Already busy, Marlins still have work to do

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The Winter Meetings are here, and the Marlins have checked some items off their to-do list.

Here’s a recap of what the club has done so far (and still needs to do) as we wait to see how the next few days unfold:

What’s done
1. Following the departure of hitting coach Brant Brown, the Marlins promoted assistant hitting coach John Mabry to take over that role, per a source. Mabry will be reunited with Bill Mueller, who was hired to be an assistant hitting coach alongside John Hart. Mueller served in the same capacity under Mabry from 2014-18 with St. Louis. The continuity of Mabry and Hart, as well as Mabry’s familiarity with Mueller, should help a lineup that improved in several categories from 2022-23.

Although Gabe Kapler is best known in his post-playing career as the former manager of the Phillies and Giants, he did spend 2014-17 as the Dodgers' director of player development. The Marlins plan to lean on that experience moving forward in his new role as assistant general manager, per a source. In recent years, the organization has struggled to develop homegrown hitters and has seen front-office turnover as a result. Chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman hopes to change that, because as a smaller-market club, it’s tough to outspend on the free-agent market. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix’s former organization (Tampa Bay) has been able to develop its young talent to achieve sustainable success.

Miami also brought in Vinesh Kanthan as its director of baseball operations, and he will report to the assistant GMs. Kanthan spent the past five seasons with the Rangers, most recently as assistant director of baseball operations. His areas of expertise include sports science and analytics, both of which can help an organization gain advantages on and off the field. Kanthan also overlapped for two seasons in St. Petersburg with Bendix, who was able to use his existing network to bring in a fresh face.

2. In terms of the 40-man roster, the Marlins’ biggest move thus far has been retaining first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell, who activated his 2024 player option. Though the bullpen was a strength in ’23, the club has acquired three right-handed relievers (Calvin Faucher, Ryan Jensen and Kaleb Ort) via trade and/or waiver claims. And Miami added another versatile switch-hitting option in Vidal Bruján, a former top prospect with a plus-plus speed tool.

What needs to be done
1. After non-tendering Jacob Stallings, the Marlins have just one catcher (Nick Fortes) on the 40-man roster. Will Miami go the free-agent route -- Mitch Garver, perhaps? -- or the trade route? (Elias Díaz, anyone?) The organization didn’t protect No. 27 prospect Will Banfield, who was Double-A Pensacola’s primary backstop. Banfield is a defense-first catcher with a high strikeout rate but some pop.

2. Can the Marlins lure All-Star and Silver Slugger Jorge Soler back? In a relatively weak free-agent hitter’s class, Soler should be in demand. He turned down a 2024 player option, then Miami didn’t extend him a qualifying offer. But a source says Soler, who hit 36 homers in ’23, likes playing in his adopted hometown of Miami. It’ll be hard for the Marlins to replace that type of production; even with Soler, the club finished with the fewest runs in the NL.

3. I’ve combined finding resolution at shortstop and the top of the rotation here. Will Miami stick with internal options on both fronts? It remains to be seen how the club intends on using the likes of Bruján, Jon Berti and Xavier Edwards, among others. Could Jazz Chisholm Jr. return to the infield? Might Luis Arraez shift from second to first? In recent memory, the Marlins have been flexible in order to maximize the offense. Without ace Sandy Alcantara, do the Marlins see the need to acquire a frontline starter in his absence? Atlanta and Philadelphia will be forces again in 2024, while New York and Washington remain in rebuild mode. Minus Alcantara and with a depleted farm system, the window to contend could be shrinking for Miami.

4. The 2024 international signing period -- when prospects from across the globe become eligible to sign with big league clubs -- starts on Jan. 15. The Marlins have yet to replace senior director of international operations Adrian Lorenzo, who left the baseball industry to pursue his art career on a full-time basis. Although the organization has continued prepping for next month, someone does need to head the department.