Marlins exercise option on Starling Marte for 2021 to the surprise of exactly no one

Say what you want to about the Marlins’ run to the postseason in 2020. Was it a fluky result of a small sample size? Probably. Are they likely to regress in 2021? Probably. However, when they were presented with an opportunity to make the postseason in 2020, they made a move to bolster their chances instead of resting on their laurels by acquiring outfielder Starling Marte from the Diamondbacks.

On the whole, Marte put together a fine season in 2020 with a .281/.340/.430 line. Unfortunately for Miami, his numbers with the Marlins were significantly worse than that line and in the playoffs, Marte broke his pinky finger after being hit by a pitch and was a non-factor in the Marlins’ demolition by the Braves.

However, that doesn’t change that Marte is still by and large a very valuable player in the league and the Marlins made the widely expected decision to keep him around.

This Marlins lineup is likely to need more than just retaining Marte to be competitive over a 162 game season, but this is a good start to be sure. If Marte is anywhere close to the player he has been in his career, he is easily one of the best bats in Miami’s lineup and someone that can drive an offense.

The real test now is to see if the Marlins’ front office has the go ahead to make some real improvements to the roster in free agency. The Marlins do have some exciting young players, particularly on the pitching side, but their position player group is notably lacking and it doesn’t seem likely that the smoke and mirrors offense they went with in 2020 is going to get it done again. Bring Marte back was a good start, but now we will see if the Marlins think they can make a real push in 2021.