The Miami Marlins can probably only afford one superstar
Lastly, there is the reason Miami Marlins fans can actually feel good about.
All that money Miami would have to spend on a top free agent? It’s probably just going to be offered to their own superstar slugger.
Because if Jazz Chisholm comes remotely close to putting up the season the Miami Marlins, and PlayStation Studios, expects him to have this year, the Marlins would be crazy not to do all that they can to sign him to a major extension.
Honestly, the Marlins should be thinking about doing that this month. Forget next offseason.
Jazz is far too confident and business savvy to fall for an Atlanta Braves style deal, but there is probably still a price point here where he is affordable for Miami to sign long-term. Doing so would go a long way to convincing fans that this ownership is serious about building a winner. Considering the franchise’s penchant for trading away their own stars, you could argue securing Chisholm for another five plus years would resonate far more than giving Machado the golden parachute he seeks.
While Machado is unquestionably a better player right now, Chisholm’s star energy far outshines Machado, making him more valuable off the diamond. However, if this year’s experiment in center field works out, Chisholm would arguably become more valuable on the diamond as well. At least in terms of ceiling, the talent gap is small enough for that to be true.
Keeping Chisholm would be undeniably cheaper, and quite possibly more impactful, than paying a free agent slugger of Machado’s caliber. It would also keep some money free to secure another of Miami’s pitchers long-term, or to make more improvements elsewhere on the roster. Machado is the signing a team makes that is one piece away. The Marlins are several.
Manny Machado probably will have a new home in 2024. It’s just not going to be with the Marlins.