Xs and 0s

 

Xavier Edwards is in a really interesting position right now, because for the first time in his career, the skies have opened up specifically for him to become a star. 

You probably recall some of the journey Edwards took to this moment in Miami. He was a big infield prospect in San Diego upon being drafted in 2018, but in 2019 it seemed like Fernando Tatis would be the answer at shortstop for the Padres for a while. So after the 2019 season, the Padres trade Edwards to the Rays for Hunter Renfroe. Then a season or so later the Padres move Tatis to center and sign Xander Bogaerts, who was hurt for the majority of 2024. Meaning the Padres...really could have used Xavier Edwards.

But then he plays in the Rays' system for a while, begins to work his way up there. Then in 2022, the Rays call up THEIR top shortstop prospect, and he's immediately a hit, and they sign him to a 10 year deal. Again, no reason to keep Edwards, as he's not exactly the kind of talent meant to back up other guys, so they trade him, and J.T. Chargois, to the Marlins at the end of the 2022 season. Of course, in mid-2023 the Rays' shortstop of the next ten years becomes a waste of several hundred million dollars, and the Rays are now stuck between Taylor Walls, Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero and eventually Jose Caballero for short. Which means the Rays...really could have used Xavier Edwards.

Edwards finally saw the majors last year with the Marlins, and because of the crowded infield situation he didn't have much to do there. He still hit .295 in 30 games, with 23 hits and 3 RBIs, but it wasn't as much of a big breakout as he'd hoped after years in the minors. 

So this year, not only did the Marlins trade Luis Arraez, not only did they get rid of Joey Wendle and Garrett Hampson before the season, but they cut Tim Anderson after a miserable year. Meaning, as more and more people were getting traded, and as Edwards was more and more in demand, Xavier Edwards was the Marlins' active leader in WAR after the dust settled on the trade deadline. 

I'm honestly happy that someone, at the very least, is keeping the lights on in Miami right now, and the fact that it's Edwards, who's been looking for a hero moment his whole career, is pretty cool. In 32 2024 games, Edwards is batting .383 with 13 RBIs, 44 hits and a .925 OPS. For comparison's sake, nobody else on the Marlins has an OPS over .800. Edwards is the kind of contact hitting standout that this team needs to build on in the wake of Chisholm's departure. The closest thing this team has to a veteran right now is Jesus Sanchez, and while he's been hot lately it mostly looks like he's auditioning for an offseason trade. Edwards, and to a lesser extent Kyle Stowers, could anchor this team as they rebuild, and I'd be fine with that. 

So yeah, I'm just happy that Xavier Edwards' breakout moment gets to be one where he's so high in demand, and one where the Marlins are actually winning games. In a season most Marlins fans would prefer to forget, that's pretty cool.

Coming Tonight: The third-most-consistent White Sox pitcher, who's now been upgraded, unfortunately, to the second-most-consistent White Sox pitcher. In his rookie season.