6 remaining free agent relievers Marlins must consider following Ronny Henriquez's surgery

[Kevin Barral]

The Miami Marlins made it clear early on that they'd be pursuing some of the top relievers available in free agency. Instead, they have been overshadowed by teams in their own division. The Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies have each signed multiple relievers to major league deals. The Marlins have only added pitchers on minor league deals.

The unwillingness to commit to any free agent for multiple years has prevented the Marlins from landing big names. To make matters worse, the biggest name in their current bullpen, Ronny Henriquez, has undergone right UCL reconstruction surgery. He will not be available to pitch next season.

Fortunately, several effective relievers are still out there who wouldn't require commitments beyond 2026, most notably Pete Fairbanks.

Despite a career 3.19 ERA and 90 saves, Fairbanks' injury history seems to be hurting his market. Sources told our own Isaac Azout that the Marlins remain "very interested" in Fairbanks and have made a strong one-year offer worth more than the $11M he was due to make with the Tampa Bay Rays before his club option was declined. 

Here are five more veteran relievers to monitor.

 

LHP Taylor Rogers

Rogers spent the 2025 season with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, posting a 3.38 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 9.41 K/9 and 4.09 BB/9 through 50 ⅔ innings pitched. Once he was traded to the Cubs, Rogers did begin to struggle, posting an ERA of 5.09. You can make the case that pitching at Wrigley was the issue, as his HR/FB ratio went from 8.8% to 21.7%. He was walking fewer players, but just giving up a lot more contact.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins had shown interest in both of the Rogers brothers. While Tyler signed a three-year deal, $37M with the Toronto Blue Jays, Taylor should be significantly cheaper.

 

LHP Andrew Chafin

Chafin continues to bounce around the league, giving teams great results more often than not. In 2025, he started the season with the Washington Nationals before being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels. He posted a 2.41 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 9.62 K/9 and 5.08 BB/9 through 33 ⅔ innings pitched.

Despite being 35 years old, Chafin's slider is still a solid swing-and-miss pitch with a 41.0% whiff rate. His sinker generates plenty of ground balls. He's also very comfortable inheriting baserunners in the middle of an inning.

Teams always have a need for relievers at the trade deadline, and Chafin has been moved during the last three of them. If the Marlins are out of contention, history says they should be able to get something in return for him.

 

RHP Hunter Harvey

Marlins fans should be familiar with Hunter Harvey, the son of Bryan Harvey who pitched with the Washington Nationals from 2022 up until the 2024 trade deadline, when he was moved to the Kansas City Royals.

The 31-year-old pitched in only 12 games this past season due to a right teres major strain and a right adductor strain. In limited appearances, he posted a 0.00 ERA, 1.35 FIP, 9.28 K/9 and 0.84 BB/9. Looking at a larger sample size going back to 2024, in 50 ⅔ innings, he posted a 4.44 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 9.77 K/9 and 2.84 BB/9.

Harvey's combination of high velocity and control is hard to find.

 

RHP Seranthony Domínguez

Domínguez was with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2018 through the 2024 trade deadline. He's been dominant over 11 scoreless innings in his career pitching at loanDepot park.

This past season, Domínguez posted a 3.16 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 11.35 K/9 and 5.17 BB/9 through 62 ⅔ innings pitched. He was also used in 12 of Toronto's 18 postseason games, including Game 7 of the World Series.

If not for his strike-throwing issues (including 12 wild pitches last season), Domínguez would probably get a multi-year deal. It would make sense for him to show improvement in that area in 2026, then test the market again.

 

RHP Kirby Yates

After an awesome 2024 season where Yates posted a career-best 1.17 ERA through 61 ⅔ innings pitched, he landed on the injured list three times last season. Limited to 50 games, he struggled with a 5.23 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 11.32 K/9 and 3.70 BB/9.

Yates' four-seam fastball (plus-15 run value to plus-1 run value) and splitter (plus-8 to minus-7) both regressed. There was a huge increase in the amount of hard contact he allowed on both pitches.

Yates will turn 39 right before Opening Day.

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[MarlinzDude86]

I saw an IG post saying we're at 1 yr, $13M to try and get Pete. Fingers crossed... I'm tired of Faucher giving me angina.

[Robert Hanson]

The Marlins bullpen is better than the overall stats suggest.

     Bachar, Bender, Faucher, Gibson, Henriquez, & Phillips all had good to very good years. 
    When it came down to the 7th & 8th man out of the bullpen — the Bellozos, the Simpsons, the Sorianos, the Luarberts the Venezianos — the bullpen fell off a cliff.

