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Miami Marlins 2021 Position Preview: Middle Infield Mash-Up

By Sean Millerick

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jazz Chisholm #70 of the Miami Marlins and Miguel Rojas #19 celebrate defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-0 at Truist Park on September 8, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jazz Chisholm #70 of the Miami Marlins and Miguel Rojas #19 celebrate defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-0 at Truist Park on September 8, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Matt Slocum-Pool/Getty Images).
(Photo by Matt Slocum-Pool/Getty Images). /

Isan Diaz, Miami Marlins     Pos: 2B       2020 Stats:  .182, 1 RBI

Projected Starter: Yes    Fantasy Value: None        Chance To Make Team: 100%    

No, that above picture does not contain Miami Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz.

It’s just a picture of who every Miami Marlins fan thinks of whenever Diaz, Lewis Brinson, or Monte Harrison do anything that isn’t league MVP worthy.

Of course, that’s not really fair to a 24-year old with less than 250 professional at bats. Which is going to make it seem downright cruel to make a point of laying out his 2020 timeline, and reach any conclusions about his future based on a seven game season. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact Diaz’s 2020 can be nutshelled thusly:

Miami signs 2B Jonathan Villar…as a CF because Diaz is the future at second base. The future then opts out of the 2020 season (Zero judgement there). Villar plays a lot more infield as a result of that decision, not to mention Diaz’s Covid concerns being completely vindicated by what befell the Marlins, and performs terribly. Yet, despite their biggest 2020 free agent signing being terrible, Miami competes for the playoffs anyway. At which point the future opts back in for the 2020 season. Which frees Miami up to trade Villar, and not add another 2B at the deadline because the future was coming back.

The future proceeded to be even more terrible for seven games, and then got hurt, missing the rest of the season.

Again, hard to take a fair read there. But as strong as Miami’s farm system currently is ranked, and as great as that 2020 playoff run was, you get the sense the Marlins really need someone that came back in the Yelich deal to be good…and that they really want it to be Diaz.

Really, there is nowhere to go but up for Diaz, considering his track record since being promoted to the majors. He’s below Mendoza for his career so far, and that career is twice as long as Chisholm’s now. Still a small sample size, but it’s not immediately dismissible either, particularly since that 2019 power surge at AAA hasn’t shown enough signs yet of transferring to the majors. No one besides the Marlins is currently talking Diaz up as a cause for hope in 2021, but hopes Miami has nonetheless.

If Diaz can transfer that power, it could be enough to push Miami into contention. If not…if not, we can end any remaining analysis of that trade with Milwaukee.

Diaz Best Case:  Dan Uggla‘s 2006 feels like the ceiling. Seeing Diaz hit for 26 HRs with a .282 average would be a dream come true for the Marlins, and his minor league numbers completely support it.

Diaz Worst Case: Unfortunately, the MLB numbers suggest 2011 Chris Coghlan would be an improvement. Let’s say a .230 average and 10 HRs is the floor here- Miami will give him half a season before turning the job over to Berti or Chisholm. Oh, If only Miami pushed for Keston Hiura in that trade…

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