The Miami Marlins had been one of the darlings of baseball in 2020. A surprisingly competitive team last season, they found themselves in the postseason, advancing beyond the Wild Card round before being eliminated. Given their surprising push, the Marlins entered the 2021 campaign with high hopes.
Unfortunately, they were unable to repeat that success. As the Marlins limp to the finish line with yet another losing season, Marlins CEO Derek Jeter is getting fed up. He is vowing that the Marlins will be active this offseason, although that could mean a variety of different things.
Derek Jeter wants Miami Marlins to start winning soon
In some aspects, the Marlins are in a good position. Their starting pitching is a strength, and they have several top pitching prospects on the cusp of the majors. However, there are major holes in the lineup, which is not a surprise since the Marlins rank last in the National League in batting average and on base percentage. They are also 14th in runs, hits, slugging, and OPS, and rank 13th in homers and doubles.
Jeter himself is somewhat unclear as to what his plans for an active offseason will entail. While he said that they team will be engaging in conversations, he has not exactly committed to increasing team payroll. Those conversations could be like the short lived extension discussions with Starling Marte, where the two sides were far apart, leading to a trade to Oakland.
It is clear that the Marlins need to do something to address their lineup. With Max Meyer, Sixto Sanchez, and Edward Cabrera all close to major league ready, and the already stacked rotation that they have, the Marlins could move some of their surplus arms to add impact bats. If they can bring in a couple of impact bats via free agency, the Marlins could surprise next year.
But it all depends on what Jeter wants to do. Sometimes, for a team to get out of that rebuilding process, they need to start spending to bring in those pieces. Adding a solid veteran presence, especially one that is still in their prime, could make a difference. Jeter may not be sure about increasing salary, but that needs to happen at some point.
Derek Jeter is tired of waiting for the Miami Marlins to improve and begin winning. He is promising an active offseason, although he is not sure what that will mean.