Marlins shuffle first-base options: a Morel experiment, Pauley's limited experience, and Conine's power potential create a lineup puzzle.
It would have made sense for the Miami Marlins to sign a first baseman in the offseason, and technically, they did.
The Marlins signed Christopher Morel, who had previously played with the Tampa Bay Rays, intending to have him play first base.
Morel has never played at first base in the majors or the minors, so the Marlins will have to channel Brad Pitt in "Moneyball" teaching Chris Pratt how to play the position.
Unlike Scott Hatteberg, who Pratt portrayed, Morel has experience at multiple positions, having played games at second base, third base, shortstop and across the outfield.
At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Morel doesn’t have the prototypical build of a first baseman, but if he could learn all of those positions, it’s reasonable to think he could learn first.
But Miami possibly slotting Morel at first for Opening Day shows the Marlins don't have anybody established at that position.
Graham Pauley, who FanGraphs projects to start at first base, has considerably more experience than Morel at the position, having played a full six games there in his big-league career.
Despite what FanGraphs asserts, says MLB.com's Marlins beat reporter Christina De Nicola, Pauley has much more experience at third base, having played 52 games there last season. With Pauley hitting from the left side of the plate and Connor Norby from the right side, it would be logical for those two to platoon, making it hard for the Marlins to commit to Pauley as the everyday first baseman.
There’s an argument to be made that Norby would be Miami’s best defensive first baseman. He was an solid defender at third last year, recording six outs above average, and his quick reaction time could make him a natural defender at first.
Miami also has Griffin Conine, who has shown that he can mash in the minors (130 home runs over seven seasons), but has only played in 54 big-league games due to missing most of last season with a shoulder injury.
If Conine's power translates to the majors, it will be hard to keep him out of the lineup.
Right now, FanGraphs projects Conine to be Miami's designated hitter, but that situation could get tricky if top catching prospect Joe Mack makes his expected debut and current catcher Agustín Ramírez hits well enough to warrant being in the lineup.
Conine was an outfielder in the minors, but with the Marlins bringing back All-Star Kyle Stowers (left field) and speedster Jakob Marsee (center field) and trading for big-time prospect Owen Caissie (right field), Miami should be set there, so if the Marlins don't have an answer at first early, they could turn to Conine.
The biggest wild card is Deyvison De Los Santos, who was once thought to be a top prospect but hasn’t panned out thus far.
If De Los Santos regains his form, that could be the Marlins' long-term answer.
With spring training still weeks away, the Marlins could look toward an external option at first, with free-agent Nathanial Lowe still being available. But considering the Marlins don't generally sign free agents, it's reasonable to think they'll roll with what they've got.
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