Breaking Down the Miami Marlins Closer Situation after the Tanner Scott Trade

The Miami Marlins have enjoyed one of the most stable bullpens over the past season-plus. All-Star closer Tanner Scott established himself as one of the most reliable and electric 9th-inning options in baseball, while players like A.J. Puk, Huascar Brazoban, JT Chargois, and Bryan Hoeing all become bullpen weapons.

Unfortunately, for the new-look Marlins, each player mentioned was shipped away at the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline. This leaves something of a rag-tag group left behind to fill the void.

While the current bullpen pieces are less established, Miami is not without weapons. And, thankfully, the organization has proven skilled at identifying and developing relief pitchers in recent years.

The Fish currently have a trio of interesting righties, all of whom may be given a chance to handle closing duties at some point this season: Anthony Bender, John McMillon, and Calvin Faucher. Which options will most likely emerge as a standout and potential future closer? Let's discuss!

Calvin Faucher

Faucher's profile also shows closer potential. His 3.22 2024 ERA is dazzling. And, he was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays organization from 2022-2023, making him a familiar asset to current Miami President Peter Bendix.

The 28-year-old has recorded the only two saves since Scott was traded, clearly placing him in the driver's seat as the 2024 closer. He also features a sinker that averages 96.2 MPH and an effective cutter that sits in the low 90s.

Faucher has closer stuff. He is young enough to grow with the core of Marlins' prospects. And his future seems bright.

Anthony Bender

Bender, who has spent his MLB career in Miami's bullpen is the most established name on this list. Though he is the oldest (age 29), the wear on his arm is lower due to missing the 2023 season because of injury.

The veteran righty has a fastball that sits in the mid-to-high 90s, as well as a reliable sinker and sweeper. He holds a 4.00 ERA this season, which is just above his 3.29 career mark.

John McMillon

McMillon is the least established option (by a wide margin), with only six professional innings pitched. While he does show great potential stuff, McMillon has a four-seam fastball capable of hitting 100mph and a slider that he throws in the mid-80s.

The 26-year-old's sample size is far too small to make any actionable determinations. At the very most, he has flashed raw, but closer-like stuff.

In a lost second half of the season, which is being devoted to the development of young talent, manager Skip Schumaker would be wise to give McMillon consistent tastes of MLB action. Hopefully, he can make enough strides to remain a part of the roster beyond 2024. But, either way, the club can properly asses the interesting young asset.

Andrew Nardi

The reliever was hyper-effective in 2023, posting a 2.67 ERA, an 8-1 win-loss record, and a stellar 73-strikeout-to-21-walk ratio. However, the 25-year-old lefty has fallen back to earth with an inflated 4.80 ERA across 45 innings of work in 2024.

Nardi still features a four-seam fastball in the mid-90s and a plus slider. Perhaps he, like predecessor Tanner Scott, can recapture his form and become an effective, left-handed, closer for the Fish. Unfortunately, his path seems much less clear than it did a year ago at this time.

Which of these options do you think is most likely to become a future closer?