A surprising message that Chisholm received. And Marlins’ winter outlook as revenue rises
A six-pack of Miami Marlins notes on a Monday:
▪ Jazz Chisholm’s splendid rookie season offered strong evidence that he’s a long-term big-league regular with an All-Star ceiling.
The question is whether that ceiling will be met and how soon.
Chisholm has been buoyed by conversations that he had with several All Star players before games this season.
“Most of them told me, ‘You have a chance to be one of the best players in the game ever,’” Chisholm said. “Most of them are already superstars and have made a lot of money.
“Albert Pujols told me that. Most of the All-Stars I grew up watching and All-Stars playing right now told me that. [Ronald] Acuna, Ozzie [Albies], [Nick] Castellanos, Joey Votto, Brandon Crawford.”
The positive takeaways from his 2021 season: his power (18 homers) and run production numbers (53 RBI), the fact he hit for a decent average as a rookie (.248), the speed (23 of 31 in steals) and the perpetual high energy and infectious optimism and joyful spirit.
“Sometimes the game can get very frustrating, but I like just going out there and trying to have fun,” he said. “I’m very proud of myself with that aspect of it. It’s not that hard to do it because you’re in the big leagues.”
What must improve: his defense (his 24 errors were tied for most in baseball), his on-base average (.303, because he walked just 34 times in 507 plate appearances) and baserunning, which is the area he cites as his biggest focus of improvement, beyond overall consistency.
Chisholm has developed a strong bond with Marlins co-owner Derek Jeter. “We haven’t watched tape, but he talks a lot about [my game] — defensive and offensive things,” Chisholm said.
▪ The Marlins enter the offseason with at least $35 million in revenue that didn’t exist a year ago, based on the new TV contract with Bally Sports Florida and the stadium naming rights deal with loan Depot.
Whether the Marlins will increase payroll by that amount — from $58 million (27th in baseball) to $93 million — is very much in question.
But from discussions with Marlins officials, I’m convinced they will spend money this offseason and will attempt to significantly improve their offense, primarily at two outfield spots and at catcher.
Jeter has said: “I expect this offseason to be active for us, whether that’s talking with free agents or exploring some other moves. But for the first time, really since we’ve been here as an ownership group, I expect to be pretty active — or I should say, have active conversations. There’s two sides to it.”
We explored potential trade and free options at areas of need in this piece and this piece and this piece.
From a position player standpoint, the only thing that’s clear is that Chisholm will be a starter in 2022, and Miguel Rojas and Jesus Sanchez likely will be, too.
The Marlins value Rojas to such an extent that they called his agent before the trade deadline and said he would not be dealt. And Rojas — due $5.5 million next season — has conveyed to the Marlins that he would like to finish his career here.
The fact the Marlins made him unavailable in trade talks is “refreshing and gives me the confidence that whatever I’ve been doing for Marlins organization, they are giving it back,” he said.
The Marlins presumably will tender Jesus Aguilar, who was among the National League’s RBI leaders before a season-ending knee injury.
Even though Lewin Diaz (eight homers and 13 RBI in 40 games) had some good moments in his September call-up, he hit just .205 and the Marlins need to cover themselves — with both Aguilar, Diaz and perhaps arbitration-eligible Garrett Cooper — in case the NL implements a designated hitter. In that scenario, Diaz and Cooper can handle first base and Aguilar can DH.
My sense is that the Marlins will acquire two starting outfielders, which would allow them to use Bryan De La Cruz (who finished at .296) as a fourth outfielder. And catcher will be a high priority.
▪ With Brian Anderson limited to 67 games because of a shoulder injury that prematurely ended his season, the Marlins need to decide whether to continue on with him as their starting third baseman or potentially include him in a deal (with pitching) for a high-end outfielder or catcher and then find another third baseman.
Anderson, who’s arbitration-eligible, hit .249 with seven homers and 28 RBI. He’s a .263 career hitter with home run total of 11, 20, 11 and 7 in his four years as the Marlins third baseman.
But he has been healthy only two of those seasons; he played 126 games in 2019. He hasn’t yet taken the step from pretty good to very good, and it’s unclear if he will.
My sense is the Marlins will consider all options at third base. Anderson certainly could be the starter there in 2022, but this isn’t a no-brainer for Marlins executives.
▪ Even though Anthony Bass was unable to keep the closer’s job, the Marlins’ bullpen finished sixth in baseball in wins over replacement. My sense is that closer will be filled later in the offseason; the Marlins will prioritize bats in the early stages of free agency.
Bass, Dylan Floro, Richard Bleier, Anthony Bender, Zach Thompson, Zach Pop, Jordan Holloway and Steve Okert remain under team control. A talented young starter who doesn’t make the rotation could be used in the bullpen. But at least one veteran will be added.
▪ One former top prospect who has seemingly become an afterthought: Outfielder Monte Harrison, who closed the year at Triple A Jacksonville hitting .242 with 15 homers and 52 RBI but 121 strikeouts in 269 at-bats. He had two hits at 10 at-bats for the Marlins.
Harrison instigated a clubhouse confrontation with Starling Marte in July — angering veterans on the team — and (coincidence or not) Harrison was never promoted to the Marlins since then. Instead, Brian Miller got the call-up in the final days of the season.
By now, everyone should be resigned to the Marlins getting virtually nothing from the Christian Yelich trade, though that’s something that the organization can overcome with a good offseason and continued development of the team’s top prospects.
Jordan Yamamoto was traded to the Mets on Feb. 1 — after being designated for assignment — and missed most of the season with right shoulder soreness.
Regrettably, second baseman Isan Diaz has given no indication that he can consistently hit big-league pitching; he has a career .185 big-league average, with nine homers and 41 RBI, in 501 plate appearances.
And Lewis Brinson’s future is again tenuous. He had a wonderful six-week stretch before slumping and finishing the season at .226 with nine homers and 33 RBI in 89 games. He’s out of minor-league options.
Brinson has tried to stick with a specific routine that includes meditation and yoga every morning. He also makes a point not to take many swings in the batting cage during batting practice. If it doesn’t work out for him, it’s not for lack of effort or desire.
Among people in the baseball community who reached out to Brinson during his July/August hot streak to commend him for his play: former Marlins outfielder Juan Pierre and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.
“They know how hard I work,” he said. “It’s nice to get support.”
He might have done enough to return in 2022 and battle for the fourth and fifth outfield jobs.
▪ Among Triple A Jacksonville pitchers who remain prospects but haven’t yet been able to crack the Marlins’ rotation for an extended period:
Braxton Garrett had a 5.03 ERA in eight games and seven starts for the Marlins and finished 5-3 with a 3.89 in 18 starts for Jacksonville, with 86 strikeouts in 85 innings.
Nick Neidert had a 4.54 ERA in eight games and seven starts for Miami and went 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 14 games and 13 starts, with 52 strikeouts in 69 innings.
Both are possibilities to be used in a trade package this winter, though neither — alone or together — likely would extract a top position player from another team.
