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 the calendar flips to a new year, Spring Training draws ever closer.

This upcoming Marlins season will feature a new coaching staff and a revamped front office. It will welcome back a healthier pitching staff, fronted by ace Sandy Alcantara. And it will serve as a continuation of the final two months of the 2024 season, when players Miami brought in around the Trade Deadline received regular playing time down the stretch.

While we wait to see whether Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has any other moves up his sleeve, let’s look ahead to 2025:

One (realistic) FA target who would still be a perfect fit: Starting pitcher
The Marlins recently acquired first baseman Matt Mervis in a trade with the Cubs, so it’s unlikely veteran Anthony Rizzo will sign with the hometown club. If 2024 taught us anything, it’s that a team can never have enough starting pitching, as evidenced by Miami falling one shy of tying the MLB record for most starters used in a season. The Marlins could eye an under-the-radar arm like Chris Flexen (4.95 ERA across 160 innings) or Spencer Turnbull (1.78 ERA in seven starts) on a one-year deal to provide depth and eat up innings. And if all goes well, the pitcher could be flipped at the Trade Deadline.

One player poised to have a breakout season: 3B Connor Norby
Norby, who was acquired from the Orioles as a top prospect in the Trevor Rogers trade, got off to a strong start with his new club by collecting a hit in each of his first 10 games and finishing with a .760 OPS during his 36-game stint.

The 24-year-old quickly endeared himself to fans and the organization with his hard-nosed play and ability to drive the ball to all fields. With an offseason's worth of work at third base, Norby should look more comfortable at his new position. He also can play second base and the corner-outfield spots.

One prospect to watch in 2025: C/1B Agustin Ramirez
The Marlins have lacked stability and offensive production at the catching position for years, but they may have found it in the return for Jazz Chisholm Jr. Ramirez, who ranks as MLB Pipeline's No. 96 overall prospect, will be at big league camp and should make his MLB debut sooner rather than later.

After initial struggles at the Triple-A level, he showed improvement (.262/.358/.447) with a change of scenery and still showcased bat speed, strength and consistent contact. While there are questions about Ramirez's defense behind the dish, he has spent the offseason working with staff in Jupiter, Fla.

One prediction for the new year: 2025 will show signs of the organization’s future
Despite a 100-loss season in 2024, there were early indications of Bendix's vision working. Bride (.818 OPS), second baseman Otto Lopez (17 outs above average) and right-handed relievers Calvin Faucher (142 ERA+) and Jesus Tinoco (226 ERA+) turned out to be under-the-radar finds that Bendix's Rays made common.

This upcoming season will be more about how the major players in Miami's Trade Deadline haul -- Norby, Ramirez, De Los Santos, Kyle Stowers, Robby Snelling (Marlins' No. 6 prospect) and Jared Serna (No. 11) -- fare in the big leagues. In order to turn around the club's trajectory, they will be counted upon to be cornerstones for the Marlins moving forward.