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  • Miami Marlins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Miami Marlins free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins can essentially "run it back" with the same cast of characters next season, if they choose to. Reliever Pete Fairbanks is their lone pending free agent, assuming that the club option in Sandy Alcantara's contract gets exercised.
    It was a similar story entering the 2025-26 offseason, except now, more of their core players have gained enough major league service time to qualify for significant pay raises via the arbitration process.
    On Friday, MLB Trade Rumors continued their long-running tradition of publishing annual estimates of the salaries that arb-eligible players will get during the upcoming season if their teams tender them contracts. There are 11 Marlins who clear the estimated service time cutoff of two years and 133 days.
    The following MLBTR projections are sorted from most expensive to least expensive:
    $5.4 million for Otto Lopez (first arbitration year) $3.5 million for Xavier Edwards (first) $3.4 million for Anthony Bender (fourth and final) $3.2 million for Eury Pérez (first) $3.2 million for Kyle Stowers (first) $2.9 million for Calvin Faucher (second) $2.7 million for Max Meyer (second) $1.4 million for Victor Vodnik (first) $1.3 million for Esteury Ruiz (first) $1.1 million for Andrew Nardi (second) $900,000 for Tyler Zuber (first) The Marlins still have more than a month to finalize their decisions, but I expect nine of these 11 players to be tendered. The lone exceptions should be Nardi and Zuber, both of whom are rehabbing from elbow injuries and pitched poorly even when they were available this season. Subtracting them from the equation would trim the total cost of this group to $27 million.
    At various points, Faucher looked like he was trending toward being a non-tender candidate, but he was quietly brilliant down the stretch (1.25 ERA and 2.09 FIP in 22 post-trade deadline appearances).
    It has become increasingly common across the majors for teams to iron out contract extensions with their top players before they even reach arbitration eligibility, giving themselves cost certainty and avoiding the awkwardness of annual renegotiations. The Marlins haven't been able to strike any such deals during Peter Bendix's tenure so far.
    Ely Sussman
    Accompanied by his family and many of his former Marlins teammates, Josh Beckett returned to loanDepot park on Sunday to take his rightful place in the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame.

    Beckett's plaque reads:
    "Joshua Patrick Beckett, the second overall selection by the Florida Marlins in the 1999 MLB Draft, made his major league debut in 2001 and won the 2003 World Series MVP Award after delivering a complete-game shutout in Game 6 to clinch the franchise's second title. Beckett totaled a 41-34 record, 3.46 ERA, and 607 strikeouts in five seasons with the club (2001-05). He was then traded to Boston where he spent seven seasons with the Red Sox, highlighted by a second World Series title in 2007, and then the final three seasons of his 14-year major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Beckett finished his career with a 138-106 record, 3.88 ERA, and 1,901 strikesouts in 335 games (332 starts). He was a three-time All-Star, an ALCS MVP, and finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2007, the same year he led the majors in wins."

    Next Sunday, Dontrelle Willis will be joining Beckett in the HOF's class of 2026.
    Ely Sussman
    With the Miami Marlins active roster set to expand in two weeks and a glaring hole already present at first base, here is a factor that I frankly had not been considering, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald: 
    "If the Marlins do not believe that a prospect can significantly contribute to help them win this year, they’re not going to promote them to the majors simply for a few weeks of September at-bats if they’re not already on the 40-man roster.
    "The reason:
    "Players who are on the 40-man roster can have no contact with coaches or a team’s medical staff, or use team facilities, after an MLB lockout — which appears inevitable — begins Dec. 1.
    Conversely, players who aren’t on the 40-man roster can have that type of contact this winter — including working with coaches — and also can attend minor-league spring training and play in minor-league games next season."
    Non-40-man hitters who have performed well for Triple-A Jacksonville this season include Cam Cannarella, Kemp Alderman and recently acquired Jonathon Long. As Fish On First's Isaac Azout discussed during Sunday's livestream, Alderman's promotion to the majors was believed to be "imminent" prior to suffering an elbow injury on May 17. With only a small portion of the 2026 season remaining, it is now a more complicated decision—with less time for him to adjust to MLB competition, he might not provide any positive value down the stretch, and the trade-off is losing direct contact with him for what figures to be a months-long work stoppage.
    One correction to Jackson's reporting...He mentions that "the same thinking" applies to right-hander Jace Beck, but he will be selected to the 40-man roster prior to the lockout regardless. The 26-year-old is a pending minor league free agent who is eligible to leave in November if not selected. The Marlins will surely get out in front of that given Beck's 35% strikeout rate this season and intriguing upside.
    Here is a refresher on the current composition of Miami's 40-man:

