10 Burning Questions (5th in a series)

#5: How much will the Marlins' new head of baseball operations be able to spend?

Luis Arraez projects to make more than $10 million through arbitration in 2024, one of several reasons the Marlins’ payroll will have to increase if the club is to improve on its 2023 season. (Photo courtesy of AP.)

With the Marlins’ 2023 season in the books, VIEW FROM THE BLEACHERS continues its look ahead to 2024 in this multi-part series in which we’re discussing some of the primary burning questions the organization will need to answer this offseason that could go a long way toward defining its short- and long-term future.

If you missed our previous installments in the series, you can read them here…

10 Burning Questions (4th in a series)

10 Burning Questions (3rd in a series)

10 Burning Questions (2nd in a series)

10 Burning Questions (First in a series)

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#5: HOW MUCH WILL THE MARLINS’ NEW HEAD OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS BE ABLE TO SPEND?

While Bruce Sherman’s plans for the Marlins’ payroll in 2024 and beyond is the 5th of the 10 Burning Questions we’re asking as we begin the offseason, it’s likely to be question #1 asked by anyone who is offered the opportunity to replace departed general manager Kim Ng.

The new head of baseball operations will need significant financial help to improve the major league roster in an effort to keep up with the big spenders in the NL East, knowing that the farm system isn’t teeming with cheap, big league-ready talent that can be reasonably expected to contribute in a meaningful way in 2024.

As we were reminded in 2023, having a large payroll doesn’t guarantee any team anything. But as we were also reminded in 2023—when the Marlins went 26-38 against other playoff teams and 13-22 against the 6 division champions—a sizable gap remains between Miami and the best teams in MLB.

When your farm system doesn’t provide many answers, and you’re limited in what you’re able to trade to improve the big league club, the best chance the Marlins have to gain ground in a meaningful and lasting way is to spend money in free agency and to invest to retain their own talent (like Jorge Soler).