3 Miami Marlins players to build a winning team around

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No one from the bullpen is clearly a foundational piece for the Miami Marlins. It's been a mess and cost the team multiple games. 7 in fact based on my account. This is increasingly looking like a lost season, but what about the future ones? Who are the building block players for the team to build around? The Fish are likely selling off at the Trade Deadline and might be in for some rough years, but these players should be here for the long haul.

5. SP EURY PEREZ

This should be obvious, but starting pitcher Eury Perez is obviously one such foundational piece. Eury was an elite top prospect, who produced a 3.15 ERA/4.11 FIP, with 10.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 19 games and 91.1 innings pitched. Unfortunately, Eury is out for the season due to Tommy John Surgery.

It's important to point out that Eury is under control through the 2029 season. Which means that he should be around for a competitive team and hopefully a dynasty in the coming years. It's hard to find a better young cost-controlled arm around the Major Leagues.

Eury Perez is is only 21 years old and has every chance to be an annual Cy Young contender in the near future. There is obviously no reason to trade him during the likely upcoming Trade Deadline sell-off. There is also no reason to do anything other than expecting him to pitch at the highest level upon his recovery. He's a true building block for The Fish.

NEXT: ANOTHER ACE.

4. SP SANDY ALCANTARA

Sandy Alcantara is surely a major foundational piece for the team. The injured ace has also been signed to an extension. The 28 year old is under team control through the 2027 season. He will receive salaries of $17.3 million for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. There's also a team option for $21 million for the 2027 season.

This is a tough one. Based on the team's infamous history with high salaries and the dwindling team control, it's hard not to assume that the 2022 NL Cy Young award winner is more likely to be traded than retained. With his rising salary, it seems to make sense for The Fish to move him instead of retaining him right?

It's hard to say what will actually happen, but it would be beneficial for the team if Sandy was around for a potential future dynasty. If the team is doing good during those years, I fully expect him to be kept around. Sadly, if the team isn't doing particularly well, he will almost certainly be moved during that time. This would be the "Tampa way of doing things" of course.

In short, Sandy Alcantara, who produced a remarkable 2.28 ERA/2.99 FIP in 32 games and a Major League leading 228.2 innings pitched in 2022, should be a building block player.

NEXT: A POWER BAT

3. 3B JAKE BURGER

I talked about pitchers so far, but there are also some hitters who are building blocks as well. I'm of course talking about 3B Jake Burger. He's actually a late-bloomer already, being 28 years old. Burger played for the Chicago White Sox from 2021 and 2022. He batted .252/.308/.461, with 9 home runs and 29 RBI, in 66 games and 206 AB.

He split 2023 between Chicago and the Miami Marlins in 2023. Burger batted .250/.309/.518 with 34 home runs and 80 RBI, in 141 games and 492 AB, in what was basically his breakout season. He's currently on the injured list, batting .228/.281/.421 with 3 home runs and 15 RBI, in 16 games and 57 AB.

This season, Burger proved that he can play both first base and third base and so may actually be at either position going forward. He has an elite power bat with a career 91.6 Exit Velocity and could be an annual 30 home run bat. He's under team control through the 2028 season. He also doesn't require an extension due to being in his 30's by the time of the contract's end.

I'm pretty convinced that Jake Burger will be a strong middle of the order bat for the Miami Marlins.

There are more players, but these three immediately come to mind.

Next. Bendix and Sherman's plans revealed. Bendix and Sherman's plans revealed. dark

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