Should the Marlins Be Buying Bad Contracts for Prospects? 

The Marlins: Are they shrewdly rebuilding or disgracefully tanking?

Miami’s projected $67MM payroll, the lowest in baseball alongside Oakland, raises some eyebrows. While their front office has been busy shedding veterans and acquiring young talent, is this a sustainable long-term strategy? Or are they exploiting revenue sharing rules without investing back into a competitive roster? Are they missing a golden opportunity to “buy” prospects from cash-strapped teams burdened by bad contracts?

This fires up a bigger debate about the need for a salary floor in MLB. Could a floor force teams like the Marlins to be more competitive, or would it simply create artificial spending? What are the potential unintended consequences of such a rule? Is it fair to fans in Miami who deserve a team that invests in winning?

Let's talk about the Marlins’ fire sale approach. Is Peter Bendix a genius for strategically dismantling and rebuilding, or has he simply given up too quickly on established players? Is their rapid turnover of talent a sign of a well-defined plan or simply a lack of commitment?

Weigh in: Is Miami’s approach a smart rebuild or a blatant disregard for fielding a competitive team? What's the optimal balance between fiscal responsibility and putting a winning product on the field? Share your thoughts and let the debate begin.

Absolutely, let’s dive into this Braves convo—there’s a lot to unpack.

First off, I totally get the skepticism around Spring Training results. Finishing at .500 can feel underwhelming, but honestly? Spring Training is more about getting reps, testing depth, and avoiding injuries (which, ironically, didn't work out so well this year). So while De La Cruz’s bomb was fun to watch, the bigger concern is the IL list growing before Opening Day.

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Sean Murphy being out? That's a gut punch. Acuña is the heartbeat of that lineup, and Murphy is a huge presence behind the plate. The Braves are still contenders, but those absences definitely shift the load onto guys like Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and even younger depth pieces. It’s going to test their internal development and coaching big time.

Zach Thompson though? Man, he’s looking like a low-key steal right now. If he keeps this up, he could absolutely be a bridge guy—either stepping in for innings or becoming that reliable swingman every contender needs. I’m not ready to label him a rotation lock, but my bold prediction? He gets 10+ starts and solidifies himself as a key contributor by midseason.

As for Opening Day expectations, I think the Braves will bounce back stronger than Spring Training showed. They've got the culture, the leadership, and the talent—even with injuries—to avoid a full-on rocky start. But they’ll need to lean on their depth and bullpen more than ever early on.

What about you? Any sleeper picks from the bench that could surprise us? And do you think the Braves should pursue early-season trades if the IL list grows?