The rebuilding Marlins have continued to subtract from their huge league roster this winter, buying and selling Jake Burger to the Rangers and Jesus Luzardo to the Phillies. Since Burger wasn’t but arbitration-eligible and Luzardo was projected for a modest $6MM in his second arb 12 months, the trades had been extra about including younger expertise than slicing payroll, but dropping even Luzardo’s estimated $6MM wage has a further influence on a bigger-picture query going through Miami’s funds.
As noticed by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (utilizing estimates from RosterResource), the Marlins have a luxurious tax variety of roughly $82.8MM. This leaves the Fish some floor to cowl earlier than they attain the $105MM threshold estimated because the determine representing 150 p.c of the membership’s reported $70MM or so in revenue-sharing funds. As stipulated by the league’s collective bargaining settlement, groups who obtain revenue-sharing funds should spend at the very least 150 p.c of these funds on participant payroll, on the threat of going through a grievance from the gamers’ union.
It wouldn’t be the primary time that the Marlins confronted this consequence, because the MLBPA filed a grievance towards the Marlins, Rays, Pirates, and Athletics in February 2018 based mostly on the union’s stance that the golf equipment had been merely pocketing a great deal of their revenue-sharing cash, somewhat than reinvesting these funds in the direction of participant payroll. Rosenthal and his Athletic colleague Evan Drellich not too long ago famous that that grievance was nonetheless pending in an adjusted type, although the newest CBA noticed the minimal spend rise from 125 p.c to its present 150 p.c determine.
The revenue-sharing minimal drew extra of a highlight this winter when the A’s began to extend their payroll, which was seen because the workforce making an attempt to hit that $105MM tax quantity and keep away from any warmth from the gamers’ union. The Athletics’ state of affairs is a little bit totally different since their revenue-sharing standing was diminished within the earlier years of the CBA whereas the workforce was on the lookout for a brand new ballpark, and they’re now again to receiving a full-fledged share of revenue-sharing funds in 2025.
The Marlins have usually been among the many lowest-spending groups in baseball for many of their historical past, and spanning a number of possession teams. Bruce Sherman’s buy of the Marlins in 2017 was initially seen as a potential gentle on the finish of the payroll tunnel, although the sudden departure of CEO Derek Jeter previous to the 2022 season threw a wrench into that notion, particularly since payroll expenditures had been reportedly considered one of a number of sources of disagreement between Sherman and Jeter.
Miami did elevate spending a bit below GM Kim Ng and the workforce made the playoffs in 2023, however Sherman’s need for a greater farm system led to Ng’s departure after that season, and the hiring of Peter Bendix because the Marlins’ new president of baseball operations. Taking a web page from Bendix’s former workforce in Tampa Bay, the Marlins appear to be transferring in the direction of a Rays-esque mannequin of counting on a robust minor league pipeline to construct their rosters, whereas solely modestly spending on payrolls. Bendix’s arrival kickstarted one more rebuild, because the Marlins have dealt a number of of their extra skilled and higher-priced gamers over the past 12 months.
As a lot because the Athletics’ winter strikes had been made with the revenue-sharing quantity in thoughts, buying Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Gio Urshela are additionally smart from an on-field standpoint, given the membership’s wants within the rotation and at third base. Contemplating that the A’s performed stable baseball over the past three months of the 2024 season, the West Sacramento workforce would possibly even have some darkhorse potential as a wild card contender if every thing breaks proper and the Athletics get one other breakout or two from youthful gamers.
The Marlins are in a distinct state of affairs. Whereas there’s some attention-grabbing expertise on the roster, it is rather onerous to think about Miami contending in 2025, nor does contending appear to be within the entrance workplace’s plans throughout the close to future as Bendix centered on overhauling the participant growth system.
Spending $22.2MM to stand up to the $105MM threshold seemingly gained’t translate, due to this fact, in any additions that can assist Miami win ballgames in 2025. The Marlins might add a few lower-cost veterans on one-year offers, with a watch in the direction of probably buying and selling these gamers on the deadline as soon as nearly all of their salaries have been formally tallied onto the workforce’s tax invoice. With a nod in the direction of the Marlins’ aim of restocking the farm system, Bendix might probably look into buying and selling for a foul contract or two from one other workforce, with that different workforce including some prospects as a sweetener to additional entice Miami into absorbing most or all the cash owed.
Unsurprisingly, Bendix didn’t present many particulars on the Marlins’ spending plans, telling the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and different reporters this week that “I’m not going to touch upon what we’d or may not do. Bruce continues to offer us all of the assets we have to construct this franchise for sustainable success.”
Bendix additionally didn’t completely shut the door on the chance that Sandy Alcantara might be traded, saying that “We by no means rule out something. We take heed to every thing.” That stated, Alcantara was advised again in August that he in all probability wasn’t getting dealt this offseason, and Bendix famous that “Sandy is a very essential piece for our group. I’m actually excited to see him pitch on Opening Day.”
Alcantara is the highest-paid participant on Miami’s roster, because the 2022 NL Cy Younger Award winner is owed $17MM in every of the subsequent two seasons, plus there’s a $21MM membership possibility ($2MM buyout) on his providers for 2027. This wage has naturally made Alcantara the topic of continued commerce rumors, although Alcantara didn’t pitch in 2024 as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure.
Clearly the Marlins wouldn’t be buying and selling the right-hander for a most return within the wake of this damage, which is why a deal this winter stays unlikely. If Bendix was to promote low on Alcantara now solely to see him rebound to ace type within the early a part of the 2025 season, that’ll rely as a misplaced missed alternative to realize the most important potential commerce package deal for the Marlins’ greatest remaining commerce chip. Miami’s payroll may also issue into the equation right here, as Rosenthal notes that buying and selling Alcantara would depart the Marlins even additional away from the $105MM revenue-sharing threshold.
Simply as Bendix isn’t prone to overtly state that Alcantara is obtainable in commerce talks, the PBO additionally isn’t prone to completely shut down any presents due to fundamental due diligence. Bendix certainly doesn’t need to restrict choices simply in case a pitching-needy workforce truly is prepared to half with a premium return for a pitcher coming off a misplaced season.
