The 5 best first basemen in this year’s MLB free agent class

[Kevin Barral]

The Miami Marlins enter the 2025-26 offseason feeling confident about their depth at most positions and the impactful prospects who are close to arriving at the major league level. However, there is one obvious roster hole that cannot be ignored. Assuming the Marlins have more financial flexibility and motivation to spend on upgrades than they did in years past, the biggest item on Peter Bendix's shopping list should be first base.

In 2025, Marlins first basemen ranked 24th in Major League Baseball in fWAR (-0.5) and 28th in wRC+ (83). The majority of that production came from rookie Eric Wagaman. To his credit, Wagaman had a strong finish to the season when he began platooning with fellow rookie Troy Johnston. When he wasn't catching, Liam Hicks also got occasional reps there. Each of those players could contribute in the future, but they lack the power that is normally expected to come from that position.

In the minor leagues, Deyvison De Los Santos and Nathan Martorella have not developed as hoped since being acquired in trades during the 2024 season. De Los Santos in particular is likely to make his MLB debut in 2026, but the Marlins cannot rely on the 22-year-old to be successful right away considering the disappointing season he just had at the Triple-A level. It makes a lot of sense for the Marlins to pursue short-term help in free agency.

 

1. Pete Alonso

2025 team: New York Mets

The cream of the crop within the first base market is Pete Alonso, who announced about ten minutes after Sunday's game that he would be opting out of his contract and entering free agency for a second straight offseason. The all-time Mets home run leader is coming off a season where he slashed .272/.347/.524/.871 with 38 homers, 126 RBI and a 141 wRC+. He was especially awesome when facing the Marlins (.389/.441/.815/1.255, 5 HR and 19 RBI in 13 G).

Alonso was born in Tampa and played college ball at the University of Florida. He seems to love loanDepot park—since becoming a big leaguer, he has hit more home runs at the venue (15) than any other visiting player.

Alonso would easily be the best power hitter that the Marlins have had since Giancarlo Stanton. He would also be easily the team's most expensive player ever in terms of annual salary considering that he is declining a $24 million player option to test the market.

 

2. Josh Naylor

2025 teams: Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners

Reuniting with their former first-round draft pick would be another dream scenario for the Marlins. Josh Naylor is coming off a career year, slashing .295/.353/.462/.816 with 20 home runs, 92 RBI and a 128 wRC+. He has been a consistently good contact hitter and 2025 was no exception as he cut down his strikeout rate to 13.7%.

On a more surprising front, Naylor stole more bases (30) than anybody on the Marlins did. The majority of those steals came after he moved to Seattle in a deadline deal.

With Naylor only being 28 years old, he will be aiming for a long-term deal that almost certainly is out of the Marlins' price range.

 

3. Ryan O'Hearn

2025 teams: Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres

Outside of Alonso and Naylor, the next-best options at first base profile as platoon players rather than true everyday solutions. A first-time All-Star in 2025, Ryan O'Hearn slashed .281/.366/.437/.803 with 17 home runs, 63 RBI and a 127 wRC+. He got 80% of his plate appearances against right-handed pitching, though he performed just as well in his limited opportunities against lefties.

O'Hearn was valuable on the defensive side, posting six outs above average and four defensive runs saved. Although he has plenty of experience in right field, the Marlins have a lot of depth there and would be viewing the 32-year-old only as a first baseman moving forward.

This is O'Hearn's third straight year of playoff experience, which never hurts.

 

4. Paul Goldschmidt

2025 team: New York Yankees

Paul Goldschmidt would be the epitome of a veteran presence in the clubhouse. A borderline Hall of Fame candidate once he retires, the 2026 season would be his 16th in the league.

Goldschmidt was the NL MVP in 2022, but he has clearly declined since then. He finished the 2025 regular season slashing .274/.328/.403/.731 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI and a 103 wRC+, with almost all of his production coming off of lefties (169 wRC+). After signing for $12.5 million as a free agent last offseason, it's safe to assume his price would dip even more this time around.

 

5. Josh Bell

2025 team: Washington Nationals

Josh Bell was well respected by those who were around him when he spent a year with the Marlins organization. In Washington, the journeyman switch-hitter quietly hit at a very high level from the middle of June through season's end to recover from a slow start to 2025. Overall, he slashed .239/.326/.421/.747 with 22 home runs, 63 RBI and a 109 wRC+.

Bell has an impressive history of durability, reaching 140 games played in every full-length season he's been a part of. His salary was only $6 million with the Nats, so affording him won't be an issue.

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[Hans Herrera]

Or, maybe, #BringBackLewinDiaz

[Hippyboi]

No way they will spend money on the top 2 and the back end 3 are no better than Johnston Wagaman.

I think Diaz is doing well in Asia

[Robert Hanson]

Alonso is obviously out of the Marlins price range.
  Goldschmidt looks just about cooked. 
Bell is/would be a good veteran in the clubhouse, but not thrilled with his glove. Marlins already have a DH in Agustin.

     This leaves O’Hearn & Naylor. wRC+ are virtually identical. Love that Naylor steals bases. Love O’Hearn’s glove even more. 
     Would go with O’Hearn. This would leave the Marlins good defensively in the infield, depending whether Pauley or Norby starts at 3rd. All outfielders good defensively, except for possibly Heriberto and he isn’t bad.

   If Mack can hit MLB pitching, this gives the Marlins a good team, defensively. When’s the last time we could say that??

