Ex-Marlins on every 2018 MLB postseason team

The Marlins themselves fell far short of a 2018 MLB postseason berth, but the franchise is still well represented. In fact, did you know that a former Miami player is guaranteed to win a World Series ring? All 10 remaining teams employ somebody who used to play for the Marlins, and that’s without even including coaches (like Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond). Traded superstars, grizzled veterans, inconsistent talents who finally “figured it out” after a change of scenery, etc.

Presumably, you don’t monitor their progress as closely as you would had they stayed in South Florida. Allow me to guide you through this refresher.

This article summarizes each player’s regular season performance, their journey from the Marlins to their current team, and what to expect from them in October.

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Boston Red Sox

Former Marlins: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (111.0 IP, 3.81 ERA, 3.60 FIP in 2018)

Eovaldi spent parts of three seasons in the Marlins rotation during his early 20s. Many of his 2014 numbers remain personal bests (199.2 IP, 142 K, 3.37 FIP). Desperate to improve infield production, the club parted with him to acquire Martín Prado from the Yankees.

It seemed that Eovaldi’s career had stagnated as a back-end starter when he tore up his pitching elbow in 2016. However, his elite fastball velocity has returned following Tommy John surgery, and the 2018 campaign split between Tampa Bay and Boston was mostly dominant.

How he got there: Traded by MIA to NYY (Dec. 2014)➡️Released by NYY (Nov. 2016)➡️Signed by TBR (Feb. 2017)➡️Traded to BOS (Jul. 2018)

Postseason role: Eovaldi will pitch meaningful October innings. The Red Sox have him prepped for multi-inning relief work, per Ken Rosenthal, and could give him a starting assignment in case of a lengthy ALDS.

Houston Astros

Former Marlins: CF Jake Marisnick (.211/.275/.399, 85 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR in 2018)

A number of similarities between a young Marisnick and Magneuris Sierra in terms of prospect pedigree, skill set...and initial offensive struggles in the majors. The former slashed .178/.226/.223 in 54 Marlins games, but he’s been much more respectable since arriving in Houston. That being said, Marisnick’s inability to hit right-handed pitching prevents him from locking down a consistent starting role.

How he got there: Traded by MIA to HOU (Jul. 2014)

Postseason role: Marisnick missed the 2017 World Series run with a fractured thumb. No such injury this time around. He could make an impact with his baserunning and outfield defense in late-inning situations.

Cleveland Indians

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Former Marlins: LHP Brad Hand (72.0 IP, 2.75 ERA, 3.20 FIP in 2018), LHP Andrew Miller

(34.0 IP, 4.24 ERA, 3.52 FIP in 2018)

The Marlins had ‘em young, but severed ties when they failed to produce in the starting rotation. Now, both Hand and Miller rank among the very best left-handed relievers of their generation. Lethal fastball-slider combinations.

How Hand got there: Selected off waivers from MIA by SDP (Apr. 2016)➡️Traded by SDP to CLE (Jul. 2018)

How Miller got there: Traded by MIA to BOS (Nov. 2010)➡️Granted free agency (Dec. 2010)➡️Re-signed by BOS (Dec. 2010)➡️Traded by BOS to BAL (Jul. 2014)➡️Granted free agency (Oct. 2014)➡️Signed by NYY (Dec. 2014)➡️Traded by NYY to CLE (Jul. 2016)

Postseason role: Hand received the lion’s share of Indians save opportunities down the stretch, while Miller obviously has a track record of October dominance. Manager Terry Francona trusts them.

That being said...

New York Yankees

Former Marlins: SS Adeiny Hechavarria (.247/.279/.345, 67 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR in 2018), OF Giancarlo Stanton (.266/.343/.509, 127 wRC+, 4.2 fWAR in 2018)

Regression from the NL MVP campaign was to be expected, but if Stanton produces at his 2018 level for the next decade and avoids catastrophic injury, the Yankees should be satisfied with their end of the trade. Stanton comfortably led the 100-win team in games, plate appearances, runs scored, home runs and runs batted in...and strikeouts.

