2 big factors that the Marlins have to boost their offense in 2024 no one is talking about
The Marlins moves are all value add from here
![Sep 27, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Garrett Cooper (24)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4477,h_2518,x_0,y_74/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/86/01hkbwa59zeefkqn3gzf.jpg)
The Miami Marlins had one of the worst run scoring offenses in the MLB last year and needed to drastically improve it to be competitive with high powered teams. The Marlins have 2 big factors going for them and their offense that no one is talking about. The Marlins offense will be underrated and will perform much better than last season, even without re-signing Jorge Soler or another big name.
The Miami Marlins will guaranteed be a better offense in 2024
The Miami Marlins had the worst left side of the infield offense in baseball last season. There is no doubt they were extensively hindered by both Joey Wendle’s and Jean Segura’s lack of offense last year. Last season Wendle had a slash line of .212/.248/.306 and a .554 OPS with only 2 home runs, 20 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. Jean Segura had a very similar slash line of .219/.277/.279 with an OPS at .556. Segura had only 10 extra base hits total in 301 at-bats, whereas Wendle had 21 total in 297 at-bats.
To emphasize how sad that stat is, Bryan De La Cruz had 32 doubles this past year in 579 at-bats and in 2022 he had 33 extra base hits in 329 at-bats. That makes the Marlins 2 big factors this season a huge improvement over last year. Comparing the Wendle/Segura stats combined, they posted 5 triples, 21 doubles, and 5 home runs combined. Secret weapon number 1 had a total of 492 at-bats and 28 doubles, 1 triple, and 34 home runs.
Jake Burger is a Miami Marlins net gain
Jake Burger had 7 more doubles and 29 more home runs. That’s just one player on the left side of the infield. The Marlins offense improved with just him being on the team by a huge amount. To further emphasize his impact, Garrett Cooper had 18 doubles, 1 triple, and 17 home runs total last year and with the Marlins he hit 11 of those doubles and 13 of those home runs. Combining all 3 players stats they totaled 22 home runs, 39 doubles, and 6 triples for a total of 67 extra base hits, and Jake Burger totaled 63 by himself.
Josh Bell transforms the offense
Now that brings us to secret weapon number 2, Josh Bell. In 547 at-bats combined between the Marlins and Guardians, Bell totaled 28 doubles and 22 home runs with a slash line of .247/.325/.419 and an OPS of .744. Bell and Burger combine for 56 doubles, 1 triple, and 56 home runs. The Marlins without a shortstop are still 34 home runs and 17 doubles ahead of last years combined stats. The offense is already better than last year and they haven’t done anything.
For those that say Soler’s loss is going to crush the Marlins, the current surplus in home runs and doubles almost completely make up for the Soler loss. With that said, whatever the new DH and shortstop produce is all improvement on last years’ offensive production. If the Marlins can acquire an average shortstop that would likely produce 10 home runs and 20-30 doubles, and the new DH could likely produce 20 home runs and 20-30 doubles as well.
That means the offense in 2024 will likely be 30 home runs better and 40 doubles better, and if the Marlins can swing a Martinez or Soler caliber player, they will be 40 home runs better and 50-60 doubles better. If the Marlins are 30 home runs better they would jump from 22 in the MLB to 15th and doubles increased by 40 would move them from 22nd to 6th. That’s some hopeful news for the 2024 season.
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