But with the lineup improving to a 95 wRC+ and the pitching being a plus, the Marlins snuck into the playoffs for the first time since 2003. The temporary (crossing fingers) expansion to the playoff field and some fortune also aided, allowing Miami to play October baseball despite a record right around .500 and a Pythagorean record of 26-34. But again, flags fly forever!

The challenge is that the offense remains a team weakness, and it’s unlikely there’s any savior in the organization. While it would be incorrect to say that the Marlins didn’t get anyone solid in return for their quartet of traded stars — Sixto Sanchez is a wonderful young pitcher to have under your employ — it is fair to say that there’s a real chance they didn’t get any offensive contributors in these trades. Starlin Castro is already one (and wasn’t a prospect), and none of Jorge Alfaro, Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, Isan Diaz, or Magneuris Sierra were the reasons they made the playoffs. Miami did indirectly pick up a solid prospect by the transitive property of trade-ality — Zac Gallen was acquired in the Ozuna trade and was later swapped for Jazz Chisholm — but only Chisholm projects by ZiPS to have a 10-WAR career. Only two position players project to have at least 10 WAR remaining: Chisholm and Brian Anderson. The average in ZiPS is about five hitters per team, and a young team emerging from a rebuild ought to have more than this at this point.

I’m a fan of Anderson at third base and glad that the Marlins seem to be content with him there. He’ll simply have more value long-term if he can handle the hot corner; his bat just isn’t that potent for a corner outfielder, and he’s not at an age at which he’s likely hiding another gear or two. Starling Marte is no longer the borderline star he was at his best, but he remains solid, as his glove hasn’t dropped too far to force a move to a corner. A free-agent-to-be, there’s no indication that a trade is in the works — something that should make people happy, as this franchise has a lot to do to repair its reputation long-term. Saddling Kim Ng, the team’s new GM, with the team’s latest cynical sell-off would be a depressing follow-up to 2020.

I don’t imagine JJ Bleday, a 2019 first-rounder, gets this much playing time when 2020 actually happens, but his projected PA in our depth charts reflect how empty the upper minors are of interesting bats. The Marlins need to do better than simply not going on a selling spree; they need to add real offensive talent at the corners. Yes, they’re paying Corey Dickerson for another season, but he should be a fallback option, not Plan A.