The Miami Marlins traded away Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson in the off-season after finishing 69-93. That would be a strong core to place a pitching rotation around. The Fish also gave away Heath Bell after a disastrous campaign in south Florida.
Ricky Nolasco, the only returner from 2012's starting rotation, will be this year's ace. He was 12-13, but hittable. Nolasco completed three games last year including a four-hitter against Washington in September. Rumor has him, and his $11 million salary, on the trade bloc.
Jacob Turner came over from the Tigers in the Anibal Sanchez trade in 2012 and pitched well with a 3.38 ERA over seven starts. Turner doesn't turn 22 until May; it's possible the Marlins ended up with a better pitcher than Sanchez and far less expensive. But Turner only has 67.2 major league innings under his belt.
Henderson Alvarez was part of the Toronto trade and while he has a mid-90s fastball, it is flat. He only posted 79 strike outs in 187 innings and allowed 29 gopher balls. He was horrible in Toronto last year with a 4.85 ERA and batters hit .290 against him.
Nathan Eovaldi was 3-7 in 12 starts for the Marlins last year averaging about five innings per outing. The 23-year-old stuck out 44 in 63 frames, but 15 of those came in his last two appearances.
The bullpen had an ERA over 4 last year and doesn't figure to be much better. Steve Cishek seems to be the closer after saving seven games in eight attempts down the stretch last year and striking out more than one per frame.
On the receiving end Miami has pinned its hopes on rookie Jeff Brantly at back stop. Brantly managed 29 hits in 100 tries earning him the opening day slot.
Light-hitting Jeff Mathis is also on board. Don't be fooled by his explosive .218 and eight dingers last year, the catcher hits more like his .198 lifetime batting average and a .314 slugging percentage.
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