The Ideal 2023 Miami Marlins Lineup/Defense (Not the Same)

The Miami Marlins can produce and/or prevent a lot of runs in 2023.

The Miami Marlins have an enormous range of possible outcomes heading into 2023. If things go well (Avisail Garcia, Jesus Sanchez, Jorge Soler, Jacob Stallings, and Trevor Rogers rebound after horrific 2022 seasons and all/most other things remain the same), this could be MLB's biggest surprise contender. If things go poorly (the aforementioned names continue to struggle and the injury bug bites stars like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Sandy Alcantara, etc.), the Fish could be picking in the top five in next year's draft.

It's conceivable that this team could win 88 games.

It's conceivable that this team could win 68 games.

The enormous scope of seasons the 2023 Marlins could have is further fueled by the near-infinite amount of lineup and defensive arrangements Skip Schumaker has to consider. A sizable chunk of Miami's current 40-man roster plays multiple positions. For the most part, these utility men are a mixture of seasoned vets who are aging gracefully and former top prospects looking for ways to prove themselves at the MLB level. i.e. everyone needs reps, but only nine guys get to play.

There are clear bat-first and glove-first options on this team. I'm not sure which side of the spectrum Schumaker prefers; my guess is the latter. Here's my idea of the very best run-producing and run-preventing lineup Skip Schumaker has at his disposal, based on the 40-man roster, along with some 2023 predictions.

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Best Defense is a Good Offense:

1. SS Jazz Chisholm Jr.- .260/.345/.530, 30 HR, 73 RBI, 22 SB

2. 2B Luis Arraez- .310/.365/.410, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 3 SB

3. 1B Garrett Cooper- .278/.365/.450, 16 HR, 85 RBI, 1 SB

4. DH Jorge Soler- .230/.335/.458, 29 HR, 82 RBI, 0 SB

5. RF Jesus Sanchez- .250/.325/.460, 24 HR, 79 RBI, 3 SB

6. LF Avisail Garcia- .248/.310/.435, 20 HR, 72 RBI, 8 SB

7. 3B Jean Segura- .275/.340/.370, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 15 SB

8. CF Bryan De La Cruz- .271/.330/.430, 19 HR, 63 RBI, 5 SB

9. C Nick Fortes- .245/.305/.408, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 8 SB

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They Can't Win if they Can't Score:

1. 3B Joey Wendle- .268/.320/.385, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 11 SB

2. DH Luis Arraez- .310/.365/.410, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 3 SB

3. CF Jazz Chisholm Jr.- .260/.345/.530, 30 HR, 73 RBI, 22 SB

4. 1B Garrett Cooper- .278/.365/.450, 16 HR, 85 RBI, 1 SB

5. RF Jesus Sanchez- .250/.325/.460, 24 HR, 79 RBI, 3 SB

6. SS Jacob Amaya- .237/.342/.350, 11 HR, 68 RBI, 7 SB

7. 2B Xavier Edwards- .272/.345/.340, 6 HR, 51, 12 SB

8. C Jacob Stallings- .233/.313/.335, 7 HR, 47 RBI, 0 SB

9. LF Jon Berti- .245/.340/.342, 5 HR, 41, 38 SB

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A couple close calls. I considered putting Segura at 2B or SS, both of which he's always been solid at, in my defensive lineup. But at 33 by the time Opening Day arrives, I decided to trust a slightly more athletic and youthful middle infield in Edwards and Amaya, who project to be excellent Major League defenders. I'm also assuming Jazz will take quickly to CF, 'cause De La Cruz isn't great out there. Hopefully Stallings's glove rebounds; he went from being a Gold Glover in 2021 to a liability in 2022. Fortes was lightyears ahead of him at the plate and behind it last season.

Fair amount of assumptions and a huge amount of possibilities. The 2023 Miami Marlins in a nutshell.

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