The Marlins are focused on adding at least one more impactful hitter as Spring Training opens on Monday in Jupiter, Fla.

By Joe Frisaro @ManOn2nd

JUPITER, Fla. — The Miami Marlins have unfinished business to tend to as Spring Training is set to start on Monday morning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Players will take the field in the morning, after Chairman and Principal Owner Bruce Sherman, general manager Kim Ng and manager Don Mattingly each address the media.

The players already under contract won’t be the only ones garnering attention, because the front office remains active in trying to add at least one more impactful hitter.

So what you’ll see on the backfields of the complex on Monday won’t necessarily be the finished product.

There are four main free agent hitters the Marlins have been working on signing: Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, Michael Conforto and Jorge Soler.

On the trade side, Miami continues to engage in trade talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates for center fielder Bryan Reynolds. It would take a strong prospect package to acquire Reynolds.

Miami is open to trading pitching prospects for an impactful outfielder like Reynolds.

What caught us by surprise at ManOn2nd is the fact Castellanos remains a possibility for Miami. We heard this on Sunday, a few days after we basically closed the door on the possibility. Our opinions were reinforced after CC Sabathia made his comments on a podcast.

Sabathia, a former teammate of former Marlins CEO Derek Jeter, made national headlines by stating Jeter wanted Castellanos, but Miami’s ownership wasn’t willing to pay the price.

On Sunday, MO2 learned the door has not been slammed shut on signing Castellanos, a South Florida native.

Now, we’ve also heard, it may be a long shot for the Marlins to reach agreement with the right-handed power hitter who went to Archbishop McCarthy High School in Broward County.

Until Castellanos is off the free agent market, we will not rule out the possibility that he plays for his hometown team.

The Phillies, and others, are said to have interest.

Details on what it would take to sign Castellanos were not revealed. Recently, Jon Heyman reported the Marlins, before Jeter stepped away, were talking about a five-year deal.

Castellanos is a Scott Boras client, as is Conforto.

The universal DH makes it less risky for the Marlins to sign strong-bat, weak glove, players like Castellanos, Schwarber and Soler.

From what we’ve gathered, it would take a lot to fall into place for the Marlins to seal the deal with Castellanos. Still, it’s not considered impossible, per our sources.

There are a number of directions the Marlins can go to upgrade their offense.

One thing that is clear is the organization is looking to add and sign players in hopes of making a serious playoff push.

Miami has some high-end starting pitchers, and the organization recognizes there is a window now to compete.

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