Miami Marlins Winter Meetings top 3 needs according to Brian Dunleavy

The Miami Marlins had a stellar 2023 season, the best in years and it needs to continue. The Marlins have all the potential in the world and have plenty of pieces in place, with a few more good ones they could be back. The Marlins will need to examine their budget and see what will fit and who to go after during the Winter Meetings. 

The Miami Marlins need to make a big move at the 2023 Winter Meetings

The Marlins lost several key players and positions for the 2024 season. Their Ace pitcher Sandy Alcantara is down, they lost Jorge Soler to free agency, and they still need a catcher and shortstop to fill out their starting lineup.  That’s not even talking about the holes they have on the roster from last season that will need to improve in order to continue their playoff run in 2024. 

The Marlins have the most important piece in place, the reigning National League Manager of the Year in Skip Schumaker. Can Bendix and Kapler get Skip the pieces he needs to win in October?  Let’s take a look at the top 3 needs, and hopefully Bendix and Kapler can bring one or more of these to fruition during the annual MLB Winter Meetings. I am excited to see what happens as I think they have to make at least one big move this offseason to fill Jorge Soler's spot.

3 - Marlins need a catcher

The Miami Marlins non-tendered former veteran starting catcher Jacob Stallings and need a replacement who can provide either really stout defense or solid offense. Surprisingly, at least one pundit called Stallings a potential steal this offseason. I have no idea where that came from, perhaps the tough market, but Stallings was not very good at either offense or defense. Who should the Marlins focus on at the Winter Meetings for catcher?

Signing Victor Caratini as their starting Catcher should be the focus for the Marlins opening. The Marlins need some offense and catcher has some more options available as compared to shortstop. Caratini is the best fit for both sides of the ball and will be a great option in the lineup. 

If they can’t sign Caratini there are a few more options that might be good fits to the Marlins but not as big of an impact defensively. Yasmani Grandal would be a name that would fill that role for sure. Just the opposite, Martin Maldonado would be a very solid defensive catcher and leader, but wouldn’t provide much offense, which would still be an improvement on Stallings, who was neither. 

2 - Marlins need a power hitter

The Miami Marlins lineup had the worst run differential of any playoff team by a large margin. As we have wrote about plenty of times, the Marlins had a bottom 1/4 of the league ranking in home runs, runs, and RBI. They need more run production, and some of that is due to no situational hitting last year. One thing could change all of that, and that is signing a big time hitter that can fill out the middle of their lineup. 

I really think the Marlins top 3 in the lineup could look totally different if they sign a big time hitter. Luis Arraez should lead off as per usual, but if the Marlins can sign someone of quality or trade for someone like Randy Arozarena, they would fit right in the two spot. Arozarena would be perfect for the two hole and would provide Jazz and Bell some base runners to drive in. 

If the Arozarena shopping isn’t realistic or even happening who is the next best option? I really like Whit Merrifield and think he should be the guy next on the list for the Marlins. The free agent won’t be cheap but should be cheaper than Soler and is a well rounded player. Merrifield hit .272 with 11 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases last season and hit 27 doubles. He will get on base and will be a perfect two hole player in front of Jazz and Bell.