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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
    Pretty inconsiderate of the Miami Marlins to make me rip up my latest 2025 roster projection almost immediately after publication! Xzavion Curry is now on the outside looking in and may be off to a different organization entirely. The right-hander was designated for assignment on Tuesday to make room on the 40-man for fellow righty reliever Ronny Henriquez.
    Beginning with Henriquez, 24, he was signed by the Texas Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2022. He made his major league debut toward the end of that season, but got more significant reps last year when the Twins began using him exclusively as a reliever/opener. In 19 career MLB appearances, he has posted a 2.90 ERA, 4.02 FIP and .233 BAA in 31 innings pitched.
    Here is a look at Henriquez's four-seam fastball/changeup/slider pitch mix. It's difficult for opposing batters to anticipate what's coming because he throws each of them with similar frequency regardless of the batter's handedness. His velocity maxed out at 99.2 mph in 2024.
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    Henriquez is out of minor league options, so unless he suffers an injury this spring or performs horribly, he'll be a piece of the 2025 Marlins bullpen.
    Curry joined the Marlins as a waiver claim last August. He is two years older than Henriquez and his fastball is several ticks slower, but his DFA still comes as a surprise. He did well for them after being claimed (3.00 ERA, 4.22 FIP, .148 BAA in 18.0 IP) with his sharp command really standing out. He has a lot of starting experience and can still be optioned in 2025, which I would've thought the club valued considering their lack of rotation depth.
    If Curry clears waivers, then the Marlins can outright him to the minors and still bring him to camp as a non-roster invitee. But unless there is an underlying health issue that we aren't aware of, I expect him to be claimed.

    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins released the following prospects from their DSL Marlins and DSL Miami rosters on Friday: LHP Andelzon Abad, OF Khris Almonte, RHP Luis Espinoza, OF Daniel Gaitor, SS Adrian Ibarra, RHP Jeyson Mejía, C Kevin Novoa, RHP Johan Palacios, LHP Robert Puente, RHP Brandon Smith, LHP Alfonso Suriel, RHP Fraylin Suriel, RHP Hiroshi Takahashi and RHP Roosevelt Trinidad.
    These are essentially corresponding moves to make room for the 18 new players who have joined the organization since the 2025 international free agency period opened on January 15. Still, it's notable that they are cutting ties with several guys who received substantial signing bonuses in recent years.
    As covered in Fish On First's international free agent signings guide, Gaitor ($300k bonus), Ibarra ($190k) and Almonte ($140k) received six figures from the Fish. Each of them made their Dominican Summer League debuts in 2023 and performed worse in 2024 while repeating the level.
    Listed at 6'9", Palacios was the tallest prospect in the Marlins farm system, but wasn't throwing enough strikes to earn a stateside opportunity. The top performer of the bunch was Luis Espinoza (pictured above), a reliever who posted a 2.53 ERA with a manageable walk rate across 46 ⅓ innings pitched in the DSL.
    None of the newly released players ever appeared on any edition of the FOF Top 30 prospects list or received serious consideration for a spot.
    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins added a bit of pitching depth on Tuesday by claiming right-hander Connor Gillispie off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. Catcher Jhonny Pereda was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
    Gillispie, 27, was developed by the Baltimore Orioles from 2019 through 2023 before being selected by the Cleveland Guardians in last winter's Rule 5 Draft. He spent most of the 2024 campaign in Triple-A (4.05 ERA, 5.42 FIP and .218 BAA in 113.1 IP), but got to make three MLB relief appearances in August. Odd decision by the Braves to sign him to a non-guaranteed deal in November—which included a 40-man roster spot—only to DFA him before spring training even arrived.
    Gillispie's fastball averages about 92 mph. He posted one of the highest pop-up rates in the International League last season and has maintained a very low batting average on balls in play throughout his professional career (lifetime .253 BABIP in the minors).
