Updated Marlins Opening Day roster projection entering 2025

[Isaac Azout]

With the start of spring training only a month-and-a-half away, these Marlins players are best positioned to break camp and head to Miami for Opening Day on March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Three weeks removed from Fish On First's previous Marlins roster projection, a series of recent transactions calls for a fresh update. The trade of another fan favorite has muddied the starting rotation picture while two new inexpensive bats seemingly have good shots of landing Opening Day jobs.

To recap, Miami dealt left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for two prospects, highlighted by 19-year-old Starlyn Caba, who now ranks second on FOF's Top 30 prospects list. While neither Caba nor Emaarion Boyd (the other prospect in the deal) will be with Miami on March 27, Luzardo's active roster spot is now up for grabs. 

It wasn’t as significant as the Luzardo deal, but Miami did complete a trade of a couple of former Top 100 prospects in late December. The Marlins sent utility man Vidal Bruján to the Chicago Cubs for first baseman Matt Mervis and cash considerations. Mervis, 27, should see considerable playing time at first base and designated hitter against right-handed pitching. 

Additionally, the club signed free agent Eric Wagaman to a one-year split contract. The 27-year-old is a right-handed bat with solid power potential and will attempt to help fill the void left by Jake Burger's departure. 

As a periodic reminder, the MLB active roster consists of 26 players, typically 13 position players and 13 pitchers. Below are the 26 players I believe will break camp with the big league team and make the 83-mile drive to loanDepot park from Jupiter. 

Disagree with any aspect of this projection? Feel free to comment with your own.

 

Position players

Default starting lineup: C Nick Fortes, 1B Matt Mervis, 2B Otto Lopez, 3B Connor Norby, SS Xavier Edwards, LF Kyle Stowers, CF Dane Myers, RF Jesús Sánchez and DH Jonah Bride. 

Bench: C Liam Hicks, INF Eric Wagaman, UTIL Javier Sanoja and OF Derek Hill. 

While top prospects Deyvison De Los Santos and Agustín Ramírez are both on the 40-man roster and practically big league ready, I find it hard to believe the Marlins will start the clock on them in late March. Also, each could benefit from more Triple-A reps as Ramirez needs to fine-tune his defense and DLS his offensive approach. 

Assuming he doesn't have an atrocious spring training, Rule 5 Draft selection Liam Hicks figures to be the backup catcher to Nick Fortes. If he is returned to Detroit, the other two catchers on the 40-man roster are Jhonny Pereda and the aforementioned Ramírez. 

The lone free agent addition for Miami this off-season was Wagaman, who should see a decent amount of playing time at first base, mostly platooning with left-handed hitting Matt Mervis. Wagaman spent most of 2024 in the Angels system, slashing .274/.339/.469 across AA/AAA. 

Lastly, with lefty hitters like Kyle Stowers and Jesús Sánchez expected to do most of their damage against right-handed pitching, it could open the door for Javier Sanoja to get enough reps to justify putting him on the major league roster. Sanoja, the 14th-ranked prospect in Miami’s system, got his first taste of the Majors last season and performed exactly as advertised: great defensive versatility, excellent bat-to-ball skills and limited power. He will likely begin the year at AAA so he can play every day, but I do see a world where he breaks camp with the team. 

The one notable omission would be Griffin Conine, who played surprisingly well in his 30 games in the majors last season. With Sánchez and Stowers, it would be a bit redundant for all three players to be on the roster simultaneously. 

 

Pitchers

Starting rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Braxton Garrett, Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer.

Bullpen: Calvin Faucher, Jesús Tinoco, Anthony Bender, Anthony Veneziano, Declan Cronin, Lake Bachar, Andrew Nardi and Xzavion Curry. 

With the trade of Jesús Luzardo, there is an opening in the club's starting rotation. Miami will give every opportunity to former third overall pick Max Meyer to earn that spot. In 2024, Meyer threw 115 innings between Triple-A and the majors. 

A wild card in the competition this spring could be Adam Mazur. A trade deadline acquisition last year, Mazur already made his MLB debut with the Padres and with a strong Grapefruit League showing, he could find himself at loanDepot for Opening Day. 

Phenom Eury Pérez, still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is expected to be back around the All-Star break. The Triple-A rotation will likely include Meyer or Mazur, Robby Snelling, Valente Bellozo, Patrick Monteverde and minor league signing Robinson Piña. 

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[2qbn]

As I was reading the default starting lineup I could not help but think of that line in Major League.

"Who the hell are these guys?"

[Hans Herrera]

Excellent Isaac! Although I would play it slightly differently

I think Conine has the edge over Stowers solely based on how they performed last season. They both have options, so either can be sent down to Jax. I recognise this is one of the main battles of Spring Training along with the 5th starter.

Speaking of which, I'd have Bellozo in some capacity. If he loses the rotation spot to Meyer, then I would stash him as the multi-innings reliever, so important early in the season when starters continue to build up. I would demote Bachar instead.

Finally, I like Dane Myers, but Derek Hill did a tremendous job last season, particularly with the glove and vs LHP. It might be the 3rd big competition this spring. Pittsburg will start Skenes, so Myers will be in CF. My take is that Myers is not a slam-dunk starter yet.

[Slacker Mills]

None of the projected OF guys are impressive, but Stowers looked really bad in particular. Perhaps nine or ten of the predicted pitchers will land on the opening day roster.