    To be clear, most of the Marlins prospects in this predicament already have relationships with reputable third-party training facilities. They will still have access to professional-grade workout equipment and development tools during the 2026-27 offseason. On the other hand, the team does not want to temporarily lose oversight of their medicals and strength and conditioning regimen during the lockout.
    Ely Sussman
    Although the Miami Marlins are "not especially motivated to move him," they continue to listen on 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers as of early Monday afternoon, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The Houston Astros remain the only specific suitor who's been identified. 
    Stowers' overall slash line of .234/.319/.459 in 2026 is almost precisely in line with his career average, though he has gradually improved at the plate as this year has progressed. He has extreme platoon splits with 15 home runs and a 130 wRC+ against right-handed pitching compared to only one homer and a 39 wRC+ against lefties. Exclusively an outfielder during his first two seasons with the Marlins organization, he has gradually become their everyday first baseman this summer. 
    The AL West-leading Astros, who have Christian Walker installed at first base, would presumably utilize Stowers in the corner outfield spots if they acquired him.
    The Marlins have a surplus of left-handed bats for the foreseeable future, especially when accounting for outfield prospects Cam Cannarella and Brandon Compton who've been dominating the upper minors. However, none of them have a major league season on their résumé that measures up to what Stowers did last season (4.0 fWAR in 117 G). Also, the 28-year-old is under club control through 2029, giving the Marlins plenty of leverage in negotiations.
    Both of these teams are playing high-quality ball as of late, combining to go 12-1 in their games last week.
    I'd be shocked if Stowers gets dealt today, but stay tuned...
    Ely Sussman
    As Fish On First's own Kevin Barral detailed earlier in the day, Liam Hicks is a logical trade candidate for the Miami Marlins leading up to Monday's deadline. Hicks is enjoying a strong sophomore season, slashing .283/.364/.434 and producing 1.6 fWAR through his first 100 games, but he's an awkward fit moving forward given the presence of Joe Mack as Miami's primary catcher and the organization's deep group of other left-handed hitters.
    The latest from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic:
    "As the Miami Marlins ponder trade scenarios, they are discussing catcher Liam Hicks and first baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers more actively than shortstop Otto López and second baseman Xavier Edwards, according to league sources briefed on their conversations.
    The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox are among the teams interested in Hicks, the person said. The New York Yankees are not involved in the talks. Hicks bats left-handed, and the Yankees want a right-handed hitting receiver.
    The catching position has been a vexing position for the Rays ever since they bypassed Buster Posey with the top pick of the 2008 draft. The Rays, who own the best record in the American League, traded for New York Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta on Sunday, and are active on other fronts as well.
    The Red Sox, the hottest team in baseball, have been shopping for shortstops and catchers. Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz reaffirmed to reporters Sunday his desire to add a catcher in the wake of losing Kyle Teel to a left high ankle sprain, but a source said his team is not in the mix."
    The Athletic's reporting on Stowers is more vague, speculating about the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians as fits due to their lack of production at first base.
    FOF's Isaac Azout confirms that "multiple conversations" are ongoing regarding Hicks.
    Ely Sussman
    Just under one week away from the MLB trade deadline, Miami Marlins insider Craig Mish summarized the club's current approach during Monday's television pregame show:
    "I think there clearly is a pivot for the Marlins at this point. I don't expect them to be flat-out sellers—that I do not expect. But I also don't believe they will be buying any players for right now. Any trades that they potentially will make I believe will be for the future.
    "If you're asking if any players could be traded from this year's team, I still think it's to be determined. You have to look at players that are on expiring contracts at the end of this season. A lot of teams are gonna certainly call regardless of the outcome of this season on Pete Fairbanks. He has an expiring contract at the end of the season. Somebody could certainly take a shot on him at the end of the year. Whether or not he gets traded, I don't know the answer."
    "But as far as players on this team, we have to stop talking about Sandy Alcantara being traded! He's not going to be traded. And there are a lot of players on this team...Eury Pérez, Max Meyer, Joe Mack—these are cornerstone-type players. I believe they will be with this team through the deadline and through the future."
    Perhaps this is reading too much into it, but Otto Lopez—the Marlins' best player this season by any measure who's under club control through 2029—was not included among Mish's cornerstone guys. Vague rumors began circulating earlier in the day that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are inquiring about Lopez's availability. Needless to say, it would be exceptionally expensive for another team to acquire the All-Star shortstop given his combination of on-field production and contract status.
    Following the TV segment, Mish added that left-hander Braxton Garrett is a trade candidate to "keep a close eye on." Repeatedly passed over for call-up opportunities this summer, Garrett has thrived with Triple-A Jacksonville, as Kevin Barral and I discussed on Fish Unfiltered. Kevin included Garrett in his Liam Hicks mock trade article and I included him in my own Heriberto Hernández mock.
    Ely Sussman
    A decades-long obsession has turned into an official partnership. I am thrilled to announce that Fish On First is now a Baseball Reference Brand Ambassador!
    Throughout my entire career covering the Miami Marlins and for many years prior to that as an avid baseball fan, BR has been—without exaggeration—my most-visited website. All year-round, there is a tab on my browser reserved for BR so that I can immediately pull up an MLB or MiLB player's page, check league leaderboards or run an obscure Stathead query (save 20% on an annual subscription when you enter discount code FOF at checkout).
    From the beginning, this research tool has been absolutely indispensable to FOF, elevating the quality of our original articles and social media posts with good, bad and goofy Marlins stats discovered through BR and Stathead. As a Brand Ambassador, I'm proud to highlight the vast variety of information that's accessible to you.

