2020 Marlins season preview: Miami trending in right direction
No matter how many games are played, 2020 projects to be another glum season in Miami. The rebuilding Marlins are the only NL East club that can probably be written off from the outset. They'll have to deal with an intense schedule featuring interleague games against four difficult AL East opponents and may also face additional adverse circumstances while playing in South Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic. It won't be easy.
Still, things aren't entirely bleak in Miami. The Marlins boast some talented, young players who represent a promising future for the franchise. It will be fascinating to watch how this team reacts to playing a strange, shortened season with zero expectations. There's plenty of room for growth - and hey, it's 60 games. Stranger things have happened.
2020 Breakdown
2019 record: 57-105 (5th in NL East)
Payroll: $80,800,000
Projected record: 24-36 (5th)
World Series odds: +50000
3-year trend: 2017 (2nd); 2018 (5th); 2019 (5th)
Key addition: Jonathan Villar
Key subtraction: Starlin Castro
Highest projected WAR: Brian Anderson (1.0)
X-factor: Isan Diaz
Prospect to watch: Sixto Sanchez
Winter report card: B+
Projected Lineup
| Order | Player | Pos. | Proj. WAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Villar (S) | CF | 0.6 |
| 2 | Brian Anderson | 3B | 1.0 |
| 3 | Corey Dickerson (L) | LF | 0.4 |
| 4 | Jesus Aguilar | 1B | 0.2 |
| 5 | Garrett Cooper | DH | 0.2 |
| 6 | Harold Ramirez | RF | 0.1 |
| 7 | Isan Diaz (L) | 2B | 0.2 |
| 8 | Jorge Alfaro | C | 0.4 |
| 9 | Miguel Rojas | SS | 0.5 |
Bench
| Player | Position | Proj. WAR |
|---|---|---|
| Francisco Cervelli | C/1B | 0.2 |
| Jon Berti | SS/3B/OF | 0.2 |
| Sean Rodriguez | IF/OF | 0.0 |
| Jesus Sanchez (L) | OF | 0.0 |
| Magneuris Sierra (L) | OF | -0.1 |
*Bold indicates player acquired during offseason
The Marlins managed to upgrade their lineup a bit over the winter. Villar, who will be used in an everyday utility role, was a four-win player in Baltimore last year and could net the Fish a nice return at the deadline. Adding veteran free agents like Dickerson and Cervelli were shrewd moves to inject some leadership and stability into a young clubhouse. The future of the Marlins is also here; Anderson, now a lineup anchor, should build on his breakout 2019, while Alfaro and Diaz will be asked to take the next steps in their development.
Rotation
| Pitcher | Throws | Proj. ERA |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy Alcantara | R | 4.89 |
| Caleb Smith | L | 4.76 |
| Jose Urena | R | 4.75 |
| Pablo Lopez | R | 4.28 |
| Elieser Hernandez | R | 4.67 |
Alcantara, Miami's lone All-Star in 2019, leads a young rotation with an average age of just 26. Sixto Sanchez, one of baseball's top pitching prospects, was added to the 40-man roster over the winter and could get the call at some point in 2020. This year will go a long way in determining the rotation's long-term outlook.
Bullpen
| Pitcher | Throws | Proj. ERA |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon Kintzler | R | 4.16 |
| Yimi Garcia | R | 4.69 |
| Brad Boxberger | R | 4.74 |
| Ryne Stanek | R | 3.73 |
| Adam Conley | L | 4.41 |
| Jeff Brigham | R | 4.39 |
| Stephen Tarpley | L | 3.64 |
| Drew Steckenrider | R | 4.23 |
| Alex Vesia | L | 4.11 |
| Robert Dugger | R | 4.94 |
| Sterling Sharp | R | 4.01 |
The bullpen isn't particularly frightening, but there are some decent pieces sprinkled throughout. Veteran additions Kintzler, Garcia, and Boxberger will anchor this relief corps and potentially be late-season trade chips if they can get off to strong starts. Steckenrider will be available for the full season after rehabbing from elbow surgery and could quietly become a solid weapon for manager Don Mattingly.
Key injuries/Absences
| Player | Position | Absence |
|---|---|---|
| Will Banfield | C | Undisclosed |
| Matt Joyce | OF | Undisclosed |
| Lewis Brinson | OF | Undisclosed |
(Projected WAR/ERA source: Fangraphs)