2023-2024 Offseason Thread

[Nick]

I'm hoping Bell is the DH, he's an expensive DH, should provide the needed production for the middle of the lineup. Get Xavier Edwards at 2B, Arraez at 1B, Get a SS, get a Catcher, Sign a starting pitcher, a legit one.

[fauowls44]

Andrus and M. Moore had 1.7 WAR last year (which would be a best case scenario for Bell) and the Marlins would still have $6+m to spend versus what Bell is going to make - actually $7.5 once Okert is traded as he’d then be expendable since you signed another lefty and you’d get a FV40 for him.

Pretty much any competent GM could replicate that production bargain shopping even at “Marlins” players, so I respectfully disagree. But it’s fine he opted in because Segura was bad and he did get them to the playoffs. As said, this isn’t really an issue. Is Bruce going to spend. That’s the whole offseason.

Even if Bell at $16.5 million is a bit of an overpay, given how limited the free agent market is for bats, I’m happy he is staying put. Solid middle of the order bat and it’s one less hole to fill for the future GM. It’s already going to be tough to replace Soler’s production. Replacing both, while trying to figure out SS and C, probably would be impossible unless Bruce opens up his wallet some more.

i don’t hate the idea of making Bell the full time DH, moving Arraez to 1B and giving Edwards a chance to play every day. That would cost you a lot of power though unless they’re able to add someone at SS or C that can hit 20 homers (Adames?) or they add another corner OF with power. I also wonder if they consider offering Soler the Qualifying Offer…would he take $20 million for 1 season? Maybe. I don’t think he’s worth that much, but for 1 year, maybe you bite that bullet and it gives your new front office some time to find long term solutions.

[lou]

I'm hoping Bell is the DH, he's an expensive DH, should provide the needed production for the middle of the lineup. Get Xavier Edwards at 2B, Arraez at 1B, Get a SS, get a Catcher, Sign a starting pitcher, a legit one.

I think it’s hard to not give Soler a QO. Fish16 isn’t wrong the Marlins aren’t a FA destination for the main guys seeking long term deals and this positions them to keep him for a year or get some draft compensation, etc.

If you get a really good defensive SS, upgrade LF defensively from DLC, and upgrade catcher in general, I feel you’re not embarrassing yourself defensively with Bell at 1B. We’ll see.

[lou]

Even if Bell at $16.5 million is a bit of an overpay, given how limited the free agent market is for bats, I’m happy he is staying put. Solid middle of the order bat and it’s one less hole to fill for the future GM. It’s already going to be tough to replace Soler’s production. Replacing both, while trying to figure out SS and C, probably would be impossible unless Bruce opens up his wallet some more.

i don’t hate the idea of making Bell the full time DH, moving Arraez to 1B and giving Edwards a chance to play every day. That would cost you a lot of power though unless they’re able to add someone at SS or C that can hit 20 homers (Adames?) or they add another corner OF with power. I also wonder if they consider offering Soler the Qualifying Offer…would he take $20 million for 1 season? Maybe. I don’t think he’s worth that much, but for 1 year, maybe you bite that bullet and it gives your new front office some time to find long term solutions.

Yep - all roads lead to Bruce here. We’ll see how cheap he is. It’s going to be a good team on paper if he green lights $120m. Doubt it but we can hope.

Hopefully Sandy didn’t kick the wind out of their sails and they use the FO change as a “transition year” excuse just to find a new excuse in 25.

[fauowls44]

Yep - all roads lead to Bruce here. We’ll see how cheap he is. It’s going to be a good team on paper if he green lights $120m. Doubt it but we can hope.

Hopefully Sandy didn’t kick the wind out of their sails and they use the FO change as a “transition year” excuse just to find a new excuse in 25.

I’d like to think they’re smart enough to realize the opportunity is now and to not use the Sandy excuse. It took 20 years to get back in the playoffs…if you have any chance at keeping/growing the fan base, you have to at least make a good effort this season.

Also, Bruce isn’t getting any younger. How much longer is he realistically planning to own this team? Odds are he sells within the next 5 years. You either spend a little more now or go down remembered as just another Loria-type owner. Not to mention the more success they have now, the now the more he’ll get for the team later.

[Nick]

I think it’s hard to not give Soler a QO. Fish16 isn’t wrong the Marlins aren’t a FA destination for the main guys seeking long term deals and this positions them to keep him for a year or get some draft compensation, etc.

