How should Marlins improve roster for 2026?

[Kevin Barral - Isaac Azout]

Fish Unfiltered—Episode #80

Following Peter Bendix's annual end-of-season press conference, Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and Ely Sussman discuss what was said and what else we can infer about the direction of the Miami Marlins from reading between the lines. They cover some preliminary free agent targets, compare the 2023 and 2025 Marlins teams, and look ahead to the first round of offseason roster cuts.

Find Fish Unfiltered on the Fish On First YouTube channel, our new-look Apple Podcasts channel and wherever else you get your pods. FOF's audio programming also includes Fish On First LIVE, Swimming Upstream, Big Fish Small Pod and more.

 

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[Chad Turner]

I would like to reunite with former Marlins org players Josh Naylor or Lewin Diaz.  

I'm also wondering if the Dodgers would be interested in dumping the Tanner Scott contract on us.  

[Hippyboi]

Lewin Diaz is tearing it up in Asia and could be a good buy low candidate.

They will never open the pocketbooks for Naylor

I was thinking the same on Tanner

I thought the bullpen was ok, but we do need a proven lefty. I cringe when Simpson loosens up, but Gibson was a pleasant surprise. AAA White should help and Henriquez needs to close.

Given the reality that the money will go to pay Stanton and Garcia, I think we should get a DH - cheaper

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

How to improve in this tenuous year before the CBA?

Look at all internal options for first base before signing a middling free agent. No preconceptions because we have already seen so many of them fall by the wayside. 

Promote Mack as the everyday backstop, a significant improvement at backstop. 

Work the Bendix magic for the bullpen corps. Who will be the next Tinoco or Hernández? Hope that Nardi and Garrett return for the 2026 campaign.

Lastly, while he is high-value and healthy, move Cabrera. 

After the CBA turmoil is over, the Marlins should be in excellent shape, with a very nice window built around the young core of position players and a top starting staff. Let's hope that this time, if the owners are smart, the new agreement will finally include systemic changes that will benefit the Marlins and other lower-revenue teams.