After signing Giancarlo Stanton to a $325 million, back-loaded contract, the Marlins must be go into a “win-now” mode in 2015 to justify the spending.
The last time the Marlins franchise saw October baseball, George W. Bush was still in his first term as President, YouTube wasn’t around, baggy clothing was in and cell phones were bricks.
It’s been 11 years since the Marlins, then known as the Florida Marlins, were in the postseason, winning the 2003 World Series over the New York Yankees. The last time they were in the playoffs before that, they won the 1997 World Series.
If there’s anything to be said about the Marlins two postseason appearances in franchise history, it’s at least when they reach October, they win it all.
But this is a new time and new territory for the Marlins. And now they have 325 million reasons to build a complete winning team around their new face of the franchise.
“I’m not trying to come here and get my butt kicked for 10 hours, go home to a lavish lifestyle every day,” Stanton said in his press conference on Wednesday. “That’s not fun for me. Money can’t buy the happiness of that. That was a concern.”
The same team that’s been known to sign everyone, just to trade everyone away the year after winning it all is actually building not just for 2015, but for the years and (at least) the decade ahead.
Well, they’ve been building since 2012 if you think about it.
In 2012, the Marlins traded Jose Reyes, Mark Buerhle and Josh Johnson to the Blue Jays for pitcher Henderson Alvarez, shortstop Adieny Hechavarria and catcher Jeff Mathis along with pitching prospects Jake Marisnick, Justin Nicolino and Anthony DeSclafani. The trade happened a year after Reyes and company arrived in Miami.
In short, the Marlins dumped a lot of money to build from the ground up again, sort of.
Stanton, entering just his third year in the majors at the time, wasn’t thrilled about the trade.
“Alright, I’m pissed off!!! Plain & Simple,” he tweeted then.
What he didn’t know is that the trade was part of the plan.
Even though they missed the playoffs again in 2014, the Marlins got back to the 70-win mark for the first time since 2011, finishing 77-85, a 15-game improvement from 2013, led by the young guys Stanton was originally “pissed” about.
Led by guys like Stanton, Hechavarria and Christian Yelich, the Marlins finished fifth in the National League in hitting in 2014 (.253) while guys like Henderson Alvarez and Jose Fernandez led the Marlins pitching staff to a 3.79 ERA.
With what seems to be a solid young core in place, the Marlins are already making the right moves to not just build something for the long-term, but also to win now, something they need to do while Stanton’s contract doesn’t hurt their pockets yet. The Marlins say their payroll will top $60 million in 2015 while they currently have just $22 million committed to next year’s roster.
Miami has made a two-year, $20 million offer to Adam LaRoche, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald and are looking to Improve their young pitching staff by adding a veteran like Jason Hammel, James Shields or Justin Masterson while Fernandez rehabs from Tommy John surgery.
They are also looking to lock up their youngsters Yelich and Hechavarria to long-term deals as well as extend their ace Fernandez.
If it’s anything we’ve learned about the Marlins throughout the past few days it’s that they don’t mind spending money. The difference is that this time, they’re spending it smart, spending it to help keep a young core that has helped lead this team to its 15-game improvement while adding one or two veteran parts to help keep the team “swimming along.”
Stanton’s $325 million deal could be seen as risky, especially in an age where we’ve seen first-hand that long-term, multi-million dollar deals usually don’t work out for teams. Stanton could change that view if he can continue his growth as a player, stay healthy and, of course, win.
With the parts finally in place for the Marlins, that extravagant new ballpark in Miami may see October baseball sooner rather than later. And if recent history means anything when it comes to the Marlins playing in October, then they may get some new rings to flaunt around South Beach soon enough.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return