If you get a really good defensive SS, upgrade LF defensively from DLC, and upgrade catcher in general, I feel you’re not embarrassing yourself defensively with Bell at 1B. We’ll see.

Of course, yeah I'm still for a Soler QO. Does he accept it? I'd say it's about 50/50.

[geemoney]

Marlins are hiring Rays GM Peter Bendix as their head of baseball ops, per Ken Rosenthal.

[Namaste]

That’s called a November W

[geemoney]

Also, per Heyman, Marlins are declining Cueto's $10.5 million option. Not a surprise.

[fish16]

Not sure we officially hired that rays guy yet but he would be a good addition. Better than ng.

dream offseason for me at this point is sign Tim Anderson and hope for a bounce back, trade for Jansen, sign a Montgomery type mid rotation piece for 3 years, then sign a lefty mashing OF who can also hit righties competently.

then do our annual trade with the rays where we get legit pieces to help with their 40 man roster crunch

[fish16]

Trying to shift back into offseason mode- if we give soler the qualifying offer, that means any team who signs him will have to give up a high draft pick right?

i don’t love soler at 20 million for a year or a lower aav two year deal, but I don’t think we sign anyone better with a higher ceiling using that money, so I think I agree that you make him the qualifying offer, hope it tanks his interest league wide, and then you have him again motivated on a 1 year deal. Then deal berti and use Edwards in a super utility role. The fit is a little wonky between bell and soler as they should both be dh, but I think you can figure out some sort of answer where they split time, and the games bell dh’s you get Arraez at first and Edwards at 2b. That helps Edwards get a lot of playing time and keeps soler and bell hopefully healthy and fresher throughout the year

[lou]

I’d like to think they’re smart enough to realize the opportunity is now and to not use the Sandy excuse. It took 20 years to get back in the playoffs…if you have any chance at keeping/growing the fan base, you have to at least make a good effort this season.

Also, Bruce isn’t getting any younger. How much longer is he realistically planning to own this team? Odds are he sells within the next 5 years. You either spend a little more now or go down remembered as just another Loria-type owner. Not to mention the more success they have now, the now the more he’ll get for the team later.

Im with you entirely

[lou]

Of course, yeah I'm still for a Soler QO. Does he accept it? I'd say it's about 50/50.

I think it’s much higher than that - look at Joc last year. He got forced into taking it. I’d say it’s over 80% he’d take it. And not by choice.

[lou]

Trying to shift back into offseason mode- if we give soler the qualifying offer, that means any team who signs him will have to give up a high draft pick right?

i don’t love soler at 20 million for a year or a lower aav two year deal, but I don’t think we sign anyone better with a higher ceiling using that money, so I think I agree that you make him the qualifying offer, hope it tanks his interest league wide, and then you have him again motivated on a 1 year deal. Then deal berti and use Edwards in a super utility role. The fit is a little wonky between bell and soler as they should both be dh, but I think you can figure out some sort of answer where they split time, and the games bell dh’s you get Arraez at first and Edwards at 2b. That helps Edwards get a lot of playing time and keeps soler and bell hopefully healthy and fresher throughout the year

Not exactly. It’s a TLDR based on a lot of factors, but depending on tax of signing team, they (signing team) would lose a pick at some point but not their first rounder. Assuming Soler signs under $50m, marlins get a comp pick in 2nd round. Which is an “Banfield.” Over $50m and they get a comp pick in 1st.

I think they can’t sign someone like Soler so it’s a reluctant QO - we are on the same page here and then build the team around the total bash of Soler-Burger with Arraez and Jazz in front and an emerging Sanchez and maybe Edwards behind.

I mentioned this earlier but Scott + Rogers/Cabrera/Max + Berti probably gets a lot from Baltimore. Hays and Ortiz and something. It leaves a glaring SP and RP signing needed, but Matt Moore and Frankie Montas or whatever could round that team out. Maybe DLC (DH) and prospects get Jansen.

[lou]

Marlins are hiring Rays GM Peter Bendix as their head of baseball ops, per Ken Rosenthal.

I have no problem with this as the Rays farm/regular season success/front office pipeline speaks for itself, but it telegraphs he’s not going to spend money to me and that’s depressing. Maybe I’m wrong and this is a FO only move and Bruce is open to moving to “bottom 18-21” payroll.