When the Marlins did their first fire sale, Derrek Lee was one of the prizes in return, coming over from the Padres as the centerpiece of the return for ace Kevin Brown. Standing 6-foot-5, he was a physically imposing first baseman who initially struggled to find his rhythm in the big leagues.

The first two seasons in the Marlins organization were a struggle, but by 2000, he had a breakout in 2000, belting 28 home runs and batting .281. Between 2001 and 2002, he continued to produce at a steady rate, averaging over 20 homers a year while showcasing an athletic range at first base that was rare for his size, but it was in 2003 that Lee had his best season in a Marlins uniform.

In that season, he hit 31 home runs and drove in 92 runs, while his glove work earned him his first Gold Glove Award. He was a force during the postseason, notably making a spectacular grab in Game 5 of the World Series to help preserve a crucial win. During this stretch, he was a tactical giant who provided the defense and power necessary to stun the Yankees and secure the title.

The end of his run as a Marlin was easy to predict.  Much as he arrived in “Fire Sale 1.0”, he departed in “Fire Sale 2.0”.  Lee was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he had his best run in baseball.  With the Marlins, he had 734 hits, 129 home runs, and a .264 batting average.

Dee Strange-Gordon joined South Beach following a major seven-player trade with the Dodgers in late 2014, arriving as an All-Star known for game-changing speed. Although the Marlins seldom acquire big-name stars, they signed a top leadoff hitter who instantly upgraded their top order. Over three seasons with Miami, he was a frequent base stealer and a defensive star, recording one of the franchise’s most outstanding individual seasons before his departure, which was somewhat complicated.

In 2015, Strange-Gordon had the season of his life, becoming the first player since Jackie Robinson in 1949 to win a National League Batting Title (.333) and lead the league in stolen bases (58) in the same year. He also topped the majors with 205 hits, earning his second All-Star nod alongside both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.

His Florida residency took a dark turn in 2016 when he received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. This coincided with a major contract extension, casting a shadow over his achievements and causing him to miss nearly half the season. Despite this, he demonstrated resilience upon returning, playing 79 games and stealing 30 bases. Though the suspension affected the team's momentum, he remained a clubhouse mainstay, working to regain trust.

Strange-Gordon wrapped up his Miami tenure with an impressive redemption season in 2017. He appeared in 158 games, once again driving the lineup with energy, amassing 201 hits, and leading the league with 60 stolen bases. He hit .308, scored 114 runs, and often acted as the catalyst for Giancarlo Stanton’s notable MVP campaign. Although he achieved personal success, the Marlins began rebuilding under new ownership and traded him to the Seattle Mariners in December 2017.

As a Marlin, Strange-Gordon had a .309 batting average, 148 stolen bases, and 493 hits.

A.J. Burnett arrived in Florida as a central piece of the 1998 trade that sent Al Leiter to the Mets, bringing a high-octane fastball and a curveball that became a nightmare for hitters. During his seven-season run with the club, he emerged as a powerful yet erratic force in the rotation, often balancing flashes of absolute brilliance with a struggle for command.

After bouncing between the minors and the big leagues during his first two seasons, Burnett demonstrated his ceiling on May 12, 2001, by tossing a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres. It remains one of the strangest performances in baseball history, as he secured the feat despite issuing nine walks.

During the 2002 season, he authored a campaign that led the major leagues with five shutouts. He demonstrated complete mastery of the strike zone at times, earning 12 wins and 203 strikeouts while allowing only 6.7 hits per nine innings. Although the Marlins won the World Series in 2003, Burnett faced a major setback that October; he was sidelined for the entire season after Tommy John surgery, watching the championship from the dugout as he focused on a prolonged recovery.

In 2005, he enjoyed a durable farewell campaign, logging 209 innings and striking out 198 batters with a 3.44 ERA. He proved he was fully recovered from surgery, though his tenure ended with a tactical exit as he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent following the season. He posted a 49-50 record with 753 Strikeouts and a 3.73 ERA with Florida.

Josh Beckett joined the Marlins organization as the second overall pick in 1999, carrying high expectations as a Texas fireballer often compared to legendary players from his home state. Though he initially faced minor injuries and took time to adjust to the speed of the major leagues, he ultimately became the key player in a postseason run that changed the franchise's course.

After a brief debut in 2001 where he posted a 1.50 ERA in four starts, Beckett spent 2002 adjusting to the demands of a full major league season, finishing with a 6-7 record. By the next spring, he showed tactical growth, becoming the youngest Opening Day starter in the team's history. His 2003 regular season, with a 3.04 ERA and 152 strikeouts, was respectable, but it was October that elevated him to national prominence.

In the playoffs, Beckett delivered performances that verge on legendary. He demonstrated resilience in the NLCS against Chicago by throwing a complete-game shutout in Game 5 and coming back on two days' rest to pitch four scoreless innings in Game 7. His defining moment, however, was in the Fall Classic against the Yankees. On short rest in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, he pitched a five-hit shutout to secure the victory, earning World Series MVP honors and securing his legacy in the organization. 

The final seasons in Miami saw a shift to a high-volume workload, although he often experienced localized setbacks that restricted his total appearances. In 2005, he achieved his most productive regular season for the Fish, with 15 wins and 161 strikeouts over nearly 180 innings. He demonstrated complete mastery of his high-velocity fastball and sharp curve, delivering a top-tier arm to the organization during a transitional period.

In November 2005, Beckett was traded to the Red Sox with Mike Lowell in a blockbuster deal that sent Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez to the Marlins. He earned multiple All-Stars and another ring in Boston, but his Miami days are remembered for raw power and October heroics that marked the franchise's second golden season.

With the Marlins, Beckett accumulated a 41-34 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 607 strikeouts.