Marlins lose homegrown players Troy Johnston, George Soriano to waiver claims

[Kevin Barral]

On Wednesday, the Miami Marlins announced their first flurry of roster moves since the end of the 2025 season: George Soriano was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles and Troy Johnston was claimed by the Colorado Rockies; Jesús Tinoco and Tyler Zuber were both activated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville; and Valente Bellozo, Freddy Tarnok and Brian Navarreto were outrighted to Jacksonville as well. Miami's 40-man roster is now at 39.

Soriano was one of the longest-tenured players in the organization, having signed with them as an international free agent in 2015. But it was time to move on. After a strong 2023 campaign, the right-handed reliever was never able to recapture that success, posting a 6.75 ERA in 2024 and 8.35 ERA in 2025. Soriano was out of minor league options entering 2026.

Johnston's departure was the biggest surprise amongst the roster moves made. Drafted in the 17th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Johnston was consistently productive at the plate during his MiLB career. He was named Marlins Minor League Player of the Year in 2023 after a 20/20 season. As a rookie this season, he slashed .277/.331/.420/.750 with four home runs, 13 RBI and a 109 wRC+ through 44 games played.

After finishing with MLB's worst record, the Rockies were first in the waiver order and they jumped at the opportunity to claim Johnston. With the ability to play both the outfield and first base, the 28-year-old should have a strong chance of cracking Colorado's Opening Day roster.

First base was already an area of weakness for the Marlins and this doesn't help. They still have Eric Wagaman and prospect Deyvison De Los Santos as well as Liam Hicks, though he is undersized for the position and primarily a catcher.

In 2024, Bellozo started 13 games, posting a 3.67 ERA, 5.73 FIP, 5.77 K/9 and 2.75 BB/9. His luck began to even out toward the end of this season, finishing 2025 with a 4.65 ERA and 5.20 FIP in 32 appearances (six starts). Turning 26 in January, he was the youngest player to lose his roster spot on Wednesday. Although the Marlins didn't trust in Bellozo's ability moving forward, his production to this point was useful. Acquiring him from the Houston Astros in a one-for-one swap with infield prospect Jacob Amaya was a good under-the-radar deal.

Tarnok had a nice season in Jacksonville, posting a 3.28 ERA through 68 ⅔ innings pitched. He only made five appearances at the major league level.

If Tinoco wasn't outrighted, he was going to be non-tendered later this month. After undergoing underwent UCL hybrid reconstruction surgery, he will miss the entire 2026 season. Zuber's season-ending injury was a right lat strain. Claimed off waivers from the Mets, he only pitched in nine games, posting a 11.70 ERA.

Navarreto could be someone that the Marlins aim to bring back on a minor league deal to provide some catching depth.

All of the outrighted players can now elect minor league agency.

By November 18, the Marlins have to decide which Rule 5 draft-eligible prospects to protect with 40-man selections. Assuming that catcher Joe Mack isn't the only protected prospect, there will need to be additional roster moves between now and the deadline to create room.

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[Hans Herrera]

Can someone explain me how Johnston is less valuable to this roster than Simpson, Serna, Wiemer, and above all, Winkler?

I legitimately ask this question because I do not understand.

 

[Slacker Mills]

Lewin Diaz was all-world in the Korean League last season. 50 HR! He's a great glove at first. I'd certainly grab him as my major platoon guy at 1B,

[Hippyboi]

Johnston has always been undervalued. I hope he has a good season in Colorado.

I'm ready to jump on the Diaz train

[Shawn]

I’ll never understand the marlins front office hate of troy . The man hit all along the way and played good defense, and a left handed bat . There love affair with wagamen the bum don’t add up to me either. I wish Troy the best and he gets a real chance with the Rockies. 

[Jose Herrera]

Ely called it. I was surprised when I read about Troy and Valente. 

At least we get to keep Valente. If I ran a team, I'm not sure if I would use a 1/1 waiver claim on Troy this early in the off season but they must be planning to play him every day.

Good luck George and Troy. Hope you all play well next season except against us. 😁

[Guest]

If anyone needed further proof that this team is run by complete morons, this is it. Protecting a total BUM like Wagaman instead of Troy Johnston is Bendix-ism in all it's stupid glory. For anyone wondering why they would do this, the answer is simple: Wagaman is a Bendix boy, a reclamation project that he is counting on to prove to everyone just how brilliant he is in spotting talent that other teams have passed on. Troy Johnston is a holdover from past GM's; his success does NOTHING to make Bendix look like a genius. I am no longer surprised by any stupid moves that this franchise makes, in fact I expect them. As someone who has followed this team since Day One, I have become immune to their stupidity; it no longer gets me angry, it just makes me laugh. WAGABUM over Troy? Why not? They traded Luzardo (to a team in their own division!) for a light hitting SS prospect whose ceiling seems to be that he will develop into a slightly better defender than Miguel Rojas who hits about the same. Well, enjoy another year of Wagabum, Fish Stripes guy! I don't envy your job, putting lipstick on this pig of a franchise day in day out has to be something like the job the old Information Minister of Iraq had, Baghdad Bob. Remember him? "We are defeating the American invaders all over the battlefield!" while the Iraqi Army was surrendering left and right.

[Guest]

Troy Johnston is a better hitter than Wagabum, better hitter for average, better hitter for power, better base runner, a guy who can actually steal bases, not a double play machine like Wagaman, AND he is also a much better defender either at 1st base or in the OF. But he's not a Bendix boy, so he goes while we are stuck watching Wagabum for at least another year. 

[One Regend]

George Soriano, I expected to be gone. But they really do not have any confidence in Troy Johnston. I don't understand why.

First base is a huge weakness and they just... let him go? Wow. Now they have zero contingency plans for if they whiff on a 1B Free Agent or a whiff on a trade for a 1B. Great job, Bendix.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I expect Soriano will be a reclamation project, given his arm quality, and we will see him blossom somewhere for a season or two. That seems to be how baseball works.

[UKPhil]

Can someone please give Griffin Conine a 1st base glove? HIs dad was a solid to good 1st baseman and the standard set by Wagaman is very low: both sides of the ball.

He even has a better slash line against lefties (small sample size)