    I doubt that Pereda is going anywhere. He hit very well with Triple-A Jacksonville during his age-28 season (.297/.405/.424 slash line and 125 wRC+ in 195 PA), but that did not translate at all to the majors (.231/.250/.241 and 33 wRC+ in 40 PA). He frankly was one of the weakest links on Miami's 40-man roster. Upon clearing waivers, expect the Marlins to bring him to spring training as a non-roster invitee. He could wind up in Jacksonville again this season, receiving sporadic playing time behind catching prospects Agustín Ramírez and Joe Mack.


    Ely Sussman
    The Chicago Cubs are the first team so far this MLB offseason to be credibly linked to Miami Marlins left-hander Jesús Luzardo. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Friday that they're "showing interest" in trading for Luzardo while separately shopping for a third baseman.
    The Cubs have four of their starting rotation spots already accounted for with Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd (three of whom are also lefties). They just dealt 2024 first-round draft pick Cam Smith to the Houston Astros in the Kyle Tucker blockbuster, but still have sufficient farm system depth to make a competitive offer for Luzardo.
    Luzardo pitched one of the best games of his major league career when visiting Wrigley Field on August 7, 2022 (7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K).
    The Marlins and Cubs linked up on a couple tiny transactions earlier this year, with the Fish acquiring Ali Sánchez for cash considerations and claiming Jesús Tinoco off waivers. However, it's been nearly a full decade since they were partners on a substantial trade (Dan Haren for Ivan Piñeyro and Elliot Soto in 2015).

    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins are in agreement with utility player Ronny Simon on a minor league deal that includes an invite to spring training, according to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. Simon is the first known free agent that they've added this offseason.
    The 24-year-old Simon has no MLB experience, but he spent the full 2024 season with Tampa Bay's Triple-A Durham affiliate, slashing .283/.356/.429 (106 wRC+) with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 130 games. Second base has been his primary position throughout most of his professional career, but he also made 40 starts in left field this season. He has plenty of familiarity with third base and shortstop as well.
    A 5'8" switch-hitter, Simon has historically put up similar numbers from both sides of the plate. His best skill is making contact on pitches outside the strike zone. He has still struck out in about 20% of his career MiLB plate appearances (better than average, but not by much).

    A native of La Romana, Dominican Republic, Simon is playing winter ball in the DR for the fourth straight year. He won the league's MVP award during the 2023-24 season.
    The Rays had Simon in spring training as a non-roster invitee each of the last two years.
    This news breaks exactly one year to the day of Peter Bendix's first free agent signing as Marlins president of baseball operations. On November 16, 2023, Bendix inked infielder Tristan Gray, another ex-Ray. Gray played seven games for the Fish in 2024, but he's no longer with the organization.

    Ely Sussman
    Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix spoke to MLB.com's Martin Gallegos during this week's just-completed GM Meetings in San Antonio, Texas. As relayed via Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter, here is what Bendix said in regard to possible offseason player movement:
    "We will be very much involved in the free-agent market. We will be very much involved in the trade market. There's a lot of different ways that we can make our club better.”
    You will recall that last offseason—Bendix's first as Miami's POBO—he utterly failed to make the club better. With the Marlins coming off a 2023 postseason berth, his most accomplished acquisitions, shortstop Tim Anderson and catcher Christian Bethancourt, struggled so badly that both were released before the All-Star break. Anderson was the only member of the 2023-24 free agent class to receive a guaranteed major league deal from the Fish.
    This time around, Bendix has more payroll flexibility with which to operate, but external expectations for the club are lower coming off a 62-100 campaign.
    Fish On First has highlighted Harrison Bader, John Brebbia, Jakob Junis and Yoán Moncada as free agents who should be attainable on short-term, relatively cheap deals.
    Ely Sussman
    Josh Bell may have saved the best week of his Miami Marlins career for last. The veteran switch-hitter was placed on waivers Sunday afternoon, according to FanSided's Robert Murray (and confirmed by the New York Post's Jon Heyman).
