Breaking down Marlins roster options for '22

Breaking down Marlins roster options for '22

October 26th, 2021

MIAMI -- As the Marlins put together a game plan for this offseason, discussion will turn to which players already within the organization can be counted upon moving forward.

Below is a roster breakdown of 32 players who contributed during the 2021 season, and what might lie ahead for them:

Starting pitchers
RHP (first-year arbitration eligible)
The biggest question surrounding Miami's ace is whether the club can sign him to a contract extension. The 26-year-old right-hander became the first Marlin to reach 200 strikeouts and 200 innings in a season since A.J. Burnett in 2002.

RHP (first-year arbitration eligible)
The 25-year-old pitched 1 2/3 innings in the season's final game after being sidelined during the second half with a right rotator cuff strain. Though it offered him and the organization peace of mind entering the winter, it's concerning that shoulder trouble continues to be an issue for López (3.07 ERA in 20 starts).

LHP (pre-arbitration)
Rogers, who turns 24 on Nov. 13, finished his season pacing NL rookie pitchers in categories such as innings (133), ERA (2.64), strikeouts (157), WHIP (1.15) and average against (.218). The Rookie of the Year candidate made the All-Star team, then missed a month attending to family health matters. The lefty will be an important piece of the rotation moving forward.

LHP (pre-arbitration)
The hometown kid came over in the Starling Marte trade and struggled, but he showed flashes of his former Top 100 prospect potential. In his final start, Luzardo struck out a career-high 11 batters across 5 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw now has an offseason to tweak things and join the previous three arms in a young but talented starting staff.

RHP (pre-arbitration)
MLB Pipeline's No. 29 overall prospect arrived to Spring Training with an arm issue that set him back a month before he dominated across three Minor League levels. Though Cabrera pounded the strike zone in an impressive MLB debut, that wasn't the case over his final six starts. The 23-year-old righty went no more than four innings, and he walked 16 batters over the final 20 frames. It's clear Cabrera has things to work on; will he have them figured out by next spring?

RHP (first-year arbitration eligible)
Injuries continue to be an issue for Hernandez, who twice spent time on the 60-day IL in 2021. The 26-year-old right-hander is predominately a two-pitch pitcher, which gives him trouble the third time through a lineup. If prospects are ready to step up, might he move from the rotation to the bullpen?

RHP (pre-arbitration)
After a cup of coffee in 2020, Holloway pitched 10 scoreless innings of relief to open '21. But he eventually struggled with command (6.5 BB/9) and in a starter role (10.50 ERA), winding up back in the Minors. The 25-year-old righty's trajectory still points to a late-inning role.

RHP (pre-arbitration)
A former fourth-round pick by the organization in 2015, the 27-year-old righty began his MLB career with a 1.06 ERA through three starts. But right knee issues bothered Poteet the remainder of the season, including during a rehab start on Aug. 3 that shut him down.

Relief pitchers

RHP (second-year arbitration eligible)
In his first taste of high-leverage situations (notwithstanding pitching for the World Series champion Dodgers in 2020), the righty passed with flying colors (2.81 ERA, 15 saves). Floro, who turns 31 on Dec. 27, should be relied upon in the late innings again in '22.

RHP (signed through 2022)
The marquee addition (two years, $5 million, with a team option for '23) of a revamped bullpen, Bass got off to a rough start by blowing his first two save opportunities. The righty, who turns 34 on Nov. 1, never returned to the role, though he did finish with a 110 ERA+ in 70 appearances. What '22 has in store for him remains to be seen.

RHP (pre-arbitration)
Bender was an impressive find by Marlins pro scouts, who discovered him in the Independent League. Though he didn't make the Opening Day roster, the 26-year-old rookie quickly pitched his way into high-leverage situations -- collecting three saves to go along with a 2.79 ERA, 150 ERA+ and 10.4 K/9. Expect more of the same in 2022 for the righty.

LHP (final year arbitration eligible)
Acquired last season when the Marlins needed to fill out their bullpen following the COVID-19 outbreak, Bleier has been a reliable left-handed option ever since (2.89 ERA in 87 outings). The 34-year-old should be called upon in leverage situations again in 2022.

RHP Zach Thompson (pre-arbitration)
A Minor League free-agent signing last offseason, Thompson opened his MLB career with 13 starts before moving to the bullpen to monitor his innings. Thompson, who turned 28 on Oct. 23, finished with a 3.24 ERA in 26 games (14 starts). The righty could serve a similar role in 2022.

RHP (pre-arbitration)
The 25-year-old righty, whom the Marlins acquired in the Rule 5 Draft, posted a 102 ERA+ and was in the top percentile for categories like average exit velocity and chase rate. Pop went nearly two years without pitching in a game due to Tommy John surgery, then made 50 appearances, primarily in the middle innings, for the bullpen. Perhaps the Marlins give him a bigger role in 2022 as less of an unknown.

LHP (pre-arbitration)
Okert signed a Minor League deal with the Marlins in the early stages of Spring Training, but he didn't return to MLB for the first time since 2018 until the end of June. When he did, the 30-year-old turned into another reliable southpaw in the bullpen (2.75 ERA in 34 games).

