Why the Miami Marlins could be worse In 2025

If The Pitching Thin Miami Marlins Get Even Thinner At Starting Pitcher

Pitching remains a strength for the Miami Marlins, but for how long?

Sandy Alcantara should be back, but for how long exactly? That's not injury concern talking either- one injury is not enough to shake the confidence in an iron man like Sandy. This past summer, it was reported that the Marlins expressly told Alcantara he would not be traded before Opening Day. All well and good for baseball fans salivating over that Sandy-Paul Skenes showdown on March 27th...but what happens on March 28th? While that would admittedly be a bit unlikely, a midsummer departure wouldn't shock anyone. In fact, the real shock would come from that not happening if Alcantara is healthy and back to form. He's the highest paid player on the roster for a small-market team not actively contending. Let's just say that's not a player who needs to be making any real estate purchases close to the ballpark.

Of course, as much as the Marlins fan in me wants to believe Alcantara will bounce right back to his Cy Young caliber form, reinjury isn't an impossibility. The same goes for it taking a few months to shake off the rust, or the grim reality that the rule changes introduced in 2023 impacted his performance far more than any slowly worsening injury did. At any rate, elite Alcantara production fueling the 2025 Marlins is not guaranteed.

Speaking of not guaranteed, the Tommy John recoveree just discussed probably shouldn't even be the greatest health concern in the Miami Marlins rotation. Alcantara has completed a major league season without injury, after all.

That's not a statement that can be made about any of Miami's other returning starting pitchers at present.

Ryan Weathers? Missed a big chunk of last season. Edward Cabrera? Has missed parts of many, not counting the parts he missed for being too terrible to roster. Eury Perez? Recovering from Tommy John as well. Furthermore, barring a miracle, he'll be a proven commodity returning to a team miles from contention. Meaning he won't be rushed, will be handled with kid gloves once he does, and will then face the same unproven questions of whether his body can hold up to MLB pitching that everyone but Sandy will need to answer.

Any rookies called up will by definition be even more unproven. Any veteran help signed, by virtue of being willing to sign for a contract the Miami Marlins would offer, will bring their own baggage. The club's good relievers? Only the most certain to be traded commodities on the roster.

Bottom-line, by the time the calendar turns to August, the vast majority of the pitchers Marlins fans have any real cause to feel good about will either be traded or on the injured list. It'll be fun while it lasts, but the smart money says it won't last for long.

Particularly...