What we’re hearing on Marlins rotation, pitching staff, free agent options, more

A few quick hits on what we’re hearing as the Marlins’ offseason rolls on:

▪ With Sandy Alcantara sidelined next season after Tommy John surgery, here’s the Marlins’ internal plan for their starting rotation:

Jesus Luzardo (10-10, 3.58 ERA in 2023), Eury Perez (5-6, 3.15 ERA) and Braxton Garrett (9-7, 3.66 ERA) will be their top three starters, barring injuries.

Edward Cabrera (7-7, 4.24 ERA) and Trevor Rogers (who missed most of 2023 with biceps and forearm issues) have the inside track for the No. 4 and No. 5 rotation spots.

But if either falters in the spring, then former first-round pick Max Meyer — now 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery — will have an opportunity to compete for a starting rotation spot. Meyer will be on an innings limit.

Bryan Hoeing (5.48 ERA in 33 games and seven starts last season) and A.J. Puk (who is being moved from the bullpen to the rotation, at least in spring training) also will be considered for rotation spots if Cabrera or Rogers struggle in spring training.

▪ The Marlins haven’t ruled out Ryan Weathers as a rotation option, but he’s more likely to be used as a swingman.

Acquired from the Padres for Garrett Cooper, Weathers gave up 11 runs in seven innings in his first two Marlins appearances, but then pitched six scoreless innings (allowing only two hits) in their regular season finale in Pittsburgh.

The Marlins also are considering stretching out George Soriano in the spring, as they plan to do with Puk. Soriano had a 3.81 ERA in 26 games (including one start) for the Marlins last season and struck out 52 in 52 innings.

▪ The Marlins are still seeking an upgrade at shortstop, and free agent Isiah Kiner-Falefa remains in play.

The Marlins have expressed interest in the 28-year-old infielder/outfielder, who won a Gold Glove as a third baseman for the Rangers in 2020, the COVID-shortened season.

Kiner-Falefa hit .232 (.306 on base average) with six homers and 47 RBI in 113 games for the Yankees last season, playing 78 games in the outfield, 31 at third base and one apiece at shortstop and second base.

He played 138 games at shortstop for the Yankees in 2022 and committed 15 errors, and New York decided to play him primarily in the outfield this past season.

He played 156 games at shortstop for Texas in 2021 and had 19 errors.

Jon Berti, Jacob Amaya, offseason pickup Vidal Brujan and Xavier Edwards are the internal shortstop options.

▪ With 11 players eligible for arbitration, the Marlins - even without adding another player - are projected to have a $97 million payroll next season. That limits the amount the team can spend in free agency.

More than 40 percent of the payroll in 2024 is committed to Josh Bell ($16.5 million), Avisail Garcia ($12 million), Alcantara ($9.3 million) and Berti ($3.6 million).

Luis Arraez is projected by Fangraphs to get $10.8 million in arbitration if the parties don’t reach an agreement before that.

And per Fangraphs.com, the Marlins owe $3 million next year to Giancarlo Stanton as part of the 2017 trade with the Yankees. They also are paying $2.5 million to buy out Johnny Cueto and $2.25 million to buy out Matt Barnes.

The Marlins might not exceed last season’s $105 million payroll, but there are no orders from ownership to substantially drop payroll, either.

▪ The Marlins, who acquired defensively skilled catcher Christian Bethancourt from Cleveland on Sunday, also have been considering free agent catcher Andrew Knizner, who was non-tendered by the Cardinals last month.

He hit .241 (.288 on base) with 10 homers and 31 RBI in 70 games and 241 plate appearances for St. Louis last season.

The batting average was up from his career .214 average, in 794 plate appearances over five seasons. He threw out only 8 of 60 attempted basestealers in 2023.

Even with Bethancourt added, the Marlins remain open to finding a catcher who would start or share time with Nick Fortes.

NEWS NOTE

The Marlins are hiring Frankie Piliere as their new director of amateur scout, per sources.

He was assistant director of scout with the Seattle Mariners. Piliere will replace DJ Svihlik, who was let go earlier this offseason.

Herald senior baseball correspondent Craig Mish hosts Newswire from 11 a.m. to noon weekdays on Sportsgrid. Follow him on Twitter at @CraigMish. Follow Barry Jackson at @flasportsbuzz