Marlins believe they can challenge Nats for NL East supremacy

JUPITER, Fla. - In the last four seasons, the Miami Marlins have finished with 90, 93, 100 and 85 losses. Now, after a 15-win improvement last season, they're taking aim at challenging the Nationals in the National League East.

"Absolutely, we think we have a chance to win the division,'' Marlins closer Steve Cishek said. "This team is playing unselfish baseball. It's a new attitude. The players are buying into it. This team is together. We have a chip on our shoulder. We're ready to go.''

This is new territory for the Marlins. As recently as October, they were known more for their frugality and instability as well as their ability to break up championship teams. Now, this season, their trying to re-route history.

"Fans want to believe, but we still have to show them because their minds are in the past,'' said Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.

The turnaround started on Nov. 19 when the Marlins announced they had signed Stanton, the All-Star outfielder, to a record 13-year, $325 million contract. Then, last week, the Marlins signed left-fielder Christian Yelich to a $49.57 million extension.

The Marlins added a former National, Michael Morse, for a power bat to hit behind Stanton and a speed guy, Dee Gordon, who led the NL with 64 steals for the Dodger last season, to hit leadoff. The Marlins have an experienced hitter at third base in Martin Prado and their fourth outfielder is Ichiro Suzuki. They traded for starter Mat Latos from Cincinnati, adding a top-flight pitcher to a talented rotation.

Now all they need is credibility, something they didn't have last spring training. Stanton hit 37 home runs last season and, according to Home Run Tracker, five of the 20 longest blasts of 2014, but there was always the question of whether he was going to get traded to big-money teams in Boston, New York or Los Angeles.

He said constant trade talk didn't bother him. Still, he wasn't sure.

"A year ago, I had no idea what was going to happen, but things changed,'' Stanton said. "Ownership laid out a plan, and it is positive. We are heading in the right direction. I believe it.''

The Marlins finished 19 games behind the Nationals last season, and now they are ready to challenge the team that has won two of the last three division titles. And the Marlins might be in the best position to take a run at Washington.

The Braves finished last in the NL in runs scored last season and traded Jason Heyward, Evan Gattis and Justin Upton, their three best hitters. The Phillies are trying to rebuild and the Mets are improved, but their second-best pitcher, Zack Wheeler, is out for the season with an elbow injury.

"The Nationals' pitching is their best attribute,'' Stanton said. "But we are a confident team.''

Morse, who hit 16 home runs despite injuries last season for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants, grew up in Miami a Marlins fan. He has plenty of Marlins memorabilia and giveaways from attending games stuffed into boxes in his garage.

He understands why fans are leery of the Marlins, but he thinks the instability is in the past. "Those days are over and ownership is trying to put a winner on the field. There's a new direction," he said. "This team is very good.''

Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia agrees.

"You can't just sign a couple of players and say the direction has changed,'' Saltalamacchia said. "You have to go out and prove it by winning. We don't look too far ahead, but we are confident of where we are at.''