    Even right now, when the vibes around the Fish are as rancid as could be, you will find great insights and entertainment within the pages of Baseball Reference. Also, collaborating with them moving forward will introduce more fans to our comprehensive Marlins coverage.
    Thanks again to the BR community for welcoming FOF.
    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins announced on Thursday that right-handed reliever Garrett Acton has been traded to the Minnesota Twins. In return, they received right-handed reliever Logan Whitaker.
    The Marlins claimed Acton off waivers from the Colorado Rockies in February and optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville last month. Prior to being designated for assignment, he made two scoreless relief appearances for the Jumbo Shrimp, leaning almost entirely on his mid-90s four-seam fastball and high-80s slider. He spent the vast majority of 2025 (his age-27 season) with Triple-A Durham, where he performed solidly (3.68 ERA and 4.01 FIP in 58.2 IP). Acton has also made seven major league appearances (all as a reliever), posting a 10.80 ERA and 11.19 FIP in those 6 ⅔ innings pitched.
    Turning 25 next month, Whitaker split last season between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita. He spent nearly two months on the injured list, which limited him to 38 ⅓ innings pitched (25 G/0 GS), but he was highly effective when available, posting a 2.11 ERA and 2.90 FIP. That includes a 1.21 ERA if you ignore his season debut. He also worked three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League games this spring.
    Selected in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State University, Whitaker is listed at 6'6", but only gets approximately six feet of extension during his delivery. He attacks hitters using his four-seamer and changeup, with occasional sliders and cutters mixed in.
    Whitaker should be joining Double-A Pensacola's roster this weekend.
    Through six games in 2026, the Marlins bullpen has been phenomenal. It's unclear who would be first in line for a call-up in the event of injury or overuse. Left-hander Cade Gibson has looked shaky for the Jumbo Shrimp through one week of action. Right-hander Josh White has fully proven himself in the minors, but lacks MLB experience.

     
    Ely Sussman
    One quirk of the 2026 Miami Marlins schedule is that the organization's first minor league game begins before its major league opener. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp host the Rochester Red Wings this Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET, while first pitch of Opening Day in Miami will be approximately five minutes later.
    The Jumbo Shrimp announced their initial 30-man active roster on Wednesday afternoon. Don't get too attached to this group, though, as Triple-A rosters tend to churn constantly throughout the course of the season.
    Seven of our Fish On First Top 30 prospects have been assigned to Jacksonville as indicated in parentheses below. That's without including Maximo Acosta (FOF #15), who will likely be optioned to Triple-A once he recovers from his left oblique strain.
    Pitchers (15): Garrett Acton, Bradley Blalock, Josh Ekness (FOF #27), Dax Fulton, Braxton Garrett, Cade Gibson, Ryan Gusto, William Kempner, Zach McCambley, Patrick Monteverde, Jack Ralston, Robby Snelling (FOF #3), Jake Walkinshaw, Josh White (FOF #25), Tyler Zuber
    Catchers (3): Bennett Hostetler, Joe Mack (FOF #2), Brian Navarreto 
    Infielders (7): Jesús Bastidas, Jacob Berry, Deyvison De Los Santos (FOF #28), Nathan Martorella, Cody Morissette, Johnny Olmstead, Jared Serna  
    Outfielders (5): Kemp Alderman (FOF #10), Matthew Etzel, Daniel Johnson, Ethan O’Donnell, Andrew Pintar
    7-day IL: Evan McKendry, Jesús Tinoco, Thomas White (FOF #1)

