Interactive Miami Marlins off-season: 1B

This is a new series where we‘ll be FanSided and have an interactive off-season. The Miami Marlins have an active off-season ahead and some plans have already been revealed. I‘ll primarily focus on the lineup and what changes do YOU think that we should do. We can probably reasonably assume that Bruce Sherman won’t let Kim Ng spend too much, so let’s stay on the realistic side. Reports talk about a modest raise to the payroll, so let’s assume at most a $30-$40 million increase in annual salaries.

Who should play first base for the Miami Marlins in 2023?

INTERNAL OPTIONS: Let’s start with our internal options… Lewin Diaz is done as an option and Garrett Cooper is technically our DH and can move back to first base if we can trust him to stay healthy (he hasn’t been able to top 119 games his whole career). He batted .261/.337/.415 with 9 HR and 50 RBI in 2022.

FREE AGENCY: Anthony Rizzo is an intriguing option, who I expect to re-sign with the New York Yankees. That said, 4 years/$18 million a year might be enough to get a slugger who hit 32 HR and batted .224/.338/.480 with a 2.3 WAR in 2022.

Jose Abreu is another interesting option. I actually wrote about him as an option already. Abreu batted .304/.378/.446 with 15 HR and 75 RBI and a 4.2 WAR and -0.9 dWAR. Abreu is from Cuba, which is an added benefit for our fanbase. The question is his age (36 next season) and decline in power. 2 years/$15 million a year should get him.

Trey Mancini could likely be had for 2 years/$13 million a year and offers a career .265/.330/.457 batting line with 20 HR power.

Miguel Sanó is a low risk/high reward type thst can be had on a 1 year deal. I assume that $7 million would be enough to get him. He is a career .234/.326/.482 hitter who hit 30 HR with a .223/.312/.466 batting line last season.

Josh Bell is another interesting option. He hit .266/.362/.422 this season with 17 HR and 71 RBI. He’s not a good defender (-1.0 dWAR) but can likely be had for 4 years/$16 million a year.

TRADE OPTIONS:

Eric Hosmer is now available on a minimum salary (the San Diego Padres are paying the rest). The Boston Red Sox might be willing to trade him and the cost should be minimal. Hosmer is a career .277/.336/.428 hitter who has a 1.1 WAR this season.

YOUR OPTIONS: A. Go with Garrett Cooper at first base and hope for the best.

B. Sign Anthony Rizzo, but have $22 million or less left for all other players.

C. Sign José Abreu and have $25 million for everyone else in annual salaries.

D. Sign Trey Mancini for 2 years $13 million a year and have $27 million left for others.

E. Sign Miguel Sanó for 1 year/$7 million and have $33 million left for others in annual salary.

F. Sign Josh Bell for 4 years/$16 million a year and have $24 million left.

G. Trade for Eric Hosmer and his minimum salary to improve our contact and defense, then spend more on power elsewhere.

Who do you pick?