With recent trades, Marlins already preparing for life after Kyle Stowers

[Ely Sussman]

It has turned out to be an active offseason for the Miami Marlins, which was difficult to imagine two months ago. Back on November 24, with rumors swirling that the Marlins were eager to spend money but no transactions done to validate that, The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli reported on their ceased contract extension negotiations with Kyle Stowers. It was a fishy news item to begin with considering Stowers' late-blooming profile—most of his projected prime years were already under the club's control.

Unable to entice him with the framework of a below-market deal, there haven't been any substantial updates to that story...and I don't think there ever will be. As a result of subsequent moves, the Marlins are now absolutely loaded with power-hitting outfielders. Although Stowers is the only one in the organization who has translated that to All-Star production at the major league level so far, they seem willing to gamble on younger guys filling his shoes over the next several years.

"The similarities" between Stowers and fellow left-handed masher Owen Caissie "are pretty easy to see," Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix acknowledged earlier this month. Caissie is four and a half years younger and two years farther away from free agency. Dillon Lewis doesn't even occupy a 40-man roster spot yet and likewise possesses plus offensive tools. Both cracked the top five of Fish On First's updated Marlins prospects list.

The Marlins acquired Caissie and Lewis by trading away Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, respectively. The combination of those moves unquestionably hindered their chances of postseason contention in 2026, but as Bendix repeats ad nauseam, he's always receptive to offers that bring back good value overall.

Cabrera and Weathers were both very inexpensive relative to their on-field value and still had three team-controlled years remaining. Stowers could potentially find himself in an identical situation next winter. If Caissie is coming off an encouraging rookie campaign by then, or if Lewis rakes against upper-minors pitching, or if any of the organization's other outfielders emerge as viable everyday options, do you think Bendix will give Stowers preferential treatment just because he helped sell Opening Day tickets? No way.

The overall state of the Marlins will impact the length of Stowers' tenure. It's easy for a front office to justify bold moves that sacrifice experience for upside when they are projected for 70-something wins; when they're projected for 90-something, not so much. This season, if Stowers comes close to replicating his 2025 breakout and his supporting cast takes a meaningful step forward, chasing a championship will take priority over the soulless asset accumulation process.

Even allowing for that fantasy scenario, we all know where this relationship is headed. Practically every significant historical figure in Marlins history eventually departed via trade or free agency and that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. For all of his obvious talent, Stowers is doubtful to be an exception to that rule. At some point in the 2020s, he will be wearing a different uniform.

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[Shawn]

He’ll probably have another all star year, and be traded. The return probably another group of prospects that hit 200 and strikeout a lot. I’ll always be a marlins fan but the crap makes it hard. You can never get attached to watching a player, cause more than likely he’ll be gone in 3 years for the next lottery ticket that don’t pan out. 

[Hans Herrera]

So what's the point in prioritising the future if there will never be a competitive present? It just makes no sense!. Are they expecting a forever-pre-arbitration team to ever reach the playoffs?

Isn't it cheap enough to pay the minimum salary to the entire lineup and more than half of your pitchers?

Take next season. The only offensive player outside pre-arb is Christofer Morel, at the outrageous $2M the year. Everyone else is earning at or barely above the league minimum. No team is remotely close to that cost-benefit ratio. The pitching is not that far. Apart from Sandy and Fairbanks (combined account for almost half of the entire payroll next year), Garrett, Nardi, Meyer, and Faucher are all under $2M each, with Andrew and Max not even reachin' $1M. Bender is the highest arb at $2.8M, and he for sure is on his way out this summer.

The level of cheapness is disgusting.

[Miller Lepree]

Just wait until Avi Garcia's money comes off the books...then they'll spend!!

 

[Hans Herrera]

3 minutes ago, Miller Lepree said:

Just wait until Avi Garcia's money comes off the books...then they'll spend!!

 

Then they will say: Just wait until the Giancarlo Stanton's money comes off the books... then they'll spend!!

[Miller Lepree]

2 minutes ago, Hans Herrera said:

Then they will say: Just wait until the Giancarlo Stanton's money comes off the books... then they'll spend!!

It's like having a venture capital firm run your team. Not much fun. But have to admit Bendix is doing the best he can with the seemingly choke hold budget he's given. Just makes signing Fairbanks seem like they're trying to avoid a grievance than a real indication of whether they believe in the current roster. Almost every other move this off season screams continued rebuild. I think they know they got lucky last year, don't want to bet on Lopez, X, Stowers, etc, and are sticking to the long term plan. Stay tuned? Always next year?

[Hippyboi]

The only way to win with a choke hold budget is a great starting pitching staff:

Sandy-Eury-Cabrera-Weathers-Snelling gave us a chance to win every day with good defense. Garrett/Myers if someone faltered. Now we have to count on Garret / Myers or pray for Gusto.

[1993 fan from start]

Its all bad thing to say .  If marlins are not trying more than once.  plus Marlins have not shown they can extend any player.     like the moves . beside weather trade. did not try to extend.

i dont think marlins got lucky last year, beside 3 in east standing.   trying to improve on one thing is bad bullpen. when you lose your main pitcher . is like one step forward and two steps back.    Not saying minor call ups be bad .  We all know with pitcher call up. their always some growing pains.   and lot people will try take advatage of poor defense at catcher again.  next offeson look same with bullpen ...     why its improtent for Mack to behind the plate or lima with new pichers.

[Jose Herrera]

He and others will get contracts if they continue playing well and we make the playoffs. The only player we should seriously consider extending right now is Alcantara.

[NewMarlinsFan]

The common denominator with the recent trades is that the Marlins are chasing young, power hitters.   They must think they can't compete without that type of batting lineup. 

 I like Stowers.  But can't get the first year he had with us out of my mind with all the strike outs.   So not wise at this point to extend him.  Low revenue teams can't miss with contracts.  

[BMK3]

I have to agree with most.  OK with the Cabrera trade but Weathers said adios for this year.  ENOUGH with the future, let's start enjoying the here and now!!

[Slacker Mills]

Well, with Cabrera and Weathers in the rotation to start 2026, along with Alcantara and Perez, the Marlins still had to find a fifth starter. Now they have to find a third, fourth and fifth. The pitching staff has been sacrificed for nothing in terms of competing this season. Which makes the signing of Fairbanks seem really odd.

On the trade front, the returns for Cabrera and Weathers seemed very light. The baseball trades website, which is traditionally very close in matching trade values, showed the Marlins as getting totally fleeced.