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Miami Marlins Winter Meetings Top 3 Needs According to Joshua Soto

As the Winter Meetings kick off in Nashville, the Miami Marlins gear up for the offseason. Discover the top three needs for the Marlins, including the pursuit of a dynamic shortstop, potential outfield acquisitions, and a reliable catcher.

ByJoshua Soto|
Wild Card Series - Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies - Game One
Wild Card Series - Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies - Game One | Sarah Stier/GettyImages

Nashville’s Chicken Sandwich won’t be the only hot thing on Sunday. The Winter Meetings begin in Nashville on Sunday, and the free agent market could not be hotter. With all 30 MLB teams looking to have a successful offseason, Miami looks to build off its thriving core while having a fresh slate in the front office. Here are the Miami Marlins Top 3 needs this season:

Shortstop

Last season, the Marlins struggled to fix their offensive woes at shortstop before the trade deadline. We saw numerous players at shortstop with Joey Wendle, Garrett Hampson, and Jon Berti. Miami’s shortstops compiled the lowest OPS (.578) in MLB. There are a couple of options for the Marlins regarding shortstops. One option is to call back No. 5 prospect Jacob Amaya or move Jazz Chisholm back to short. 

I believe that the Marlins should make a push for utility player Kike Hernandez. As mentioned previously, Hernandez's AAV would be around $6,000,000. The veteran utility man can split time at short with Berti. It should give enough time for Jacob Amaya to get at-bats in AAA before being called up. With the announcement of Gabe Kapler as the Marlins’ assistant general manager, we could see a Brandon Crawford signing. 

Outfielder

Replacing Jorge Soler is a tall task. However, there are still a couple of rumors about the possibility of a Randy Arozarena trade. I believe the Marlins will make another free agent signing this year and acquire OF Tommy Pham. Tommy Pham can fit into the Marlins lineup, Schumacher's managerial style, and help defensively in the outfield. If signed, Pham will tandem between the outfield and DH to help the veteran get his rest. 

The 35-year-old veteran is regimented in the way he approaches baseball. He works hard and wants to be the best player he can be. He was a big clubhouse contributor for the Diamondbacks, and his blue-collar mentality will fit into Schumacher’s clubhouse culture. 

Catcher

Nick Fortes is the lone catcher for Miami. He didn’t have the best number for square with a slash line of .204/.263/.562. A name that has been thrown around is Victor Caratini. Caratini went to school at Miami Dade College. The veteran catcher can be a valuable asset to the young rotation. Last season, he hit for a .259/.327/.383. Honestly, it’s not the best stats, but it’s an inexpensive option for the Marlins.

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