What Miami Marlins’ roster could look like after Yuli Gurriel, Jose Iglesias signings
The Miami Marlins’ path to setting their 26-man roster just got a little more intriguing.
The club is signing veteran first baseman Yuli Gurriel and shortstop Jose Iglesias to minor-league deals, a source confirmed to the Miami Herald on Thursday, and their presence is beneficial for two reasons.
First: If both make the Opening Day roster, it beefs up the Marlins’ infield depth and provides them two more high-contact, low-strikeout hitters for their lineup.
Second: It allows the Marlins to continue to develop prospects and not rush them to the big leagues to fill needed voids. This specifically applies with the Gurriel signing, as he fills the Marlins’ need for a second true first baseman. Jordan Groshans and Jerar Encarnacion, primarily a third baseman and outfielder respectively, were getting reps at first base during spring training with the opportunity for a backup role.
Here’s a position by position look at where Miami’s roster stands with Opening Day against the New York Mets on March 30 just under three weeks away. A reminder: Miami can easily open up three spots on its 40-man roster by placing pitchers Anthony Bender (Tommy John surgery), Max Meyer (Tommy John surgery) and Nic Enright (Hodgkin’s lymphoma) on the 60-day injured list, which gives the Marlins some flexibility with their decision-making.
▪ Catcher: Nothing has changed here. Jacob Stallings and Nick Fortes are Miami’s two catchers as long as they’re both healthy. Non-roster invitee Austin Allen has gotten the most reps with regulars beyond these two and will likely be the primary catcher in Triple A. Beyond them, Paul McIntosh is Miami’s top catcher prospect. He spent all of last season in Double A.
▪ First base: The Marlins now appear to have a one-two punch at first base in Garrett Cooper and Gurriel. Cooper, when healthy, is a steady bat in Miami’s lineup. He’s a career .278 hitter with a .788 OPS and 161 RBI over 358 career MLB games, but has also been on the injured list nine times (not including stints for COVID-19) since 2018 and never started more than 66 games at first base in a season. Gurriel was Houston’s primary first baseman each of the past six years, starting at least 99 regular-season games there each full season and 54 of 60 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
▪ Second base: Luis Arraez, the reigning American League batting champion, will be Miami’s primary second baseman. That was the position he primarily played in the minor leagues and where he has played the most in the big leagues (139 of 308 career starts) although he spent most of his time at first base last season with the Twins.
▪ Shortstop: Should Iglesias make the roster, he and Joey Wendle poised to platoon at shortstop, with the left-handed-hitting Wendle facing right-handed pitching and the right-handed-hitting Iglesias facing left-handed pitching.
▪ Third base: Despite primarily being a middle infielder his whole career, Jean Segura is slated to be the Marlins’ primary third baseman. Segura has played 24 games at the hot corner in his big-league career, all in the 2020 season. Should Iglesias make the roster, Wendle would also be able to slide over to play third if needed.
▪ Outfield: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler are all locks for the roster. Chisholm will play center field. Garcia will play right field. Soler ideally will mainly be used as a designated hitter but manager Skip Schumaker is still having him play left field during spring training.
“I told Soler that he’s not a DH,” Schumaker said early in camp. “I don’t want him to think that’s what his position is during the season. I do think there’s a lot of benefits putting guys in that DH spot to get that kind of half day off and get off their legs. I think Soler can play left. I don’t think he’s this guy that can’t play a defensive position.”
This leaves one open roster spot for most likely either Bryan De La Cruz or Jesus Sanchez. Both are able to play all three outfield spots, although left field will be the primary spot for either one during the season.
▪ Utility: Jon Berti, who led MLB with 41 stolen bases last season, will be able to fill in at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield spots.
▪ Starting pitching: If the Marlins go with a six-man rotation, a plan that is still in discussion but not guaranteed, the group will be Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, Johnny Cueto, Edward Cabrera, Trevor Rogers and Braxton Garrett. If they go with a traditional five-man rotation, Garrett is likely the odd-man out.
▪ Bullpen: Seven relief pitchers appear to be locks, health-permitting: Right-handed pitchers Dylan Floro, Matt Barnes, JT Chargois and Huascar Brazoban as well as left-handed pitchers A.J. Puk, Tanner Scott and Steven Okert. If Miami goes with a six-man rotation, this group of seven completes the bullpen. If the Marlins go with a five-man rotation, they will have room for a regular long reliever. Daniel Castano, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Devin Smeltzer — none of whom are on the 40-man roster — are logical options for that role.
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