New Year's predictions for the Marlins

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.

As nice as the 2023 season was for the Marlins, who surprised the baseball world by reaching the postseason as a National League Wild Card, it’s time to flip the calendar to ’24.

Outside of trading for infielder/outfielder Vidal Bruján and reliever Calvin Faucher, adding two other bullpen arms and signing catcher Christian Bethancourt, it has been a quiet offseason for Miami. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix still has work to do before the Marlins report to Jupiter, Fla., for Spring Training in mid-February.

Bendix finds himself in a unique situation, taking over the department for a smaller-market organization that just experienced success and wants to sustain it. It will be quite the challenge without ace Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery) and possibly All-Star slugger Jorge Soler (free agent).

“It's very similar in the sense that we're putting together the best roster that we can,” Bendix said of this December’s Winter Meetings compared to ones in the past with the Rays. “We're looking at this year's club [and] we're looking into the future at the same time.”

Biggest question to answer before Spring Training: Who will be the starting shortstop?
At the Winter Meetings, Bendix said there wasn't a clear-cut everyday shortstop already on the roster. If no addition is made either via free agency or trade, manager Skip Schumaker figured Jon Berti would get the bulk of the reps at the position. Not only did Berti start both games of the 2023 NL Wild Card Series, but he also has a proven track record compared to youngsters Bruján, Xavier Edwards and Jacob Amaya (Miami’s No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline).

One player poised to have a breakout season: RHP Anthony Bender
Left-handers Braxton Garrett and Andrew Nardi were big reasons for the club's surprising 2023 success -- so whose turn is it to break out in ‘24? This is tricky, because nearly the entire roster is set to return. Prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022, Bender had evolved from an Independent League find to a reliable high-leverage option (145 ERA+ with nine saves) through his first 82 Major League outings. If Bender can return to form, he would provide a right-handed complement to southpaw Tanner Scott in the late innings.

Prospect to watch in 2024: RHP Max Meyer (Miami’s No. 3 prospect)
Meyer could be the X-factor of the Marlins' pitching staff, which will be without Alcantara in 2024. Meyer, who underwent the same procedure in August 2022 after just six Major League innings, was the third overall selection in the '20 MLB Draft and a Top 100 prospect prior to the UCL injury in his right elbow. His fastball/slider combination is legit, and his bulldog mentality means he's never intimidated by the moment. Though the 24-year-old Meyer will have his innings monitored as he makes his way back, he provides much-needed depth. More >

One prediction for the new year: Jazz Chisholm Jr. will return to All-Star form
A year ago, All-Star second baseman Chisholm told the organization he would move to center field if it meant adding offense, paving the way for the acquisition of Luis Arraez and a postseason berth. After early growing pains in center, Chisholm finished in the 87th percentile for outs above average. Barring a change of plans, he won't have to deal with learning a new position on the fly in 2024. The key for Chisholm, who turns 26 on Feb. 1, is staying on the field. He managed to knock 19 homers and steal 22 bases in just 97 games.