    Bell has been one of MLB's hottest hitters since returning from the All-Star break. Entering Sunday, he had mashed home runs in each of the last four games, raising his overall numbers within spitting distance of league average despite an awful first half of 2024.
    The Marlins' highest-paid player this season, Bell is earning $16.5M. Approximately one-third of that ($5.5M) is still owed to him before he re-enters free agency in the winter. Being placed on waivers allows other teams the opportunity to pick up the tab and add him to their roster. That is doubtful to happen, though. Bell's .309 xwOBA is on pace to be the worst of his career over a full-length season, and he is a liability defensively and on the bases. Contending teams who need reinforcements at first base/DH would rather roll the dice on less expensive alternatives than claim him.
    The timing of this decision is not coincidental. The waiver process lasts 48 hours, meaning Bell will pass through it with a few hours to spare prior to Tuesday's 6:00 p.m. ET trade deadline. In the meantime, the Marlins front office should consider trade scenarios that involve eating most or all of Bell's money in order to turn him into a positive asset.
    If no trade comes to fruition, he can remain on the Marlins roster. Even then, I find it hard to believe that Bell finishes the 2024 season in Miami. Newly acquired prospect Agustín Ramírez, who plays both catcher and first base, could be major league ready by September. He's already on the 40-man roster. Reigning Marlins Minor League Player of the Year Troy Johnston is also with Triple-A Jacksonville. Call-up candidates at other positions are in play if the Marlins simply make Jake Burger their primary first baseman down the stretch.
    Ely Sussman
    On Thursday afternoon, just as Jazz Chisholm Jr. was playing what might have been his final Miami Marlins home game, Jim Bowden of The Athletic made a guest appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan to discuss the Pirates' approach to the trade deadline. Staying in the thick of the NL Wild Card race despite awful center field production, Pittsburgh is unsurprisingly in on Chisholm, according to Bowden:
    "Pittsburgh, Seattle, Philadelphia and the Yankees—those four in particular, I have confirmed have had discussions. I've also heard that the Phillies aren't sure that he's a good fit in their clubhouse with what they're trying to do. I'm not sure the Yankees are sold as well. I know Seattle is definitely in."
    Bowden went on to share his opinion that the Pirates are "the best spot" for Chisholm, with Andrew McCutchen's positive influence being the "most important" factor.
    This season, Pirates center fielders—mainly Michael A. Taylor and Jack Suwinski—are collectively slashing .208/.272/.298 with a 61 wRC+. Chisholm has been candid about preferring to play the infield moving forward, but he reminded everybody of his defensive potential on Thursday with two outstanding diving catches.
    1997ebe4-857a916d-7a21c0ea-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4
    Bowden says in a recent conversation between he and Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, Bendix expressed that "he just wants the best possible players he can get in return" for Chisholm, regardless of position. On Thursday morning, Bowden published a mock trade proposal that would bring RHP Braxton Ashcraft and C Henry Davis to Miami. Personally, I'm very skeptical Pittsburgh would part with Davis at this deadline, selling low on the No. 1 overall pick from the 2021 MLB Draft. Also, there isn't much age difference between these 24-year-olds and the 26-year-old Chisholm, which makes them odd choices to rebuild the Marlins organization with.
    Nate Karzmer will present his own Jazz-to-the-Pirates proposal on Friday morning. Here is my Mariners proposal from earlier this week.
    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins front office is under significant pressure entering the MLB trade deadline, writes Jim Bowden of The Athletic. Hard to disagree with that—they are thin on tradeable assets and must find a way to flip them into impactful prospects, especially Jazz Chisholm Jr. 
    "Chisholm probably won’t get traded to the Yankees or Phillies," Bowden reports, "because many evaluators question how he would perform in those markets and fit in their clubhouses. Instead, most execs think he’ll end up being moved to the Pirates, Mariners or Giants."
