Offishial News: Which of these initial MLB free agents should Marlins pursue?

[Ely Sussman]

The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions once again and longtime Miami Marlins infielder Miguel Rojas played a surprisingly crucial role in Saturday's decisive Game 7. Former Marlins big leaguers Kiké Hernández, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Andrew Heaney and José Ureña (yes, really) will also receive rings for their contributions over the course of the 2025 season.

In fall/winter ball news, Karson Milbrandt tells Fish On First that he has been selected to participate in Sunday's AFL Fall Stars Game. The right-hander has posted a 5.11 ERA in 12 ⅓ innings pitched (4 G/2 GS) with 21 strikeouts, the third-highest total in the league.

On Sunday, Aiden May (3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 59 pitches/33 strikes) had shaky control. Starlyn Caba went 2-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base. Fenwick Trimble went 1-for-1 with three walks. PJ Morlando has been held out of game action ever since suffering an apparent injury on Thursday. The Mesa Solar Sox won, 6-5. Maximo Acosta (Venezuela) went 1-for-4. Jared Serna (Mexico) was a single shy of the cycle, which included hitting his first home run of the season.

Only 143 days away from Marlins Opening Day.

🔷 My annual Marlins offseason blueprint is complete! It details all of the moves I would hypothetically make—trades, free agent signings and extensions—leading up to the start of the 2026 season.

🔷 Javier Sanoja became the first Marlins rookie in 30 years to win a Gold Glove Award, while Robby Snelling won the minor league Gold Glove for top defensive pitcher. Xavier Edwards (second base) and Kyle Stowers (left field) were finalists, but lost out to Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ, respectively.

🔷 As the full MLB offseason commences, all of the major U.S. sportsbooks have set the Marlins' 2026 World Series odds at 100/1 or longer, most comparable to the Athletics, Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals. The consensus is that the Dodgers are favored to three-peat.

🔷 Congratulations to Marlins infielder Cody Morissette and Alexis Sweet, who got married on Saturday.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association announced the initial list of XX(B) free agents—MLB players with six-plus years of service time whose contracts have expired. The Marlins are the only team that is not set to lose any players. These free agents are eligible to sign with new teams beginning on Thursday. By then, dozens of additional players will hit the market due to various player/club/mutual options being declined.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

This is a caretaker year, for good or for bad. I think many teams will be tentative heading into the CBA. Perhaps the Marlins will make a few moves to add a playoff berth beforehand. I am fine with internal options or a reasonable, short-term FA.