Why the Miami Marlins need to use free agency to add big bat
The Miami Marlins want to add another big bat before Opening Day- here are three reasons they need to use free agency to do it.
The Miami Marlins have made no secret of the fact they want to keep upgrading their offense.
Last week in this space, the case was made that whether that comes down to the free agent market or the trade market will ride entirely upon the decision on MLB playoff expansion. More chances at a ring, more reasons to get aggressive essentially. Ultimately, I do believe that will still be the determining factor.
However, that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of other reasons to throw money at the team’s offensive problems rather than prospects. At a minimum, three reasons stand out as to why free agency is the best path for the Miami Marlins to take in 2022 in their quest to add more pop to the lineup. Starting with some simple arithmetic…
The Miami Marlins can afford it
Historically, the Miami Marlins aren’t the outfit that scares other MLB clubs when it comes time to have a bidding war.
Understandably, Derek Jeter and friends aside, they’re never going to be the Yankees. But two things stand out for Miami in a way that could make them major players in free agency for the next couple seasons. For one, Miami has a young corp of elite pitching locked up for multiple years. For another, they technically only have $27 million in salary commitments for 2023.
That kind of space leaves plenty of room to take on a big contract, even after allowing for the fact that the Marlins will certainly try to lock up another one of their young stars after this season. Miami may still be a small market (revenue-wise) team, but that current 2023 commitment total is barely more than half of what they get from their television contract. Again, plenty of room.
Especially when the general public knows those figures. Marlins history is littered with disappointing financial decisions. While the marriage of payroll space with competitive young talent is the primary argument for Miami finally trying to land one of those free agent “whales”, the public relations impact of such a move for this particular organization can’t be dismissed out of hand either. Ownership can tinker with the stadium and stock the farm as much as they wish- consistent spending and winning alike are what it’s going to take to shed the baggage of previous regimes. No time like the present.
Of course, money isn’t the only asset the Marlins have plenty of at the moment…