yankees and Nationals, Dietrich has had success in recent years since leaving Miami hitting 19 home runs across 113 games with Cincinnati in 2019, as well as five across 25 games in 2020 with Texas.

Having extensive experience at multiple positions defensively, the 32-year-old would be a proven super utility option to bring back to Miami, a place where Dietrich has had success before.

5. Cameron Maybin

On the topic of bringing back former positional players, the Marlins need help in center field. Why not bring back Maybin?

No, the 34-year-old would not be the starter with Miami in center field, but is a proven bench option who has appeared in a career 873 games at the position at the major league level, as well as having extensive experience in both left and right field.

While he only appeared in a combined 31 games (MLB and Triple-A) with the Mets in 2021, the former Florida Marlin (2008-10) has seen success in recent years slashing .285/.364/.494 with a career-high 11 home runs across 82 games with the Yankees back in 2019.

2. Brad Hand

On the topic of bringing back closer’s, if the Marlins opt-to go that route, Brad Hand is arguably the biggest offseason splash that the club could make at the position with former players.

Now no, Hand was not a closer during his time with the Marlins from 2011-15, but the left-hander did make a combined 90 appearances (43 starts) during his time with the organization posting a combined 4.71 ERA.

A three-time All-Star, Hand became one of the top overall closers in the game shortly after being claimed off waivers by San Diego back in 2016. Coming off a down year in 2021 (3.90 ERA combined between four MLB teams), bringing back Hand in 2022 as Miami’s closer makes sense.

1. Jonathan Villar

The final name on this list, if the Marlins are looking to add another super utility type player who can instantly contribute at the major league level, Villar is the former player you could argue makes the most sense.

Miami’s starting shortstop during the first half of the shortened 2020 season, Villar is coming off a strong 2021 season with the Mets where he posted a combined .738 OPS across 142 games, with a majority of his time defensively coming at third base.

One of the top super utility players still available in free agency, the 30-year-old would be an interesting player to bring back to Miami in 2022 as a proven veteran who can play almost anywhere defensively.