3 Free agents still out there for the Marlins to consider and 2 to avoid

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The Miami Marlins still have huge gaps to fill in their lineup and without any major updates they will be starting less than adequate players in prime positions. The Marlins have not been talking with Jorge Soler at all this off-season as we wrote about prior, and so they must be searching for an alternative to designated hitter. The Marlins also need a starting shortstop and although the hope was for a trade, they may have to look to free agents.

Jorge Soler's spot in the lineup is still unfilled

The Marlins could also use a strong bat to take Soler’s spot. They have already upgraded their offense with Bell and Burger and their defense some with Bethancourt. If the Marlins can even get some decent returns from the free agent market and thus making their team that much more potent.

We will take a look at 3 good options left in free agency and 2 that should be avoided. There are some decent choices that would provide some value but lots of pitfalls out there. The last thing the Marlins need is another Jean Segura or Avisail Garcia. This will be the test for Bendix, to avoid the players that will have zero value added to the team and especially those who will cost a lot for little to no return. The last important factor for any Marlins fan is to look at the reality of their owner and know they won’t spend big so be ready for some lower tier names over the big names left who will cost a lot of money.

3 to Add

Adam Duvall-OF

J.D. Martinez is the obvious add here to replace Jorge Soler but he will come at a cost that I don’t think the Marlins will be able to handle so who is the next best bet at DH? Adam Duvall is a great choice to fill that role for the Marlins.

Adam Duvall has already been with Miami so it would be a great opportunity for a homecoming and Soler fans could easily get behind that move. Duvall has consistently had between 6-7% home run rate since 2019 and his exit velocity hovers around 89%. He had a 6% home run rate last year and Soler by comparison had 6.2%. Soler has been inconsistent in that category however and average 4.9% for his career compared to Duvall at 5.4%.

The 35 year old Duvall would also add a lot more depth to the Marlins roster as he played 84 games in the outfield last season. Duvall played mostly centerfield at 61 games and 26 in right field. That gives Skip more chances to move around who plays DH, giving the injury prone Jazz Chisholm an option to fill that role somewhat regularly. Soler on the other hand played 32 games in right field and the rest at DH.

Soler averaged around 100 games a season over the course of his career and is very often sidelined with an injury. Duvall has had similar numbers the past few years but prior to that he was a regular 140 games a season guy. I can imagine he would return to that form if he could play more DH and he still could play more than 70 games in the field. It’s a win-win.

Amed Rosario-SS

Rosario has some obvious upside and first and foremost being he is the youngest option out in the free agent market for shortstop. The 28 year old still has plenty of life left in his career and I’m sure multiple teams will attempt to add him, which means he will cost more. Rosario is no superstar or huge offensive power so he won’t command a huge paycheck, which is a relief to Marlins brass, especially given the fact he is the top name out there for this position.

I’m still hopeful the Marlins will pull off a trade for shortstop, as the best names left for that position are on teams already and there are a few that could be on the block. Amed Rosario however is nothing to just simply pass over or to think he is another Joey Wendle. Rosario could add a lot of diversity to the lineup and would provide some speed on the base paths.

Rosario has consistently hit in the upper .200s with a career average at .272. He has produced at a decent rate with 25 or so doubles a year, close to 10 triples a year, and typically double digit home runs. Rosario has also added to the team’s success on the bases, stealing on average 15 bases or 19 per 162 games. Rosario beats out Wendle in all those categories. Amed Rosario is much better on the bases as Wendle’s high was 12 with the Marlins but he is typically in single digits.

If Rosario can produce for the Marlins a season where he hits 25 doubles, 8, triples, 10 home runs, 65 RBI, and 15 stolen bases they will be in good shape. In two years Wendle produced 52 RBIs with the Marlins and has only 2 seasons where he produced over 32 RBI. Rosario over the past 3 years has driven in 58, 71, and 57 RBIs and that will be a huge boon for the Marlins offense.

Rhys Hoskins-1B

The Miami Marlins could use another big bat and Hoskins is maybe the best power hitter out there for the price. Hoskins’ biggest drawback is being represented by the Boras Corporation, which is why he might be over the Marlins ability to sign. The 30 year old would provide some big pop and if the Marlins brass can be creative in their compensation, they might be able to make it work. Remember they spent $16.5 million on the DH position last year for Jorge Soler so it might not be out of the question.

Is it a gamble for Hoskins? Hoskins had an ACL surgery so he is a big question mark as to how he will bounce back, hence the reason I think they can get creative with a performance based contract. Who knows how he will react to the injury but he could easily be in line for comeback player of the year if he is back to his old self.

Hoskins averaged close to 30 home runs a season before his injury and the Marlins could use that in their lineup. He has a career .242 average and drives in around 75 RBIs a year as well. Those numbers would all perfectly replace Jorge Soler’s production.

Two reasons why he might not be able to be signed by the Marlins are his agents and his injury. The Boras group will likely fight for their client to get paid like one of the best power hitters in the market even despite his injury. They will also likely reject a longer term deal as a result of his injury so he makes more money after having 1 or 2 years of quality production. I could see one of the player option contracts with an opt out after the first season, which he would take if he is not being paid at a high rate.

2 to avoid

Brandon Crawford-SS

Brandon Crawford will likely be avoided as the Marlins front office has Gabe Kapler and he saw his struggles last season. I could also see it as a cheap signing and a known quantity for that reason as well so it needs to be avoided. Crawford provides no long term solution at 37 and even though he is a 3 time All-Star he has been in decline the past two years and it would make sense his age is a factor.

Crawford hit 11 doubles, 7 home runs, drove in 38, and hit .194 last year. Yes that is better than Wendle, but is it really a big improvement? The 2022 season he struggled as well hitting .231 with 15 doubles, 9 home runs, and 52 RBIs. Hopefully his All-Star status doesn’t attract the Marlins and distract from his recent decline.

Evan Longoria-3B

Evan Longoria is another name in the same boat as Crawford. Longoria is 38 and rounding out his career and has been in decline as well. He is not a long term solution for that reason alone. Last season Longoria hit .223 with 9 doubles, 11 home runs, and 28 RBIs. In 2022 he had similar numbers hitting .244 with 13 doubles, 14 home runs, and 42 RBIs. Those are not the numbers the Marlins need at DH and there are better options out there.

The concern again with Longoria is the familiarity with Bendix and the Rays and Kapler and the Giants. It is worrisome in that regard but hopefully they will see beyond that fact. Could either be a Yuli Gurriel story this year and help be the veteran leadership for the team? Yes but both are contemplating retirement so it might not be an option as they might retire if hey don't get a good winning team offer, and the Marlins are that but can they put enough together for a World Series run, that remains to be seen.

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