Nobody expected the Miami Marlins to compete as much as they did in 2014, when the team went 77-85, which is a 15-game improvement on the team’s 2013 record. But the Marlins’ front office said they plan to keep star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and raise the team’s payroll next year.
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The Marlins aren’t under any obligation to trade the soon-to-be 25-year-old Stanton, but there was speculation Miami would deal the second-year arbitration-eligible player this winter in order to maximize a return in a trade and to save money on payroll. The Marlins still plan to approach Stanton this offseason with a multi-year contract extension offer, but even if no agreement can be reached, Marlins president Dave Samson said Stanton would be on the 2015 team either way.
It’s presumed the Marlins would simply go through the arbitration process and try to extend Stanton again after the 2015 season. Stanton is estimated to make approximately $13 million through arbitration for 2015, though that number isn’t set in stone.
The Marlins’ payroll was approximately $44 million in 2014, but the team could increase it to as much as $60 million for 2015, though much of the additional payroll will go to raises in the salaries of players already on the team (it’s presumed Stanton’s raise for 2015 will be a large part of the additional money). Marlins general manager Dan Jennings said the team has improved from being a “historically bad offense,” but would be on the lookout for another bat before next season.
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