2024 season: Eliminated Sept. 3, last in NL East
Let’s take a look at the season that was for the 2024 Miami Marlins, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for 2025.
Things that went right
The Marlins ranked near the bottom of baseball in runs scored and runs allowed this year, which is a sure sign that few things went right. Still, there were some success stories in an otherwise disappointing season.
The play of Xavier Edwards was the biggest bright spot. A career .313 hitter in the minors, the 25-year-old became one of baseball’s best leadoff men. Edwards perfectly fits the description of a table-setter, possessing elite bat-to-ball skills, superior speed and terrific control of the strike zone.
Edwards’ skills were perfectly complemented by Jake Burger, who recovered from a slow start to the season to be one of baseball’s best power hitters in the second half. The Marlins have a long way to go offensively, but at least they can hang their hat on having two players who belong in premium lineup spots.
Things that went wrong
A starting rotation that was supposed to be the team’s strength was ravaged by injuries. The downfall started when Eury Pérez was sidelined during spring training and wound up requiring Tommy John surgery. By the end of June, joining Pérez on the IL were Braxton Garrett, Jesús Luzardo and Ryan Weathers, who were all ticketed for major roles but will finish the season with fewer than 100 innings. Add 2022 Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, who is recovering from 2023 Tommy John surgery, and the Marlins have a full rotation of talented starters on the injured list.
The offensive expectations heading into this season were much lower, but the team still didn’t get terrific production from Luis Arráez, Josh Bell, Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Bryan De La Cruz before all four were eventually traded.
Offseason plans
Despite their poor 2024 record, the Marlins might not be that far away from contending for a postseason berth. The team is fortunate to have a full 2025 rotation on the roster in Alcantara, Garrett, Luzardo, Weathers and talented youngster Max Meyer. Behind those five, the Marlins have possible rotation options in Edward Cabrera and Roddery Muñoz. Even after trading Tanner Scott and A.J. Puk at the deadline, the organization has several relievers who spent most or all of this season in the majors and have multiple years of team control remaining. Sure, the club could use a couple of bullpen anchors, but players can emerge for those roles from within the organization.
The key to Miami’s offseason will be making the right decisions regarding its position players. Namely, the club needs to decide who among its young players is ready for a full-time role. Edwards and Burger will definitely anchor the lineup. Jesús Sánchez has yet to take a step forward but has done enough to at least serve as the heavy side of a right-field platoon. Things become murky after that.
The club can likely fill second base with a combination of Connor Norby and Otto Lopez. Norby, who arrived from Baltimore at the trade deadline and has strong minor-league numbers, is the exciting option. He is also capable of starting at second or third base. Lopez is the fallback option and might fit better as a utility player. Jonah Bride was an on-base machine in the minors (career .401 OBP) and fared well enough with the Marlins in the second half this year to challenge for a spot on the 2025 Opening Day roster.
Overall, Miami needs to add at least two position players via free agency or trade, with the outfield as the primary focus. The Marlins traditionally have one of baseball’s lowest payrolls, which means they’re more likely to look at second-class free agents in addition to trade options. Free agents such as Mark Canha, Harrison Bader and Max Kepler are not star players but would represent upgrades from the current options in Miami. On the trade market, the Marlins have enough pitching to potentially acquire an outfielder for a starter such as Garrett or Cabrera.
Prospects on the horizon
Midseason trades and recent draft picks have greatly improved the depth of the Marlins’ farm system. Pitchers Thomas White and Noble Meyer are widely considered to be the team’s best prospects. They’re both just 19 years old and will need a couple more years in the minors. Fortunately, the team has enough rotation depth to allow these talented youngsters to develop at their own pace.
Still, there are some players who could make an impact soon, starting with Norby, who should open next season at second or third base. The 24-year-old isn’t special in any area but has solid offensive skills in all three pillars of on-base ability, power and speed.
Aside from Norby, Agustin Ramirez, who arrived in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade, is perhaps the prospect who best combines talent and readiness. In the minors, the 22-year-old has consistently flashed an exciting power-speed blend that is rare at the catcher position. He will eventually split time behind the plate with Nick Fortes, perhaps as soon as Opening Day.
Deyvison De Los Santos arrived in the A.J. Puk trade and is a fast-rising prospect who can play either corner infield spot but is more likely to work in the majors as a first baseman. The 21-year-old has struggled with his plate discipline in the minors, but there is no doubting his ability to hit for power. He should receive an extended look next year and is yet another reason that the team’s free-agent focus should be in the outfield.
Goals for 2025
With the right offseason moves and better injury luck, the Marlins could be a wild-card dark horse next season.
The biggest goal for the organization should be to reestablish the careers of the team’s many injury-plagued starters. Alcantara, Garrett, Luzardo and Weathers can all be tremendously productive. Additionally, it’s time for Meyer to turn his vast potential into production. The Marlins were especially careful with his innings this season, but the gloves will come off next year. Of course, having a terrific rotation should help take pressure off a relief corps that won’t be dominant but could be passable.
To have a competent offense, the team will need to find an outfielder or two while counting on development from some of its emerging players. It’s easier to see the Marlins in the top half of the majors in run prevention than in runs scored. But if everything breaks right, Miami could hang around the .500 mark and in the wild-card race.
That said, the most likely scenario for the Marlins is that they are at least two years away from maintaining postseason hopes into September.
Fantasy focus
Edwards will be a coveted fantasy asset next year. His lack of power will keep the youngster out of the initial rounds of drafts, but managers will be excited to roster someone who hits leadoff and could be among the batting average and steals leaders. Burger will be a solid middle-round option who can be expected to hit 30 home runs but might not provide a helpful batting average.
Marlins pitchers will be tantalizing boom-or-bust options who cause fantasy managers headaches during their draft prep. Alcantara and Luzardo will be especially polarizing, as they could be top-30 starters if they can avoid the IL. Garrett, Weathers and Meyer will all be appealing as high-upside, late-round draft picks.