    Notable prospects who finished the 2025 season with the Shrimp but didn't crack this roster include right-hander Nigel Belgrave and left-hander Dale Stanavich. Expect them to start off with Double-A Pensacola.
    Pensacola's full roster will be announced next week.
    Brock Beauchamp
    How To Install On iPhone or iPad
    How To Install On Android Device
    Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.
    What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Fish On First.
    From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.
    Additionally, a newer, completely updated Fish On First is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.
    With that said, here’s how you turn Fish On First into an app on your mobile device.
    How To “Install” Fish On First on iPhone or iPad Using Safari
    First, go to the home page of Fish On First at https://fishonfirst.com/.
    1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
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    3. Tap “View More”.
    4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
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    That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Fish On First app around, just as you would any other app.
    Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://fishonfirst.com/notifications/options/.

    How To “Install” Fish On First on an Android Device Using Chrome
    First, go to the home page of Fish On First at https://fishonfirst.com/.
    1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
    2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

    3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
    4. Tap “Install”.

    That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Fish On First app around, just as you would any other app.
    Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://fishonfirst.com/notifications/options/.

    Ely Sussman
    With 10 Grapefruit League games in the books, the Miami Marlins took the first baby step toward assembling their 2026 Opening Day roster. Only 65 players remain in Marlins major league camp as of Tuesday afternoon now that pitchers Thomas White, Stephen Jones, Evan McKendry, Patrick Monteverde, Dale Stanavich and Samy Vásquez and catcher Sam Praytor have been reassigned to the minor leagues.
    White is certainly the most prominent name in this group, but his inclusion is unsurprising after suffering a right oblique strain. The 21-year-old left-hander concluded last season with Triple-A Jacksonville and he'll aim to rejoin the Jumbo Shrimp sometime in April.
    Monteverde, Stanavich and Praytor are homegrown Marlins prospects, while Jones, McKendry and Vásquez were signed to minor league free agent deals this past offseason. Vásquez in particular has been lighting up the radar gun (98.4 mph average fastball velocity), but still needs to develop better control. 
    Meanwhile, every member of the Marlins 40-man roster remains in big league camp.

    Expect another round of cuts by the end of this week.
    Ely Sussman
    Former Miami Marlins outfielder Avisaíl García has hung up his cleats.
    Here is García's full retirement announcement, which was posted to his Instagram account on Monday:
    Today I formally announce the end of my career in Major League Baseball after 12 seasons of dedication and hard work.
    Thank you to God for the blessing of fulfilling my childhood dream—of playing baseball at its highest level.
    To my family: my eternal gratitude for your unconditional love, constant support, and sacrifices that made every step of this journey possible.
    To my agent, Gene Mato, and the Mato Sports Management team: thank you for your professional guidance, loyalty, and unwavering support throughout my career.
    To my teammates, coaches, and staff: thank you for the brotherhood, respect, and shared lessons day in and day out. These good memories will stay in my heart forever…
    To the teams that trusted me and gave me the opportunity to compete at the highest level… Thank you…
    Baseball gave me far more than I could have dreamed: achievements, experiences, and values I will carry with me always. I close this chapter with pride and gratitude, ready for new chapters in life.
    With respect and appreciation,
    Avisail Garcia
    The 34-year-old native of Anaco, Venezuela, played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers prior to joining the Fish. With the 2021 Brewers, he set new career-highs in home runs (29) and walks (38). Starved for offense, Miami signed García to a four-year, $53 million free agent contract during the ensuing offseason, which would account for the majority of his career earnings as it turned out.
    Almost immediately, the signing looked regrettable. Limited to 153 Marlins games due to injuries, García slashed .217/.260/.322 with 13 home runs, six stolen bases and a 59 wRC+. His -1.4 fWAR is tied with Tim Anderson for the worst mark among all Marlins hitters since 2022.
    The Marlins released García on June 9, 2024. He underwent lower back surgery in October of that year in an attempt to extend his career, but never played another professional game.
    May the next chapter of García's life bring him fulfillment and success.
    Ely Sussman
    Miami Marlins prospect and Sydney Blue Sox superstar Eric Rataczak has been announced as the Australian Baseball League's Helms Award Winner, bestowed upon the league's most valuable player. In 38 regular season games, Rataczak slashed .336/.411/.571 with seven home runs and three stolen bases. He tied for the league lead with 19 extra-base hits.
    The Helms Award was voted on by ABL team representatives, officials and media members. The other award finalists were Nick Ward and Robbie Perkins, two ABL veterans in their early 30s.
    Rataczak's Blue Sox team posted the league's best regular season record, but fell in the ABL Championship Series.
    Drafted by the Marlins in 2024 out of Niagara University, Rataczak received a modest $75k signing bonus. He has appeared in 101 minor league games across three levels, slashing .238/.350/.345 with six homers, 17 steals and a 107 wRC+. The vast majority of his MiLB defensive reps have come at the corner outfield spots, but the Blue Sox used him exclusively at first base.
    Rataczak was one of 22 players in the Marlins organization who participated in fall/winter leagues during the 2025-26 offseason.
    Rataczak, who turned 25 earlier this month, will attend minor league camp this spring. He's likely to return to Double-A Pensacola, where he spent the final month of the 2025 MiLB campaign.
    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins on Tuesday announced a slew of uniform number updates entering the 2026 season.
    Returning 40-man roster players: 
    Javier Sanoja will wear No. 8 (previously was No. 46) Heriberto Hernández will wear No. 13 (previously was No. 64) Braxton Garrett will wear No. 20 (previously was No. 29) Deyvison De Los Santos will wear No. 63 (previously was No. 65)  
    Newly selected to 40-man roster: 
    Josh White will wear No. 59 William Kempner will wear No. 71  (No word on Joe Mack, who wore No. 80 in big league camp last year)
     