[1993 fan from start]

29 minutes ago, Robert Hanson said:

Alonso is obviously out of the Marlins price range.
  Goldschmidt looks just about cooked. 
Bell is/would be a good veteran in the clubhouse, but not thrilled with his glove. Marlins already have a DH in Agustin.

     This leaves O’Hearn & Naylor. wRC+ are virtually identical. Love that Naylor steals bases. Love O’Hearn’s glove even more. 
     Would go with O’Hearn. This would leave the Marlins good defensively in the infield, depending whether Pauley or Norby starts at 3rd. All outfielders good defensively, except for possibly Heriberto and he isn’t bad.

   If Mack can hit MLB pitching, this gives the Marlins a good team, defensively. When’s the last time we could say that??

I don't understand why you automatic put  Agustin in DH  .231 batting average, 21 home runs, and WITH 537 AB  67 RBIs, along with a .701 OPS 

or why people say

[1993 fan from start]

6 hours ago, Robert Hanson said:

Alonso is obviously out of the Marlins price range.
  Goldschmidt looks just about cooked. 
Bell is/would be a good veteran in the clubhouse, but not thrilled with his glove. Marlins already have a DH in Agustin.

     This leaves O’Hearn & Naylor. wRC+ are virtually identical. Love that Naylor steals bases. Love O’Hearn’s glove even more. 
     Would go with O’Hearn. This would leave the Marlins good defensively in the infield, depending whether Pauley or Norby starts at 3rd. All outfielders good defensively, except for possibly Heriberto and he isn’t bad.

   If Mack can hit MLB pitching, this gives the Marlins a good team, defensively. When’s the last time we could say that??

i DON'T understand why people say  If Mack can hit MLB pitching, . all he has to do is one of two things.  out hit  Agustin or play better defence .

[Shawn]

Gus average and hitting is much better when he’s not catching and he’s still only 23. It’s a pipe dream that they will spend any money and more likely the trade Sandy salary off the books. They’ll keep the old bum wagamen the no power or average first baseman with bad defense. 

[1993 fan from start]

Pete Alonso + just a pipe dream ties to florida . not direction marlins are going  with 162 so.

with that living Josh Naylor  as the right one.

ryan been ok if not for SB cause we know power down in marlins park/loan.

fun name to throw out their is Baek Ho Kang.

cheap flower would be? 

[Rob V]

3 hours ago, Hippyboi said:

No way they will spend money on the top 2 and the back end 3 are no better than Johnston Wagaman.

I think Diaz is doing well in Asia

Lewin Diaz just hit .313 with 50 Hrs and 156 Rbi's in the Korean League, Wow! Says he's making 500k a year. Worth an invite to camp in 2026, what do u think?

[Robert Hanson]

1 hour ago, 1993 fan from start said:

I don't understand why you automatic put  Agustin in DH  .231 batting average, 21 home runs, and WITH 537 AB  67 RBIs, along with a .701 OPS 

or why people say

If Mack makes the Opening Day roster in 2026, he won’t be sitting on the bench. He will be the primary catcher, which leaves Agustin as the primary DH., where he’s better, offensively. The Marlins are committed to him, for now. Also, will Hicks be on the Opening Day roster?? We’ll see.
   

[Robert Hanson]

1 hour ago, 1993 fan from start said:

i DON'T understand why people say  If Mack can hit MLB pitching, . all he has to do is two things.  out hit  Agustin and play better defence .

   No one knows, for sure, how Mack will handle MLB pitching until he’s an MLB player. Not going to assume one way or the other. 
    Obviously, he’s an upgrade behind the plate. He doesn’t even have to out hit Agustin, but he’ll have to show he can hit at some level. 

[1993 fan from start]

what you are saying Agustin can do no wrong . if on roster he catching like he did this year. more than any other catcher in 2026.  if not he be DH .   Given the fact 537 AB  67 RBIs,. given the fact he hitting second and third in order..   Im only ok if he move down the order or hitten first if not getting RBI Like sould be.

plus getting more AB'S  because of the DH.  that why he can't also be compare to past  catcher or hitters..

 

[Guest]

What the hell are you people SMOKING? The idea that this CHEAP owner and his head nerd Bent Dix are going to actually spend money on major free agents is the stuff of opium dreams. Besides, they don't need a first baseman, they can move Ramirez there and platoon him with Troy Johnston. Bring up Joe Mack to be the catcher with Liam Hicks as a back up. Maybe one of the young infielders can play SS. If they actually KEEP Sandy, Eury, Cabrera, Weathers and Junk they would have a decent starting rotation. The outfield is loaded with good young talent. The main need is going to be BULLPEN arms. This team can actually contend next year IF THE MORON MANAGER LETS THEM. He blew at least 8-10 games BY HIMSELF this year with his experimentation with lineups, rotations, bullpen moves and non moves, and just general STUPIDITY.

[Hippyboi]

Bent Dix (I like it):

2 big signings - Anderson and Quantril

He loves to trade for young, future pinch runners with great gloves

McCullough gets locked in and can't change:

Liam Hicks anchored at 4 based on rare power in month 1

Quantrill stuck on 5 innings when he was starting to come around

Faucher as closer when Henriquez is your best arm

Johnston never sees a lefty, though he hit better against them in AAA

At the same time he moves Acosta and Pauley around like yoyos rather than give them extended time at their favored positions, while Norby says he is more comfortable at 2nd base, but instead plays a bad 3rd.