Now, none of this is to say that every penny the Miami Marlins have put into their off-the-field infrastructure the past few years hasn't been essential. If you don't have the resources to buy your way out of trouble in free agency, and to afford to be able to swing and miss on a big contract, you need to be really good at making sure you maximize the talent you do have. Drafting and developing the best you can, not just cutting the biggest check.
None of them were as talented as Jose Fernandez. As has been the case with a handful of other installments in Marlin Maniac's Best To Wear The Marlins Jersey Number Series, there should have been no doubt on what name was coming with this particular jersey number. No Marlins player has ever played better with No. 16 on their backs. No WAR adjustment was necessary here, as Fernandez wins the top spot in a landslide,
MIAMI - Avisaíl García announced his retirement Monday following 13 major league seasons, including three with the Miami Marlins. García, 34, did not play again after being designated for assignment by the Marlins on June 4, 2024. The outfielder signed a $53 million, four-year deal as a free agent in December 2021, but couldn't match the production he enjoyed with Milwaukee in 2021, when he hit .262 and set career highs with 29 home runs and 86 RBIs.
After a historic run in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league, he joined the Mariners in 2001 and immediately made history, winning both the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in his debut season. He quickly became one of the league's most consistent and dynamic players, earning 10 consecutive All-Star selections and 10 Gold Gloves. In 2004, he set a Major League record with 262 hits in a single season - a record that still stands.
It's the number Miguel Cabrera wore for almost his entire Marlins career. So as we said at the top, obvious call. Cabrera made the switch to No. 24 after winning a World Series championship, evidently deciding the previous number was unlucky after he failed to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, and never looked back. Four years wearing it for the Marlins, four All-Star appearances, four years with MVP votes.