Miami Marlins: Looking at the centerfield free agent options

If you were to simply take a look at the Miami Marlins current roster, it quickly becomes evident that the biggest need for the club at the major league level comes in centerfield.

With arguably no clear-cut centerfield option currently on the roster, it makes sense for the club to look externally to acquire a centerfielder when the lockout ends, via either free agency or a trade.

While we have talked before about options in centerfield that the Marlins could trade for, it quickly becomes evident that that route is the more-intriguing, and arguably more-likely for Miami to make a bigger splash at the position with a long-term option.

Yes, names such as Mullins, Marte, Reynolds, and more would certainly make sense to trade for when the lockout ends, with each potentially providing a significant impact for the Marlins going forward. However, if none are made available via trade, and the Marlins have to sign a free agent to play centerfield for the 2022 season, who is available in free agency?

Could the Miami Marlins sign a free agent centerfielder?

The centerfield free agent market entering the offseason was headlined by two big names, both of which Miami were reportedly linked to – Starling Marte and Chris Taylor. As you likely know by now however, the former Marlin Marte signed a multi-year deal within the division with the Mets, while Taylor returned to the Dodgers on a multi-year deal.

With the Marlins having missed on arguably the two lone long-term centerfield free agent options, it certainly appears that if Miami were to sign player at the position from free agency, it would likely be for the 2022 season only (aside from one option). With that thought in mind, who are the top centerfield options available in free agency?

Beginning with the one option mentioned previously, former Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is likely the biggest name centerfield option available, but is also a player who has not seen time at the position since the 2019 season.

Despite a career 146 games played at the position (combined .985 fielding percentage), Conforto has been a primary right fielder for each of the past three season’s, but does have a notable amount of experience in center. Only 28-years-old, Conforto would likely be the lone free agent centerfielder that would be a long-term option, and despite a down 2021 offensively (.232/.344/.384, 14 HR across 125 games), is a player who hit 25+ home runs from 2017-19 with a career-high 33 in 2019.

Looking at the options on a potential one-year deal, you could argue that the most-notable option is Tommy Pham, a veteran outfielder who slashed .229/.340/.383 with San Diego in 2021 across a career-high 155 games. Similar to Conforto previously however, the last time Pham saw regular time at the position before 2021 (11 games with SD) was back with St. Louis in 2018 as the Cardinals primary centerfielder.

In addition to Pham, there are also a few other potential one-year free agent options in centerfield who would be intriguing signings, most-notably Kevin Pillar and Odubel Herrera, as well as 14-year Yankees veteran Brett Gardner. However, it is unlikely that Gardner signs anywhere but New York, while Pillar and Herrera will both likely garner interest from multiple teams.

When trying to predict who will play centerfield for the Miami Marlins in 2022, it’s obvious that a significant trade to acquire a long-term option is the most-intriguing route. However, if the Marlins are looking for a one-year option at the position, there are a few notable names available in free agency if the club chooses to go that route.