Miami Marlins should be all-in on Julio Pablo Martinez

 If Derek Jeter and Co. Really Want To Prove A New Era of Miami Marlins Baseball Is At Hand, They Need To Land Cuban Outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez.

In the winter of 2012, the newly christened Miami Marlins sought to put a bow on their huge offseason spending spree by making a big contract offer to the latest free-agent outfielder from Cuba.

His name was Yoenis Cespedes.

Needless to say, Cespedes didn’t sign with Miami. However, the attempt is worth remembering because it represents one of the few times the Miami Marlins made a serious effort to land a top international free agent.

Sure, they’ve developed some international talent. Miguel Cabrera, Marcell Ozuna, and Edgar Renteria were all scouted and signed by the Marlins, and those are just the most sterling examples. All went on to have great careers. But that was far from guaranteed. None of those guys were professionals yet. All were signed for low cost, low-risk deals. And most significantly of all, only one of those names was signed under any of the last three ownership groups.

When it comes to signing the more established international stars, the track record just isn’t there. Ultimately, the conversation begins and ends with 1997 World Series MVP Livan Hernandez. However, he too signed three owners ago, back during the Wayne Huizenga era. Consequently, we’re talking about a twenty-year stretch where a baseball team based in Miami has failed to sign a marquee international free agent out of the Caribbean.

If you’re making a list of issues with the Miami Marlins, that has to sit near the top.

The Race For Julio Pablo Martinez

Which is precisely why the Marlins need to win the current race for the latest name out of Cuba, Julio Pablo Martinez.

Currently, the Texas Rangers are rumored to be in the lead for the 21-yr old outfielder. And frankly, that’s ridiculous. MLB Trade Rumors‘ Jeff Todd and Steve Adams respectively break down the current race and scouting report, for those readers already penciling Martinez into dynasty league fantasy drafts.

Now, those reports make two things abundantly clear. First off, Martinez is a talented player that is probably two years away from the majors. Secondly, that it now looks to be a three-team race between the Rangers, Marlins, and New York Yankees.

While losing out to the Yankees would make some sense, the Miami Marlins should be the clear favorite here. Certainly, New York provides the clearest path to winning big. Conversely, they provide the narrowest path to playing time. Judge and Stanton aren’t going anywhere. The Rangers would be more likely to have an opening on the roster, but Martinez would just be one of the twenty-five guys there. Additionally, he’d just be one of the twenty-five guys spending the next five years losing to the Angels and the Astros.

With this in mind, the Marlins easily make the most sense. For one, he’s guaranteed a starting spot as soon as he shows he’s ready for the job. For another, the opportunity for endorsements and fan love are far greater in the Miami market. He could be a star overnight.

Why The Miami Marlins Need To Break With Tradition

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From the Miami Marlins side of the equation, the most prominent issue is obviously money. Now, to be fair, they could currently be trailing in the race because their scouts genuinely believe he isn’t worth it. Or that Monte Harrison, Braxton Lee, and Magneuris Sierra are outfield depth enough, and are waiting for the next great Cuban infielder. However, there are plenty of intangibles that make signing Martinez worth the cost.

At the moment, the Miami Marlins have no plans to contend for at least the next two years. At that same moment, they are under scrutiny over how little they are spending on personnel. In short, there has never been a better time for the Marlins to pay comparatively big money to their prospects. Equally important, whenever they do promote him, he becomes an immediate draw for the surrounding community. While Jose Fernandez as a person and teammate is irreplaceable, the marketing appeal of a Cuban star is not.

Next: Fernandez’s death “turning point” for Miami

Bottom-line, aggressively going after Julio Pablo Martinez would represent a clear break from how the Miami Marlins have traditionally conducted business. It would be an excellent situation for player and team alike. Plus it would be an extraordinary first step in winning back fans for a franchise in dire need of winning them back. One they could make pretty painlessly, and without deviating from their long-term plan.