The Ohtani Effect: How Marlins Can Benefit from the Dodgers' Signing

There are several players that might be available for the Marlins on the Dodgers roster

Sep 30, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) in the
Sep 30, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) in the / Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially signed Shohei Ohtani and the Miami Marlins have reason to celebrate. The price tag was steep which means that other finalists were willing to pay close to the same amount for the star two way player. The Marlins can benefit very well from this signing and we will look at 3 different ways that you may or may not have thought about. There is still one MLB ready superstar that will now have the full focus of bidding in Yamamoto, so hopefully the Marlins can take advantage while teams fight over his services.

Reason 3 - the free agent market will finally go quicker, with Ohtani signed with the Dodgers

Most every team was waiting for a response from Ohtani before moving on and several teams were finalists. All those teams can now move on and trades and signings can happen more freely. Teams will also be able to value some players more directly with the several free agent signings that has happened, this can help give owners a ballpark. Hopefully with that, Sherman now knows the cost of having a great player is high and that he should open his wallet more, whether he will do it or not is another question. Yamamoto is another name that is drawing high demand, and if he signs for top dollar too, the log jam will be fully cleared. The Dodgers and Yamamoto’s future team are both likely out of signing any other big names this offseason. The Dodgers are already shopping players to free up spots on their 40 man roster to place both Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly, so they could be helping the Yankees fill a need here shortly, which would take another competitor out potentially.

Reason 2 - the Marlins don’t have to face him regularly

The Miami Marlins 2024 schedule is out and they face the Ohtani led Dodgers on two different occasions. The Marlins don’t play against him at home until the end of September, so any Ohtani fans will have to wait until then to see him in person. Thankfully though the Braves and Phillies were not able to get him, leaving the NL East as it was. The Marlins still have a lot of gaps to fill and so hopefully those gaps will be easier to fill right now. Now if the Marlins can luck out and Yamamoto signs with a non-division team as well we could be really in luck. 

Reason 1 - Trade Benefits 

The Miami Marlins lost Jorge Soler and have yet to replace him in free agency. The Dodgers could now be shipping a player or two off the roster to pay for his huge contract. There could be a few more players available as a result, and the Padres and Giants could resort to rebuilding with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers making runs at the pennant. As Allen wrote, JD Martinez now could be a potential as we know LA won’t be going after him, so that’s just one example of who could be freed up. 

The other big possibility is that the Dodgers will be looking for cheaper starting pitching and the Marlins could be poised for a big deal. The Marlins have some of the better cheap starting pitching, and they could ask for the moon from the Dodgers to get a hold of one of their young arms. If the Marlins were to offer up Edward Cabrera or Braxton Garrett for multiple Dodgers, something around River Ryan, Diego Cartaya, Andy Pages, or Austin Gauthier. It would be a great swap for the Marlins who could still deal 1 pitcher for help at the MLB level, and several of those prospects are ready to jump now or in the near future.

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