How Hechavarria got there: Traded by MIA to TBR (Jun. 2017)➡️Traded by TBR to PIT (Aug. 2018)➡️Traded by PIT to NYY (Aug. 2018)

How Stanton got there: Traded by MIA to NYY (Dec. 2017)

Postseason role: With Aaron Judge—back from a wrist injury—once again a fixture in right field, Stanton will be their designated hitter. Despite a power drought for a stretch of August and September, he found his mojo again recently to restore confidence heading into Wednesday’s elimination game. Hech is the Yanks’ utility man, only likely to see the field in emergency situations.

Oakland Athletics

Former Marlins: RHP Chris Hatcher (36.1 IP, 4.95 ERA, 5.50 FIP in 2018), RHP, Yusmeiro Petit (93.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 3.93 FIP in 2018), RHP Fernando Rodney (64.1 IP, 3.36 ERA, 4.03 FIP in 2018)

Petit made his major league debut with the Marlins, but you would be excused for not knowing that—there were a million rookies on the 2006 squad. Now at age 33, he’s finally found a niche and comfortable multi-year contract. Looking at his peripherals since joining the A’s, Rodney is still somebody who plays with fire in high-leverage situations because of inconsistent control. By bullpen standards, Hatcher has had a lot of trouble keeping balls from leaving the yard the past few seasons.

How Hatcher got there: Traded by MIA to LAD (Dec. 2014)➡️Traded by LAD to OAK (Aug. 2017)

How Petit got there: Traded by FLA to ARI (Mar. 2007)➡️Selected off waivers from ARI by SEA (Nov. 2009)➡️Released by SEA (Mar. 2010)➡️Re-signed by SEA (Mar. 2010)➡️Granted free agency (Nov. 2010)➡️Re-signed by SEA (Nov. 2010)➡️Released by SEA (Apr. 2011)➡️Signed by SFG (Jan. 2012)➡️Granted free agency (Dec. 2015)➡️Signed by WAS (Dec. 2015)➡️Granted free agency (Nov. 2016)➡️Signed by LAA (Feb. 2017)➡️Granted free agency (Nov. 2017)➡️Signed by OAK (Dec. 2017)

How Rodney got there: Granted free agency (Nov. 2016)➡️Signed by ARI (Dec. 2016)➡️Granted free agency (Nov. 2017)➡️Signed by MIN (Dec. 2017)➡️Traded by MIN to OAK (Aug. 2018)

Postseason role: Petit will pitch in the AL Wild Card Game, perhaps even for more than one inning. Not as certain about Rodney, though he’ll need to be effective for Oakland in later series for the club to have a chance at a ring. Don’t expect Hatcher to be involved.

Milwaukee Brewers

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Former Marlins: OF Christian Yelich (.326/.402/.598, 166 wRC+, 7.4 fWAR in 2018)

Yelich was his usual, very good self in the first half, then found a higher plane of existence that few players have ever known. He slashed .367/.449/.770 following the All-Star break with enough homers and run production to seriously challenge for the NL Triple Crown.

At the time, the Marlins appeared to receive fair compensation from the Brewers in a Lewis Brinson-led prospect package. But naturally, a breakout this extraordinary will have you second-guessing the decision.

How he got there: Traded by MIA to MIL (Jan. 2018)

Postseason role: The Brew Crew surged down the stretch to win the NL Central division with Yelich entrenched as their No. 2 hitter and corner outfielder. He’ll play every inning in October barring injury.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Former Marlins: C Austin Barnes (.205/.329/.290, 77 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR in 2018), OF/IF Kiké Hernández (.256/.336/.470, 118 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR in 2018), RHP Tom Koehler (did not play in 2018)

Barnes and Hernández were both thought to be bit players in the blockbuster deal centered around Dee Gordon and top prospect Andrew Heaney. But they have been important cogs in a Dodgers machine that clinched its sixth straight NL West title on Monday. Hernández has had a particularly big impact in 2018, proving he can handle all varieties of pitching after previously being cast in a platoon role.