    Offseason acquisitions:
    Esteury Ruiz will wear No. 3 (previously was No. 27 with Dodgers) Christopher Morel will wear No. 5 (previously was No. 24 with Rays) Owen Caissie will wear No. 17 (previously was No. 19 with Cubs) Pete Fairbanks will wear No. 29 (previously was No. 29 with Rays) Bradley Blalock will wear No. 31 (previously was No. 64 with Rockies)
    Ely Sussman
    On Monday, the Miami Marlins signed Jesús Tinoco to a minor league deal. The 30-year-old right-hander spent 2025 with the Marlins, but he was squeezed off their 40-man roster after the season and elected free agency when the club outrighted him to the minors.
    Overall, Tinoco has spent parts of three seasons with Miami (2020, 2024-25). Across 51 total innings pitched (44 G/0 GS), he has posted a 2.98 FIP (3.00 ERA) with a 22.3 K% and 8.3 BB%. He set a career-high with four saves last year.
    A trade deadline day waiver claim in 2024, Tinoco was arguably the best arm in the Marlins bullpen down the stretch of that 100-loss season. He never looked quite right in 2025, though. On June 6, the Marlins placed him on the injured list with a right forearm strain. In early September, he underwent a hybrid UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon surgery.
    If Tinoco's rehab progresses normally, he should be cleared to begin a throwing program at some point during spring training. However, it's unlikely that he'll make any MLB appearances in 2026. Former teammate Declan Cronin, who had his own elbow surgery in September, signed a two-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in anticipation of being full-go for 2027. Tinoco's contract is probably structured similarly.
    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins have signed outfielder Daniel Johnson to a minor league deal for the 2026 season, Johnson announced Friday on social media. It includes an invite to spring training.
    Drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2016, Johnson has spent time with six different MLB organizations, most recently the Baltimore Orioles, who outrighted him to the minors at the start of this offseason. The 30-year-old California native is a lifetime .196/.243/.322 hitter (53 wRC+) in 67 career games at the big league level. He's a plus runner who can contribute at all three outfield positions.
    Johnson just finished playing winter ball with Mexico's Naranjeros de Hermosillo. 
     
    It is hard enough for NRIs to crack an Opening Day roster under normal conditions and Johnson faces a particularly steep uphill battle. Following this week's acquisition of Owen Caissie, the Marlins are loaded with left-handed-hitting outfielders. Expect him to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville.
    In addition to Johnson, the Marlins have also signed Jesús Bastidas, Evan McKendry, Brian Navarreto, Jack Ralston, Samuel Vásquez and Tyler Zuber to minor league deals this offseason.
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