Best relievers still available for the Marlins in free agency with Devin Williams off the board

[Ely Sussman]

The realistic best-case scenario did not materialize for the Miami Marlins. They were hopeful that Devin Williams would be available at a sharply discounted rate coming off a career-worst 4.79 ERA in 2025. Alas, the market coveted his elite swing-and-miss ability and the New York Mets ultimately won the bidding with a three-year, $51 million deal.

Who's still out there for the Marlins? We have to assume that former Met Edwin Díaz is out of their price range as he reportedly expects something in the five-year, $100 million range.

These are the other MLB free agents who were primarily used as closers last season:

• RHP Robert Suarez (2.97 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 27.9 K%, 3.16 WPA, 40 SV in 69.2 IP)
• RHP Pete Fairbanks (2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 24.2 K%, 0.93 WPA, 27 SV in 60.1 IP)
• RHP Kyle Finnegan (3.47 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 24.0 K%, 0.84 WPA, 24 SV in 57.0 IP)
• RHP Emilio Pagán (2.88 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 30.0 K%, 1.09 WPA, 32 SV in 68.2 IP)
• RHP Kenley Jansen (2.59 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 24.4 K%, 3.46 WPA, 29 SV in 59.0 IP)

The Marlins specifically have a dearth of reliable left-handers on their current bullpen depth chart. Although less likely to be used consistently in the ninth inning, that could make the likes of Danny Coulombe, Drew Pomeranz, Caleb Ferguson, Gregory Soto, Caleb Thielbar, Andrew Chafin and Hoby Milner appealing on short-term contracts.

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[Hans Herrera]

It's getting more difficult for the Fish to actually sign a high-end arm. I know Bendix should be all over Fairbanks, but maybe focusing on a still good but not so coveted arm, say, Jensen or Pagán, can make it a bit easier.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Fifty million dollars for Williams. But, then again, it's all relative. In Cohen's case, it means little, since all he wants is a world title before leaving this mortal coil.

My prediction is that another $400 million will make Stearns the new "genius" general manager, Or. will it be Dombrowski in Philly? Oh, I forgot, they didn't win anything yet either. Cashman! Oh. 

To hell with it, just give the title to the Dodgers for the rest of the decade, as long as they play the Yankees in the World Series, the baseball and media powers that will be elated!

Problem solved, right? I mean, the rest of the league is irrelevant anyway. That is what 2027 will be about. I am fine with trading a lost season for a long-overdue revision of the broken baseball ecosystem. Or, let's expand the playoffs, adding another three Wild Card teams. One never knows!

[One Regend]

17 hours ago, THOMAS JOSEPH said:

Fifty million dollars for Williams. But, then again, it's all relative. In Cohen's case, it means little, since all he wants is a world title before leaving this mortal coil.

My prediction is that another $400 million will make Stearns the new "genius" general manager, Or. will it be Dombrowski in Philly? Oh, I forgot, they didn't win anything yet either. Cashman! Oh. 

To hell with it, just give the title to the Dodgers for the rest of the decade, as long as they play the Yankees in the World Series, the baseball and media powers that will be elated!

Problem solved, right? I mean, the rest of the league is irrelevant anyway. That is what 2027 will be about. I am fine with trading a lost season for a long-overdue revision of the broken baseball ecosystem. Or, let's expand the playoffs, adding another three Wild Card teams. One never knows!

Expanding the playoffs won't mean anything if it's just going to be the Dodger show for the next 5+ years.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

On 12/3/2025 at 2:07 AM, One Regend said:

Expanding the playoffs won't mean anything if it's just going to be the Dodger show for the next 5+ years.

I think they should pair adding the three additional playoff slots (Wild Cards) with tripling or quadrupling the CBT. Lots more teams in the "you never know" playoffs, while dampening the high AAVs. Probably must also significantly diminish the salary deferrals in some way. These would avoid the whole cap/ceiling issue. Players would like the expanded playoff money pool, as well.