      A Pete Fairbanks would be a good addition, but what the Marlins bullpen needs most of all is starters who can regularly go 6 plus innings.
   Under this scenario, the Marlins aren’t forced to run the #7 and #8 guys out in high leverage situations. 
    And their top 6 guys won’t get abused. 

[Hans Herrera]

28 minutes ago, Robert Hanson said:

The Marlins bullpen is better than the overall stats suggest.

     Bachar, Bender, Faucher, Gibson, Henriquez, & Phillips all had good to very good years. 
    When it came down to the 7th & 8th man out of the bullpen — the Bellozos, the Simpsons, the Sorianos, the Luarberts the Venezianos — the bullpen fell off a cliff.

      A Pete Fairbanks would be a good addition, but what the Marlins bullpen needs most of all is starters who can regularly go 6 plus innings.
   Under this scenario, the Marlins aren’t forced to run the #7 and #8 guys out in high leverage situations. 
    And their top 6 guys won’t get abused. 

That's true, but I think the Marlins are more in need of a true closer than they need an "innings eater". I'm sure that if they don't trade any SP and move Meyer to the bullpen as a long reliever, acquiring Fairbanks should do the trick next season. 

The Free Agent reliever list with closing experience or material is running dry. Plan Bs can be Kirby Yates (if healthy), David Robertson, and maybe Seranthony Domínguez.

Fallback or Come-back candidates are Evan Phillips (projected to return from TJ around the ASG), José Leclerc, Ryan Pressly, or even Liam Hendricks or Craig Kimbrel. Not too inspiring, but I'd offer a contract to Phillips.

[Hippyboi]

I thought Henriquez should have gotten a shot at closing last year. Meyer could be a big add to the pen and has the stuff to close. I wouldn't spend big on Pete, but could take a cheap flyer on Yates / Dominguez.

[Jose Herrera]

Awesome article Kevin! I did not know that about Hunter, looks like he is around the same age as his father when he joined the Marlins. Hunter has thrown less than 200 innings in the MLB but has pitched well. Let's add him to the team.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

This is a big blow to the Marlins. I'm not discounting that a replacement is possible, but Hernández was so reliable, and mid-level relievers, especially, are so fickle. Stick with a one-year deal or a deal with a team option. I don't think we're having a 2027, which creates an unproductive on-the-hook commitment into 2028. Hope that the CBA isn't venomous, but we all know it will be. 

[1993 fan from start]

Peter Fairbanks is not a 1 year person . Unless option year is added. Dec 25 earlest to Sign.

one name in bullpen I think everyone forgets is Janson Junk .  The marlin had 22 rank bullpen in 2025 .  I dont think front office looking to be the best. Just improve on them numbers  And see what minors bring.  . 

Domínguez would be the best out of that group cause he pitch in NL  East . along with Peter AL East

 

[1993 fan from start]

1 hour ago, THOMAS JOSEPH said:

This is a big blow to the Marlins. I'm not discounting that a replacement is possible, but Hernández was so reliable, and mid-level relievers, especially, are so fickle. Stick with a one-year deal or a deal with a team option. I don't think we're having a 2027, which creates an unproductive on-the-hook commitment into 2028. Hope that the CBA isn't venomous, but we all know it will be. 

I  just hope CBA takes care of diferred Money.  That one reson I think Mets got Devin williams over Marlins. Plus something to improve small market teams trading at Trade deadline. Even if its means keeping player half a year.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

21 hours ago, 1993 fan from start said:

I  just hope CBA takes care of diferred Money.  That one reson I think Mets got Devin williams over Marlins. Plus something to improve small market teams trading at Trade deadline. Even if its means keeping player half a year.

Right. I think the low- and mid-revenue teams simply cannot agree to any CBA without significant changes in the MLB ecosystem. It's a redline negotiation which will result in a lost  or severely reduced 2027 season. 

[BMK3]

Max Meyer has closer written all over him.  Throw the fastball, throw the slider and get out.  One inning and done.

Cheap lefty reliever for lefty batters...........Danny Coulombe still a free agent. However, I think Bendix does not want anyone who is a bit older. He doesn't want to block any of his young guys.  I am not sure winning now is as important to him as it is to me, for instance.

[One Regend]

2 hours ago, BMK3 said:

Max Meyer has closer written all over him.  Throw the fastball, throw the slider and get out.  One inning and done.

Cheap lefty reliever for lefty batters...........Danny Coulombe still a free agent. However, I think Bendix does not want anyone who is a bit older. He doesn't want to block any of his young guys.  I am not sure winning now is as important to him as it is to me, for instance.

After having witnessed him implode when given a 6-run lead in the first inning, "Closer" is the last role I think of when I see Max Meyer. He'd be a 7th inning, maybe 8th inning arm at best. .