Top Reasons To Be Excited About The 2015 Marlins
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The Miami Marlins turned some heads in 2014. They played some great baseball at a time when most thought that the team's young core wasn't quite ready to take the next step. The Marlins kept pace in the tough National League, competing for a playoff spot until the final weeks of the season. Had it not been for Giancarlo Stanton getting beaned in the face with 17 games remaining on the schedule, Miami may very well have remained in the wild card chase through late September (they won just six of those final 17 games).
Fast forward to 2015 where the Marlins have added several key players both on the mound and at the plate and it's easy to see why Miami is already being thought of as a serious playoff contender. The Marlins have only made it to the postseason twice in its history but with the team's current combination of youth and experience, Miami's baseball team could be in the October mix for years to come. With spring training just weeks away, here are the top reasons to be excited about the Marlins in 2015.
GIANCARLO STANTON'S CONTRACT
The first step towards ensuring that the Marlins future would be a bright one was locking up their franchise player with a long-term deal. Miami did exactly that, convincing Stanton that if he stuck around the team would spend money and build a playoff-caliber roster around him. It didn't hurt that when the Marlins offered their 25-year-old star a new contract, it was for a record $325 million over 13 years. Once he signed on the dotted line, Miami's front office acted quickly and began adding pieces to their already solid stable of players. That is a trend that should continue for years to come, though fans are still a bit wary of owner Jeffrey Loria dismantling the team again. However, when he did that after the ill-fated 2012 season, it was to rebuild the franchise with an injection of young players that would carry the Marlins for the next decade. Two years later, it certainly looks like those unpopular moves have paid off in a big way.
YOUNG CORE GROUP OF PLAYERS
One of the main reasons that the Marlins should be one of the better teams in the National League for the next several years is their foundation of young and upcoming players. Last season we saw guys like Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Adeiny Hechavarria and Henderson Alvarez take the next step and become everyday contributors (Alvarez didn't play every day but was a mainstay in Miami's starting rotation). Let us not forget that the Marlins also have an All-Star caliber pitcher named Jose Fernandez who looks to be their number one starter for the next several years. Fernandez is expected to be back in the Marlins lineup around the All-Star break after having Tommy John Surgery last May.
FORMIDABLE LINEUP AT THE PLATE
A recurring issue for Miami during the 2014 season was the holes that popped up in the batting order throughout the year. The Marlins lacked a true leadoff hitter, using Christian Yelich in that spot for the majority of the season despite him being better suited to hit second or third. That problem was solved with the addition of speedy Dee Gordon, who stole a league-high 64 bases last year (the Marlins finished the season 27th out of 30 teams in steals with just 58). Miami also didn't have anyone to protect Stanton in the lineup, which took away from his hitting potential. Guys like Ozuna, Casey McGehee and Garrett Jones rotated in the spots behind Stanton but none filled the mold of a true cleanup hitter, which is part of why the latter two are now playing elsewhere (McGehee was traded to San Francisco and Jones was traded to the Yankees). New first baseman Michael Morse is expected to hit behind Stanton, and another year of growing for Ozuna should add even more protection behind Miami's star slugger.
HEAVY-DUTY STARTING ROTATION
A team can have a strong batting order and be competitive, but to truly be a contender you've got to have the pitching. The Marlins have several strong starting pitchers on their roster and head into 2015 with what could very well be one of the top rotations in the National League. The additions of Mat Latos and Dan Haren (who has said that, despite wanting to play on the west coast, he'll be there for the start of Miami's Spring Training) only add to the Marlins already strong pitching unit. The aforementioned Alvarez is coming off of his best season as a pro and is expected to continue getting better as he gains experience. The same can be said for Jarred Cosart, who Miami acquired from Houston mid-way through last season. Tom Koehler and Brad Hand will compete for the final spot in the rotation, and let's not forget that the Marlins will get perhaps their best pitcher, Fernandez, back in the lineup sometime during the summer.
STRONG DEFENSIVE UNIT
Last season the Marlins had a solid defensive team, finishing 12th in the majors in fielding percentage (.984) and 13th in errors (97). With Miami's starting outfield of Yelich, Ozuna and Stanton remaining intact, the defensive improvements have come with their new infielders. Second baseman Dee Gordon has tons of range due to his blinding speed and will create one heck of a double play combination with Hechavarria, who is quickly growing into a gold glove-caliber shortstop. At third base, Martin Prado has always been a reliable defensive player, and though he can play several positions it's well-known that he's at his best when playing the hot corner. The wild card for Miami's defense is at first base with Michael Morse, who has had his fair share of struggles playing in the field. Still, with a strong group of infielders making clean and accurate throws, it should make Morse's job that much easier and disguise some of his defensive flaws.
RELIABLE BULLPEN
The Marlins have done a really good job building a sturdy and dependable bullpen over the past couple years. Steve Cishek has grown into one of the league's better closers and A.J. Ramos was a strong setup man for a good part of the season, though he still has some consistency issues. Bryan Morris, acquired last season from Pittsburgh, was probably the Marlins most reliable relief pitcher and could very well end up being used in a setup capacity. Lefty Mike Dunn has grown to be another steadfast member of the bullpen, and between Koehler and Hand, at least one of them will add even more depth to the unit (whichever doesn't join the starting rotation). Miami has also added a pair of proven righty veterans in Aaron Crow and David Phelps, giving the Marlins perhaps their best bullpen in years.
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