More so than the typical MLB team, the Marlins are heavily reliant on trade acquisitions and players picked up off the scrap heap (waiver claims and minor league free agents). Critical building blocks like Trevor Rogers and Brian Anderson have spent their full professional lives with the Fish, but the previous front office was responsible for drafting them (in 2017 and 2014, respectively). The Marlins’ objective to consistently contend for postseason berths is a pipedream unless their new player development operation can continue converting amateur talent into useful big leaguers.
That’s what makes the recent call-up of catcher Nick Fortes so significant.