Miami Marlins Winter Meetings Top 3 Needs According to Allen Settle

MLB's annual Winter Meetings represent the cheif fuel from which baseball's hot stove burns. Representatives from all 30 clubs, including your Miami Marlins, as well as top free agents and their agents will all be under one roof.

With the lines of communication wide open, this is the perfect time for baseball's top decision-makers to use both trades and free-agent signings to ignite their roster-building process. This is a prime event for clubs like the Marlins, who have several noticeable roster flaws, to build a depth chart worthy of their postseason aspirations.

Miami Marlins Winter Meetings Top 3 Needs According to Allen Settle

The Fish are without with workhorse Sandy Alcantara. Their 2023 home run leader, Jorge Soler, has opted for free agency (although he has been spotted around former teammates in Miami). New President of Baseball Peter Bendix is settling into his role as lead decision-maker and on top of it all, the Marlins are seeking to join the powerhouse Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies as legitimate contenders in a loaded NL East, as they seek to build off of their surprise 2023 run to the NL Wild Card round.

There are a lot of big decisions looming around the franchise, and the Winter Meetings represents the perfect time to reignite the excitement for the South Florida fanbase, while appropriately addressing the club's biggest needs. Where should Bendix and the rest of teh front office start? Here are my top three priorities:

Honorable Mentions:

• Trade Avisail Garcia (likely in a bad contract swap);
• Add reliever depth behind Tanner Scott (some options listed here);
• Add a DH with power;

2) Address Alcantara's Absence in the Rotation

The Marlins have a massive void in their starting pitching unit as they await the recovery of ace Santy Alcantara. While starters like Eury Perez and Jesus Luzardo are capable of locking down the top end of the rotation, the club is noticeably thin at SP.

Remember, Miami needed to give Johnny Cueto meaning innings last season. Now, the 184.2 innings Alcantra provided before the league premier innings-eater suffered a UCL injury.

I've written before that players like Mitch Keller or Logan Gilbert could be targets in a mini-Miami blockbuster. Free agents like Seth Lugo and James Paxton could also provide quality innings without a premium price tag.

Upper-tier free agent starters such as Marcus Stroman, Eduardo Rodriguez, or even Jordan Montgomery, are also available to the highest bigger. While each would require a heftier contract, any of this trio would make sense for Miami as they seek to build off their impressive 2023 postseason run.

Again, I have my preferences out of the names mentioned. And I imagine you do as well. However, Miami cannot afford to allow the winter meeting, and the busy portion of the player movement window, to pass without adding at least one quality starter.

1) Steal a Superstar Bat to form an In-State Powerhouse

Sound the alarm! We're dreaming big for spot #1!

The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly shopping superstar outfielder Randy Arozarena. While many big-market teams will likely be interested in adding one of the most electric talents in baseball, the small-market Marlins should not count themselves out.

Miami has a need in their outfield after the departure of 2023 star Jorge Soler. What better way to make up for his power void than by trading a perennial All-Start?

Additionally, the Marlins have a growing collection of young arms on team-friendly contracts. While it would be unwise to rely heavily on unproven pitchers to lead the club back to the postseason in 2024, players like Edward Cabrera, Trevor Rogers, Max Meyer, or Noble Meyer undoubtedly have value.

Depending on their level of interest, players like Xavier Edwards or Jacob Berry could even enter the conversation. If the franchise is interested in a blockbuster addition, they have the firepower to swing an Arozarena-level deal.

It is also important to note that Arozarena remains arbitration-eligible until 2026. With a projected 2024 salary of only $7 million, he could potentially join Miami's outfield without destroying the budget. Marlins' new President Peter Bendix, a longtime member of the Rays organization also has the connections and communication pathways to get a seat at the table.

At the end of the day, a tandem of Arozarena and incumbent star Jazz Chisholm Jr. would give the Fish their most dynamic units since a young Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, and Christian Yelich were manning the outfield.

If this trade window is indeed open. Even slightly. The Marlins must do their due diligence. It is new ground for a generally timid and frugal franchise. However, if the club realistically intends to build off last season's postseason berth, adding a star talent like Arozarena would put them in a position to play meaningful baseball in 2024 and beyond.