3 worst-case scenario outcomes for Miami Marlins in 2022
What if Jorge Alfaro or Lewis Brinson become a thing for the Miami Marlins?
No one can argue that the Miami Marlins didn’t give a fair shot to Jorge Alfaro or Lewis Brinson. Three years is an eternity in sports today, let alone four. Consequently, you’d be hard pressed to find a GM who wouldn’t have decided the time had come to upgrade the lineup spot held down by these two former Marlins.
But what if they actually get better after leaving Miami?
Brinson catching fire elsewhere would actually sting less of these two scenarios. Indeed, part of me kind of expects Brinson to simply develop into Cameron Maybin 2.0 over the next decade. A valuable role player/fourth outfielder type that is forever the answer to sports trivia questions in Miami and Milwaukee as a result of the Trade That Shall Not Be Named. He got every chance, and disappointed every time. It cost the organization nothing but pride to release him, and the best for both sides narrative tends to write itself in these cases. Still, fans would be forgiven for having some doubts about Miami’s ability to develop hitters if he does partially resurrect himself somewhere else.
However, it is really Alfaro taking off that would be a major blow to any thoughts about Miami Marlins organizational competency.
Consider what has transpired this offseason already. The Marlins gave up significant prospect capital to land Jacob Stallings. A fact that creates a whole new trade chart of ways to measure whether or not the right choice was made. Stallings has to arguably outperform Zach Thompson, Kyle Nicolas, and Connor Scott in addition to Alfaro to justify the move. And honestly, you have to throw in every free agent catcher here as well.
In terms of catching, that shouldn’t be that big of an ask. After all, Alfaro had more passed balls than a basketball team running the triangle offense last season- defense has nowhere to go but up for Miami behind the plate in 2022. But would it really, really shock anyone if Alfaro outhits Stallings? Like, significantly? As part of a loaded Padres lineup, it’s a real possibility. Especially with the universal DH looking like the lawn of the land now in MLB.
Even if he never catches an MLB game again, a 20-homer season for Alfaro would look really bad for Miami. And if that 20-homer season rivals what Miami’s own eventual DH produces, the team would look even worse. Almost as bad as this last scenario….