Fernandez’s death casts pall on Marlins’ season

MIAMI — How they performed for four months, and where they were positioned in the standings through July, had many believing 2016 was finally going to be the year the Marlins returned to the postseason.

But the optimism began to fade in August, as injuries started mounting. The Marlins were then dealt a devastating blow in late September, when Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident. Fernandez’s passing broke the collective hearts of everyone associated with the Marlins, the community and the baseball world.

Emotionally drained in the final week, the Marlins dropped four of their final six games and finished 79-82. The franchise still hasn’t had a winning season since 2009 and hasn’t been in the postseason since ’03.

2016 Year in Review Final 2016 MLB stats Final 2016 MLB standings Hot Stove Tracker Select a team ¬–AL East ¬BaltimoreBostonNew YorkTampa BayToronto–AL Central ¬ChicagoClevelandDetroitKansas CityMinnesota–AL West ¬HoustonLos AngelesOaklandSeattleTexas–NL East ¬AtlantaMiamiNew YorkPhiladelphiaWashington–NL Central ¬ChicagoCincinnatiMilwaukeePittsburghSt. Louis–NL West ¬ArizonaColoradoLos AngelesSan DiegoSan FranciscoFull coverage ¬–PostseasonAll-Star GameDraftStatcastOpening DayHall of Fame inductionsJackie Robinson DayRoberto Clemente DayFort Bragg GameTrade DeadlineWinter MeetingsAwardsFeats, tributes ¬–Ichiro reaches 3,000 hitsArrieta’s second career no-hitterScherzer strikes out 20Scully retires after legendary careerBig Papi calls it a careerJose Fernandez: 1992-2016Monte Irvin: 1919-2016Ralph Branca: 1926-2016

If there is anything to take away from how the season ended, it’s how the team bonded together. The players were already a tightly knit group in manager Don Mattingly’s first season in Miami, but they grew even closer by Fernandez’s passing.

“Everyone knows how the season ended for us and the challenges that we faced heading into the offseason,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “We look at the group of men we’ve assembled in that clubhouse, and we’re confident with the position-player core that we have.”

Before looking forward to what is ahead, MLB.com takes a look back at the top storylines the Marlins had in 2016.

5. Struggles …

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