[Chad Turner]

17 minutes ago, Slacker Mills said:

None of the projected OF guys are impressive, but Stowers looked really bad in particular. Perhaps nine or ten of the predicted pitchers will land on the opening day roster.

If you look at Stowers' MiLB numbers, they are arguably the best on this club.  You can't judge him solely on the worst slump of his career.  He will be given another chance to prove he's not Lewis Brinson.  But based on the last 2 months of the season, the spot would obviously go to Conine.  We are likely to see at least 60 players suit up for the Marlins this season, so they will all get a chance.  Plus we still could sign a FA OF that would keep them both in the minors.  It's a fun exercise anyway. 

[1993 fan from start]

milb number don't mean nothing after you  have over  160 AB in mlb .  Stower milb numbers only buy trips up and down in mlb /milb  . He still have to prove himself in spring .  Because of his numbers in 313 AB . Media  people/fans will judge  him hard if keep failing.

You can't judge him solely on the worst slump of his career.   you can because he has no other stay in mlb. and it not a slump. when it how he putting number up in  mlb.

192 Ab Stower  15R RBI 24  3 HR   Griffin Conine AB 82  ,14R  RBI 12 3 HR  Conine  is better choice.  why would keep in minor?  Stower only needs minors.   He gotton worst sent living AL .  Conine shown he deserve the shot to  be playing..   Their no slump with Conine yet.  And has  predoution  over Stower .  if we judge both

[rurrusuno]

I'd definitely swap Kyle Stowers for Griffin Conine. Stowers could use some time to get some reps in the minors until someone gets hurt or he improves. In the meantime, Conine has shown that he's worthy of an OF spot as well and I believe he can prove his case in Spring Training. Other than that, your projections are on point for the position players. 

Your pitcher's list is on point as well. Max Meyer should be able to get that last rotation spot unless he shows otherwise. It should be his until Eury Perez comes back or maybe he does well enough that things get interesting with the rotation slots. 

[One Regend]

This looks like a 110-loss team, honestly. I expect Sandy and Brax to be traded for packages of 1B/DH prospects and some 5'9 2B prospects by the end of July, because apparently, that's what Peter Bendix has an overwhelming desire for.

Something tells me hiring a Tampa Bay castoff as a front office executive is going to be even worse than Jeter's clownshow.

[BMK3]

Well that default line-up is absolutely woeful.  It is possible that Jacksonville can have a very good year. Matt Mervis has never hit anything in the major leagues and Stowers has yet to show me he can catch up to a fastball.  I want Jake Burger back and some money spent on something resembling a left fielder.  I could possibly watch that line-up. I am really getting to hate Bendix.

Now the pitching staff with some good health could have been very much fun. With Luzardo we would have had an excellent starting staff capable of winning on any night. Of course Garrett would need to be able to lift his left arm above his shoulder.  Max Meyer has bullpen  (perhaps closer) written all over him. Still interesting. I don't think I have disliked a GM more than Bendix since George Weiss traded Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi.

They say give us 2-3 years. We are fixin' to spend some money at the right time.  Don't hold you breath. 

[Russell]

On 1/4/2025 at 4:41 PM, BMK3 said:

Well that default line-up is absolutely woeful.  It is possible that Jacksonville can have a very good year. Matt Mervis has never hit anything in the major leagues and Stowers has yet to show me he can catch up to a fastball.  I want Jake Burger back and some money spent on something resembling a left fielder.  I could possibly watch that line-up. I am really getting to hate Bendix.

Now the pitching staff with some good health could have been very much fun. With Luzardo we would have had an excellent starting staff capable of winning on any night. Of course Garrett would need to be able to lift his left arm above his shoulder.  Max Meyer has bullpen  (perhaps closer) written all over him. Still interesting. I don't think I have disliked a GM more than Bendix since George Weiss traded Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi.

They say give us 2-3 years. We are fixin' to spend some money at the right time.  Don't hold you breath. 

Mike Hill was god awful too, was he considered the GM or team President?  In Seattle we are not loving Jerry Dipoto as the Ms have perhaps the best rotation in baseball and yet haven't done anything this offseason to improve the lineup.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I am high on Stowers. He will settle in and be an excellent player for the Marlins. 

[Ely Sussman]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:55 AM, Hans Herrera said:

I'd have Bellozo in some capacity. If he loses the rotation spot to Meyer, then I would stash him as the multi-innings reliever, so important early in the season when starters continue to build up.

That's fair. Sort of putting him in the same category of Xzavion Curry.

The unfortunate reality for Bellozo is he will constantly have to prove himself in this era where the sport is obsessed with velocity. When a right-hander with a "normal" delivery rarely cracks 90 mph, projections won't trust him to keep it up.

[BMK3]

34 minutes ago, THOMAS JOSEPH said:

I am high on Stowers. He will settle in and be an excellent player for the Marlins. 

From your mouth to god's ears.  I wish us luck. But I'm not holding my breath

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

On 1/6/2025 at 1:41 PM, BMK3 said:

From your mouth to god's ears.  I wish us luck. But I'm not holding my breath

I believe Norby, Stowers, DLS, Ramirez, and others' development will be largely due to the low-pressure atmosphere in Miami. They should have time and the ABs. Moreover, there's much to say about competitive windows when a young, talented team matures together.