The biggest transaction made by the Marlins this offseason was locking Dee Gordon up for the next 5 years on a $50 million deal. But, after the back to back brilliant years the second baseman just recorded, $50 million is quite a bargain. Understandably the Marlins are tight on money after agreeing to pay Stanton over $300 million just over a year ago, but Miami also signed lefty, Wei Yin Chen, to a contract worth $80 million, so there is one question mark of many for this squad.
Same as entering last season, the Fish look good on paper. Borrowing the idea that Marcell Ozuna won’t be traded, the outfield is really solid with the 2015 second half numbers of Yelich, the potential seen from Ozuna in 2014, and the possible health of Stanton. The infield consists of one of the best fielding shortstops in the game in Adeiny Hechavarria, and Prado along side Gordon. The pitching rotation can hopefully stay healthy, while the bullpen keeps improving, but that wasn’t enough last year. The Fish fired their manager, the GM took over as coach, the offense was disappointing, and Jose Fernandez was out practically the entire year. Now the GM/manager is gone, Mattingly is in, and they locked up yet another leader of the club in Gordon, but after showing promise in 2014, then collapsing in 15’ , who knows what Miami will do in 16.’
No matter how good Dee was for Miami in 2015, and how thrilled he is to get a big contract offer after struggling to succeed at the major league level for some time with the Dodgers, he should have waited out for a deal worth more money. The speedy second baseman won the NL hitting crown, led the majors in hits, led the majors in stolen bases, and had a WAR of 4.9 on a team who was 20 games under .500. In result he won the silver slugger and gold glove awards at 2nd, while starting in his second straight all-star game. One could argue he is the best second baseman in the league, as his style of play clearly represents the NL well. By the way, according to multiple reports, he is a great teammate as well. After looking over the contracts now being given out these days, Dee certainly looks like a $15 million/year star at the least. Cano is getting paid $14 million a year more than Gordon, and Robinson’s numbers aren’t too much more valuable than Gordon’s. With a kid like Gordon who had 3 disappointing big league stints before finding himself, will off course jump at a contract he just received, so congrats Marlins for tricking a kid by giving him a treat before he realizes his true value.