Fun fact: Koehler remains the all-time leader in games started at Marlins Park (60). The former 18th-round draft pick used to be a steady presence in Miami’s rotation, but has seen his career stalled by injury.

How Barnes got there: Traded by MIA to LAD (Dec. 2014)

How Hernández got there: Traded by MIA to LAD (Dec. 2014)

How Koehler got there: Traded by MIA to TOR (Aug. 2017)➡️Granted free agency (Dec. 2017)➡️Signed by LAD (Dec. 2017)

Postseason role: Barnes is the clear No. 2 catching option behind Yasmani Grandal. He might pinch-run for Grandal in late-inning situations or pinch-hit for L.A. when games go into extras. Hernández’s bat and unique defensive versatility—solid at most infield and outfield positions—should earn him a spot in the lineup on most nights.

Koehler is still recovering from surgery to address a mild anterior capsule strain in his right shoulder. He’ll be focused on Twitter GIFs instead.

Atlanta Braves

Former Marlins: RHP Aníbal Sánchez (136.2 IP, 2.83 ERA, 3.62 FIP in 2018)

Perhaps the most under-the-radar great season from anybody on a 2018 postseason team. Sánchez couldn’t even get a guaranteed major league contract last winter! He had been trending in the wrong direction with an increasing earned run average and Fielder Independent Pitching in each of the previous four seasons.

On a relatively young Braves roster, Sánchez sticks out for his substantial and successful October experience with the 2012-2014 Tigers.

How he got there: Traded by MIA to DET (Jul. 2012)➡️Granted free agency (Oct. 2012)➡️Re-signed by DET (Dec. 2012)➡️Granted free agency (Nov. 2017)➡️Signed by MIN (Feb. 2018)➡️Released by MIN (Mar. 2012)➡️Signed by ATL (Mar. 2012)

Postseason role: The 34-year-old has stuck in Atlanta’s rotation since late May, and that’s where he’ll stay. Unthinkable just a few months ago.

Chicago Cubs

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Former Marlins: RHP Steve Cishek (70.1 IP, 2.18 ERA, 3.45 FIP in 2018)

The 2018 season was typical of what Cishek has done since leaving the Marlins. His unorthodox arm angle and fastball movement make him difficult to square up, so he continues to over-perform run-of-the-mill peripheral numbers.

That being said, Cishek was expendable to a non-contending Marlins team leading up to the 2015 trade deadline. They did well to get something of value—Kyle Barraclough—in return.

How he got there: Traded by MIA to STL (Jul. 2015)➡️Released by STL (Dec. 2015)➡️Signed by SEA (Dec. 2015)➡️Traded by SEA to TBR (Jul. 2017)➡️Granted free agency (Nov. 2017)➡️Signed by CHC (Dec. 2017)

Postseason role: If your team has an elite right-handed batter, especially one due up with runners on base, he will need to go through Cishek nearly every game of a series. Of course, the Cubs must advance through the NL Wild Card Game first.

Colorado Rockies

Former Marlins: LHP Mike Dunn (17.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 5.69 FIP in 2018)

The Fish’s all-time leader in relief appearances, Dunn cut down on the walks heading into free agency, and got handsomely compensated for it (three-year, $19 million contract). But the Rockies are feeling some buyer’s remorse. The lefty’s control issues resurfaced. Even when you adjust for the challenges of Coors Field, he sabotaged several winnable games earlier in the season that put this eventual postseason berth in jeopardy.

How he got there: Granted free agency (Nov. 2016)➡️Signed by COL (Dec. 2016)

Postseason role: None. Dunn has been on the disabled list since July with a shoulder injury.