Miami Marlins 2018 Season Preview

Some men just want to watch the world burn. Those people would have enjoyed the Miami Marlins offseason, as they burned down their roster in a look to the future.

Last year, despite the moves made by the Braves and the Mets ballyhooed pitching staff, it was the Miami Marlins who finished second in the NL East.  Boasting an All Star outfield, and the eventual MVP in Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins went 77-85, not a great record, but good enough to be the runner ups in the division. The Marlins may not have been great, but they were an entertaining team to watch.

However, the Marlins were hemorrhaging money, something that Derek Jeter and the new ownership were determined to change. To achieve those goals, they made some difficult decisions, trading away virtually everything of value. The fanbase ripped into the new ownership, especially when the trades provided seemingly little in value. Loria, who was known for decimating rosters to help his bottom line, began to look good by comparison.

Heading into 2018, one may not be able to distinguish the Marlins lineup without a scorecard. That is all part of the plan – to create sustainable success for the long term. And yet, after getting rid of players like Stanton and Christian Yelich, one could understand if the Marlins fans feel alienated. Even Marlins Man has yet to renew his season tickets.

Will this teardown lead to the results the Miami Marlins are hoping for? The upcoming season may be rough, but the long term future could be bright if Jeter and company are correct.