The Marlins have position player roster spots up for grabs. A look at the contenders

When the Miami Marlins’ 60-game Major League Baseball season begins on July 24 against the Philadelphia Phillies, expect Miami’s Opening Day roster to be pitcher heavy. As manager Don Mattingly envisions it, 16 or 17 of the team’s 30 roster spots are going to go toward pitchers, leaving the Marlins with either 13 or 14 spots for position players.

And while Mattingly and the Marlins still have a lot of decisions to make in terms of the pitching staff — several bullpen spots are still wide open, as is the fifth spot in the starting rotation — only a few position player roles are still up for the taking with two weeks left in practice.

Right now, it looks like 10 position players are locks, barring injury or unforeseen circumstances during the next two weeks: Catchers Jorge Alfaro and Francisco Cervelli, first basemen Jesus Aguilar and Garrett Cooper, second baseman Isan Diaz, shortstop Miguel Rojas, third baseman Brian Anderson, outfielders Corey Dickerson and Jonathan Villar, and super utilityman Jon Berti

Outfielder Matt Joyce and most likely outfielder Lewis Brinson would have been on this list, too, but their status is in question considering they have not been at practice since action resumed on July 3 (shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm also has not been sighted).

Should Joyce and Brinson not be ready to go for Opening Day, that leaves three or four position-player spots for the Marlins to finalize during these two weeks. Here are a look at the main contenders.

Monte Harrison

As each practice day goes by, it looks more and more like outfielder Harrison is going to make his MLB debut on July 24. He has been arguably the Marlins’ most steady hitter throughout the first week of camp, and Mattingly has openly praised the toolsy outfielder on several occasions since practice restarted.

Harrison, the Marlins’ No. 9 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline, is a solid defender, can hit for average and power and is aggressive on the basepaths.

Harold Ramirez

Ramirez was one of the Marlins’ pleasant surprises during their 2019 season. Ramirez, a 25-year-old outfielder, had a .276 batting average with 11 home runs, 50 RBI and 54 runs scored in 114 games after being signed to a minor-league deal in the offseason. He has a steady contact rate and can play all three outfield spots.

Jesus Sanchez

Sensing a theme here? Sanchez, obtained from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline, is another young outfielder with the chance to help the Marlins’ lineup produce the pop that it desperately needs. The Marlins’ No. 4 overall prospect hit 13 home runs in the minors last season, including four in just 17 games that he played as part of the Marlins’ Triple A team. However, it seems Harrison has the edge on Sanchez should a position-player prospect make the 30-man cut, but Sanchez appears to be next in line among the outfielders in terms of being MLB ready.

Magneuris Sierra

Sierra, the final of the four outfielders on this list, is the epitome of a late-inning replacement on an expanded roster. He has noted speed, which makes him an ideal pinch-runner candidate, and he is solid defensively. Sierra, a left-handed hitter, also showed strides at the plate in limited big-league action last year (.350 batting average in 40 at-bats).

Another factor to consider: Sierra is out of options, which means he has to be removed from the Marlins’ 40-man roster and go through waivers if he is not on the Opening Day active roster.

Eddy Alvarez or Sean Rodriguez

If the Marlins opt to have an extra utility player on their roster, then Eddy Alvarez or Sean Rodriguez, both Miami natives, would be the prime candidates.

Alvarez, a former Olympic speedskater, is in his second year in the Marlins organization and had a solid 2019 season in Triple A (.323 batting average, 12 home runs, 48 RBI, 45 runs scored in 66 games) and can play second base, shortstop and third base. Rodriguez, a 12-year MLB veteran, has started at least one game at every position defensively except pitcher and catcher. Rodriguez, 35, is a career .226 hitter with 81 home runs and 298 RBI.

One drawback for Alvarez and Rodriguez: Neither is on Miami’s 40-man roster, meaning a player would need to be waived in order for them to get on the active roster.