RHP (pre-arbitration)
The second of two Rule 5 Draft picks, Campbell was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance just five outings into his MLB career. Though he had a solid stretch in August upon his return, the 26-year-old righty recorded a 6.41 ERA in 16 outings and was shut down after experiencing elbow trouble. It would be a surprise to see the Marlins reserve a 40-man roster spot for him.

Catchers

(second-year arbitration eligible)
When the Marlins acquired a pair of catchers leading up to the Trade Deadline, it sent a message that they weren't pleased with the backstop production. Alfaro started to see time in left field and first base to improve his versatility before a leg injury cut short his season. The 28-year-old, who has a career 88 OPS+ and has led the NL in passed balls twice as a Marlin, could be a non-tender candidate if not a trade piece.

Sandy León (free agent after World Series)
For the second straight season, the Marlins had the benefit of a veteran backstop to offer elite gamecalling (3.23 catcher's ERA). The 32-year-old León, who also pitched six times, is unlikely to return after posting a 38 OPS+.

(pre-arbitration)
Acquired in the Adam Duvall trade, Jackson was unable to translate his Triple-A success (1.060 OPS) in his first taste of regular playing time at the MLB level (.538 OPS, 48.8 K%). The Marlins likely will look externally for primary backstop help, pushing the 25-year-old Jackson into a backup role.

First basemen

(final year arbitration eligible)
It came as a surprise when the Marlins didn't deal Aguilar at the Trade Deadline considering his contract status and his blocking then-prospect Lewin Díaz. Though the 31-year-old has been the most reliable run producer for the club over the past two seasons, his 2021 was cut short by arthroscopic left knee surgery. Should Aguilar remain with Miami, he is a prime designated hitter candidate if MLB adopts the universal DH.

(pre-arbitration)
Once Aguilar was sidelined in early September, Díaz finally got consistent reps at the MLB level -- but was it enough for the Marlins to count on him in 2022? The organization's Triple-A MVP of the Year knocked eight homers in 128 plate appearances but had a 25.8% strikeout rate. Díaz showcased elite defense, recording eight Defensive Runs Saved (second in MLB) in just 258 2/3 innings.

(second-year arbitration eligible)
There's no question Cooper can hit (129 OPS+). The issue has been his inability to stay healthy. This time around, the 30-year-old's season ended in August when he underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. He is a prime non-tender candidate -- unless he takes over the DH role and Jesús Aguilar moves on.

Second basemen

(pre-arbitration)
The 23-year-old finished just two homers shy of the first 20/20 season in Marlins history since Hanley Ramirez (2010) during an up-and-down rookie campaign. He spent time on the injured list four times (twice as a precaution) and tied an MLB high by committing 24 errors. Still, Chisholm showcases the tools and marketable persona for the franchise to build around.

Shortstops

(vesting option activated)
Miami's longest-tenured player said on the latest episode of The Chris Rose Rotation that an extension is in the works. Rojas, who doesn't have a game-changing bat, played most of the 2021 season with a fracture in his left index finger. The 32-year-old's value comes from being a reliable defender up the middle (10.3 Def per Fangraphs, third in MLB).

Third baseman

(second-year arbitration eligible)
It was a forgettable 2021 for Anderson, who was limited to just 67 games (95 OPS+) due to a pair of 60-day injured list stints. Entering the season, there was talk about him being an extension candidate. Instead, the 28-year-old underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder capsule in September, with the expectation he will be ready for Spring Training.

Utility

(first-year arbitration eligible)
With Brian Anderson sidelined, Berti received everyday starts at the hot corner until sustaining a concussion on a hit-by-pitch on July 22. The 31-year-old never returned, and his future with the club remains uncertain as a result.

(pre-arbitration)
Alvarez, 31, was outrighted from the 40-man roster on Oct. 21. The hometown kid and two-time Olympian returned to the big leagues in early September and saw significant time at third base.

(pre-arbitration)
Díaz saw time at second base and third, the latter of which was a new position for him at the MLB level. Though he looked comfortable at the hot corner, the 25-year-old was unable to produce (58 OPS+) at the plate and was optioned. His time could be running out with the organization.

Outfielders

(pre-arbitration)
The former Top 100 prospect earned trust and solidified a starting job for 2022 by ending the season with a strong September (.904 OPS), though he strained his right hamstring in the final week. The 24-year-old had previously spent a month on the IL for an undisclosed reason.

(first-year arbitration eligible)
The centerpiece of the Christian Yelich trade will be out of options in 2022, so he could serve in the reserve role that Magneuris Sierra did in '21. Aside from a hot stretch in August, it was more of the same for the 27-year-old (71 OPS+).

(first-year arbitration eligible)
The light-hitting Sierra (51 OPS+) served as a fifth outfielder this season, and he is out of options. This is likely the end of the 25-year-old's Marlins tenure.

(pre-arbitration)
Acquired in the Yimi García trade, De La Cruz got off to a great start in his MLB career by slashing .322/.384/.474 through his first 50 games before running out of gas over the final week (.143/.172/.143). De La Cruz, who turns 25 on Dec. 16, could project in the 2022 starting outfield -- or be a bat off the bench.