The 3 greatest position player seasons in Miami Marlins history based on WAR

Who had the greatest seasons in Miami Marlins history among position players?

Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez / Ronald C. Modra/GettyImages
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The Miami Marlins are looking for improvements this off-season, and there are quite a few interesting targets. While the search for improvements continues, I thought that it would be nice to take a good look at The Fish's history. Have you ever wondered what were the three greatest offensive seasons in team history? Well, you're about to find out... The list is based on WAR.

The three greatest offensive seasons in Miami Marlins team history.

3. SS HANLEY RAMIREZ IN 2008

Hanley Ramirez is the greatest SS in Miami Marlins history. This was especially evident in Hanley's 2008 season. He batted .301/.400/.540 with 33 home runs and 67 RBI. He did this in 153 games and 589 AB. He also had 35 stolen bases and was worth 0.4 dWAR. He was worth an overall 6.7 WAR for that performance. That's an awesome performance no matter how you analyze it. A 30+ home run season with a good average, great OBP and elite speed.

In a surprising turn of events, Hanley Ramirez actually only finished 11'th in NL MVP voting. If you're wondering who actually won the National League MVP award in 2008... that was St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. The future first ballot Hall of Famer batted .357/.462/.653, with 37 home runs and 116 RBI in 148 games and 524 AB. He was worth 9.2 WAR for that performance. Yes, 9.2 WAR.

Hanley Ramirez never got to experience the Postseason with the Miami Marlins, but he was phenomenal in that 2008 season.

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2. SS HANLEY RAMIREZ IN 2009

Can you believe that the same player is on this list?! Hanley Ramirez happened to have the second greatest season in Miami Marlins history among position players as well. He did this the exact next season in 2009! It makes sense to add that it's a shame that the greatest SS in team history has never been to the playoffs with the team.

Hanley Ramirez batted .342/.410/.543 in 151 games and 576 AB that season. That .342 batting average actually led the Major Leagues that season. He had 24 home runs and 106 RBI with 27 stolen bases. This time his defense earned him an even better 1.0 dWAR. Overall, he was worth an even better 7.1 WAR. Sadly, he once again failed to win the NL MVP award. This time he came close as he finished second in the voting.

Who won the award? Why Albert Pujols again. This time "The Machine" batted .327/.443/.658, with 47 home runs and 135 RBI in 160 games and 568 AB. He was worth 9.7 WAR that season. If it was any other season, Hanley Ramirez could've won the NL MVP award, but sadly this just wasn't that type of season.

NEXT: THE BEST POSITION PLAYER SEASON IN MIAMI MARLINS HISTORY

1. RF GIANCARLO STANTON IN 2017

Could there have been anyone else in the number one spot? It can only be RF Giancarlo Stanton back in that 2017 season. That was a season for the ages, as Miami Marlins fans were hoping that Stanton would break the single season home run record. That record was of course set in 2002 by Barry Bonds, as he hit 70 home runs.

It's important to point out, that Bonds' record comes with an asterisk. He was on steroids while setting the record. The real record was set by Roger Maris in 1961, with 61 home runs. Aaron Judge broke that record with 62 home runs in 2022. Giancarlo Stanton was actually on pace to break Maris's record at the time.

Could Giancarlo Stanton have come close in that 2017 season? Once again, as sadly with all of these seasons, the Miami Marlins did not make the playoffs that season. Stanton batted .281/.376/.631, with 59 home runs and 132 RBI, in 159 games and 597 AB. He was worth 0.4 dWAR and overall he was worth 7.9 WAR. That's a record for WAR among Miami Marlins position players in team history.

Did Giancarlo Stanton win the NL MVP award that season? YES! Stanton won the award for the only time in his career that season. Deservedly so. He was traded to the New York Yankees after the season. That trade turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Miami Marlins, as he batted just .243/.328/.485 since the trade.

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