For Marlins, ‘there’s a new standard in that clubhouse.’ Now, they have to build on it

Jazz Chisholm Jr. tried to collect his thoughts inside a quiet and somber visitor’s clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park.

But with the way the season just ended, with how raw the sting of defeat was after a magical run to the playoffs, he had trouble balancing two competing thoughts.

“The emotions are everywhere right now,” Chisholm said. “Happy with the job we’ve done but still upset that we only made it this far. Even for myself, I hate losing. That’s the one thing I hate to do is lose. It hit me really deep.”

The feeling was similar throughout the clubhouse. This Marlins team exceeded expectations — or at least the expectations placed on them from those outside the organization. They won 84 games under first-time manager Skip Schumaker, 41 in come-from-behind fashion and 33 by a one-run margin, and reached the playoffs for the fourth time in franchise history and the first time in a full season (excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season) since the World Series-winning team in 2003.

And then ... it ended.

The Marlins’ playoff run lasted just two games, getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild card round. It was a quick exit that put a damper on a thrilling season.

But Schumaker’s message to the club after Wednesday’s season-ending loss wasn’t about where the 2023 journey stopped.

It was about the direction the club is heading.

“The culture changed,” Schumaker said. “I believe that there’s a new standard in that clubhouse now. Now it’s up to them to protect that standard, honestly.”

‘We just expected to win all year’

How, exactly, did the culture change?

It started with Schumaker, who won over Marlins decision makers during his managerial interview process by laying out his plan to build that culture. It was one similar to what he had with the St. Louis Cardinals, where his professional baseball career began and where most of his roots in the sport lie.

It followed with the players buying into the process essentially from the get-go.

After a rough spring training, something clicked when the regular season began.

“We just expected to win all year,” said left-handed starting pitcher Braxton Garrett, one of the team’s many breakout performers in 2023. “We had a tough stretch after the All-Star Break, but other than that, just we expected to win every night. That’s just not something I think was an every-night think in the past.”

It resulted in 16 wins when they were trailing after six innings, nine walk-offs and overall, an understanding that they have a chance to win as long as there are outs to play with. They won at least one series against every team that made the playoffs in the National League.

“I feel like since we got here now and we’ve been here, now we know what it takes to win,” Chisholm said, “that it takes playing hard and winning every pitch and making every play. That’s how you get to the championship. We’ve just gotta go hard every second and every pitch and make sure you stay focused and locked in and don’t listen to the crowd and it’s just a lot.”

‘We have a lot of the right guys’

With that said, the foundation for sustained success is there.

First and foremost, the Marlins’ starting pitching depth should be replenished. While it’s still uncertain exactly what will happen with Sandy Alcantara following his UCL sprain in his right elbow, Miami conceivably has four starting pitchers beyond him already in the organization who should fit into rotation spots in Jesus Luzardo, Garrett, Eury Perez and Trevor Rogers. Max Meyer will be back from Tommy John surgery. The team will have to make decisions on Edward Cabrera and Sixto Sanchez, both of whom are our of minor-league options.

Now continue with the key players on offense returning. All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez, who became the first player in MLB history to win batting titles in different leagues in consecutive seasons, is under team control for two more years. Chisholm is under control for three years. Third baseman Jake Burger, acquired at the trade deadline, is under team control for four years. Corner outfielders Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sanchez both took significant steps forward as well, while utility players Jon Berti and Garrett Hampson provide depth all around the diamond. Xavier Edwards looks ready to take the next step, too.

And then there’s the bullpen, with lefty trio Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi and A.J. Puk forming the backbone of the group moving forward.

“We have a lot of the right guys in here,” Burger said. “With the chemistry [we have], I think that’s why we won so many one-run games. It’s trusting each individual. And I think [general manager] Kim [Ng] has done an excellent job through trades, free agents [and] Skip of getting getting the ingredients and cultivating the culture in that clubhouse. ... It’s up to us to hold ourselves to that standard.”

The unknowns

That said, not everything is set in stone for next season.

It starts at the top, with Ng’s contract set to expire. Principal owner Bruce Sherman was non-committal about announcing an extension during the season but anticipate talks picking up soon.

On the roster, two sluggers in designated hitter Jorge Soler and Josh Bell have player options to decide on over the next month. Soler’s is for $13 million. Bell’s is for $16.5 million. Both said they have to discuss plans with their agents.

First baseman Yuli Gurriel, shortstop Joey Wendle and reliever David Robertson are slated to be free agents, while reliever Matt Barnes and starting pitcher Johnny Cueto have club options valued at $8 million and $10.5 million, respectively.

And then there are the specific positions that need to be addressed. Shortstop is on the top of that list and catcher probably the No. 2 priority..

Schumaker’s message to any potential free agents who might become Marlins?

“We’re about one thing, and it’s winning and trying to get you better every day,” Schumaker said. “I don’t love the phrase ‘it’s just who you are’. I always believe that you can get better. I don’t care who you are and where you’re at in your career. Our staff is going to do whatever we can to get you better and show you what winning looks like. I really believe that — maybe I believe too much in that stuff, but I really do believe in whoever we acquire to get them better. Kim brought in high character, winning players. That’s who we’re going to try to identify to bring in this off-season, but I feel really good about the core players that we have right now.”