Rosenthal: The Marlins still haven’t signed a single free agent. Why?

Anyone seen the Miami Marlins this offseason?

If you’re looking at the list of teams that have signed one or more free agents to a major-league contract, you sure haven’t.

The Marlins are coming off their first playoff appearance in a full season since winning the 2003 World Series. They employ the reigning National League Manager of the Year, Skip Schumaker. Yet, with spring training less than a month away, they are the only team that has yet to add a major-league free agent.

Even the John Fisher A’s, kicking and screaming that they must field a 26-man roster for their final season in Oakland, have dabbled in the market, spending a combined $2.25 million on right-handers Trevor Gott and Osvaldo Bido. For a franchise that is uncertain where it will play from 2025 to ’27 while awaiting its new home in Las Vegas, that practically qualifies as a spending spree.

The Marlins, under owner Bruce Sherman, have done nothing of the sort.

Their most newsworthy act this offseason was running off general manager Kim Ng, who declined her end of a mutual option for 2024, believing she was underappreciated and being stripped of her power by Sherman.

Ng hired Schumaker and built a playoff team with the game’s sixth-lowest payroll. Heaven forbid Sherman build on that momentum. Playing in a market where they historically struggle to keep fans interested, he appears to be taking another step backward.

Why the inertia?

Sherman and new general manager Peter Bendix declined comment, but Marlins officials briefed on the team’s strategy say Bendix is devoting most of his time and resources to improving the team’s infrastructure. To that end, Miami has added three executives — assistant general manager Gabe Kapler, farm director Rachel Balkovec and director of baseball operations Vinesh Kanthan — to positions that either were left vacant last season or did not exist. A variety of upgrades in staffing, technology and other areas is necessary throughout the organization, those officials say.

At least the team is not publicly using uncertain future revenues from its regional sports network as an excuse for its lack of spending. Such a rationale would ring hollow when the Reds and Royals, two other low-revenue clubs in a similar position with bankrupt broadcaster Diamond Sports, have spent $106.2 million and $105 million on free agents, respectively.

Even those in the Marlins’ organization who are frustrated by the team’s inactivity acknowledge the organization’s infrastructure needs work, most notably in the farm system and international department. Ng, in her two years as GM, did not have time to fully untangle the mess she inherited.

Spending on infrastructure and major-league payroll should not be mutually exclusive, particularly for a team coming off a playoff appearance. Yet, Miami’s estimated payroll of $97 million is $13 million below where it finished last season.

Bendix has made two trades, both relatively minor, both involving former Rays. The first was for infielder Vidal Bruján and right-hander Calvin Faucher, who arrived in a five-player deal with Tampa Bay on Nov. 17. The second involved catcher Christian Bethancourt, who was acquired from the Guardians for cash on Dec. 10, a little more than a month after the Rays waived him.

The offseason is not over yet, but don’t expect the Marlins to make a sudden plunge into the market, similar to the one the Chicago Cubs might be plotting. If Bendix does anything significant, it likely will be a trade of a starting pitcher. Even without Sandy Alcántara, who will miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October, the Marlins consider themselves relatively deep in starters. Moving right-hander Edward Cabrera or, less likely, lefty Jesús Luzardo could make sense, particularly if it brings back a shortstop.

The loss of Alcántara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, is one reason the Marlins are showing restraint in the market, a team source said. Another is first baseman Josh Bell exercising his $16.5 million player option and accounting for almost 20 percent of the current payroll. The Marlins also went a league-best 33-14 in one-run games while finishing 84-78 last season. In outperforming their expected won-loss record by nine wins, the largest differential in the majors, they were a bit lucky. Maybe a lot lucky, considering they scored the fifth-fewest runs.

OK, but when do the Marlins stop playing for tomorrow? Bendix’s long-term mission is to make the team as efficient and astute as the Rays, a worthy goal. But reliever Tanner Scott is under control only through 2024, second baseman Luis Arraez through ’25, Luzardo and center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. through ’26. The competitive window is relatively open. The farm system, ranked 26th out of 30 by Baseball America after the trade deadline, won’t provide much help anytime soon. What about today?

Free agency, to be sure, is not always the answer, especially for low-revenue clubs that operate with little margin for error. The Baltimore Orioles, since Mike Elias took over as general manager in Nov. 2018, have yet to sign any player, including one of their own, to a multiyear contract. But after years of tanking, they hit on draft picks and developed young talent well, setting themselves up for long-term success.

The Marlins, aside from the tanking part, ideally would mimic that formula, too. Even when they do pursue free agents, it’s not as if they play at the top of the market. Last offseason, according to sources briefed on their discussions, they would not even extend to two years for an accomplished veteran, Justin Turner. So they often end up overpaying for lesser options, the Avisaíl Garcías, Jean Seguras and Johnny Cuetos of the world.

Still, with so many free agents still available, shrewd pickups remain possible. Perhaps that is the Marlins’ plan, to simply lie in wait. Even then, their approach with Soler seems odd. If Sherman is preoccupied with the long term, why would he forfeit a potential draft pick by declining to make Soler a qualifying offer? For that matter, why would the owner not react to present circumstances and seek a potential discount with Soler, who was said to be comfortable in Miami and continues to linger on the market? “Because we’re paying Josh Bell $16.5 million” is not a sufficient answer.

At this rate, a familiar cycle for the Marlins will begin anew. Team declines to spend. Team fails to contend. Team trades off veterans at the deadline, pointing to the future.

No one should be surprised to see Miami’s season play out just like that.

Wash, rinse, repeat. The Marlins are at it again.

(Photo of Josh Bell: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)