    I frankly had not given much thought to San Francisco until now, but maybe! Thairo Estrada has had a disappointing year as their second baseman, posting the lowest walk rate among qualified MLB hitters and riding a 5-for-50 slump entering the All-Star break. Like Chisholm, Estrada is under club control through 2026. However, he could be non-tendered this offseason if he continues on his current trajectory.
    Coming out of the break with a 47-50 record, I suspect the Giants need to get on a hot streak before proceeding with a Chisholm acquisition or any other "buying" move.
    Ely Sussman
    From the "around the basepaths" section in Bob Nightengale's weekly USA Today column: "The Miami Marlins have been hoping they could trade center fielder Jazz Chisholm all season, with the Seattle Mariners emerging as the favorites to land him."
    It's a timely report considering that Chisholm played second base for the Marlins on Saturday, snapping a two-year drought since he last occupied the position. Julio Rodríguez has center field covered in Seattle, so 2B is the logical fit for Chisholm there. Mariners second basemen are collectively slashing .199/.294/.307 (80 wRC+) this season with a hideous 29.8 K%.
    The Mariners are seeking their first AL West title since 2001. Less than a month ago, they held a 10-game lead in the division, but that has rapidly shrunk to one game as the Houston Astros continue to surge.
    With a farm system that's led by young, toolsy hitters—Colt Emerson, Lazaro Montes, Cole Young, Jonny Farmelo and Harry Ford—the Mariners match up well with what the Marlins are reportedly seeking to jumpstart their rebuild.
    Ely Sussman
    What a difference one year can make. The Miami Marlins were buyers at the 2023 trade deadline, taking on veteran salaries and parting with prospects to optimize their postseason chances. With the 2024 deadline approaching at the end of this month, they are "clear sellers," as Craig Mish detailed for the Miami Herald on Monday morning. "The club is expected to move multiple players on or before the deadline," Mish adds, with the assumption being that Miami seeks prospects in return.
    This will be Peter Bendix's first deadline as Marlins president of baseball operations. Perhaps it seems obvious that he would be surveying every MLB team for the best possible trade return, but Mish reports that he has brought a slight change of philosophy to the front office.
    "Miami under Bendix is open for business to everyone. Former GM Kim Ng was more restrictive on making trades to help some clubs in the NL East."
    It's a bizarre nugget considering Ng, during her first year with the Fish, dealt Adam Duvall to the Atlanta Braves to plug a hole in their outfield. Duvall played practically every day for Atlanta down the stretch en route to the 2021 World Series title. She also made a significant deal with the New York Mets last July to acquire David Robertson, though that came at the expense of two prospects (Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernández) who were several years away from even sniffing the major leagues.
    The Braves are once again poised to be deadline buyers, as are the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets sit at .500 and could go either way, while the Washington Nationals (42-48) will probably sell.
    Ely Sussman
    The Miami Marlins have 29 days to trade pending free agent Tanner Scott. "Considering the deadline is nearly a month away, rival clubs are reporting that the Miami Marlins want a lot for their left-handed closer," The Athletic staff posted on Monday morning.
    The report identifies the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers as teams who "have expressed some level of interest" so far. Not coincidentally, those four are virtual locks to reach the postseason, each with playoff odds of at least 98%, per FanGraphs. While teams further down the standings may be less enthusiastic about trading potential long-term contributors for two months of Scott's production (August and September), this quartet can feel confident they'll be getting something from him during October as well.
    Just as I pointed out on June 13, The Athletic acknowledges the concern about Scott's high walk rate and the possibility he could regress following an All-Star-caliber first half of the season. Working in the Marlins' favor, though, "the limited supply of quality relievers should result in them getting a decent return."
    In 35 appearances this season, Scott has a 1.50 ERA, 3.69 FIP and 1.14 WHIP in 36 innings pitched. He is peaking at the right time, having allowed runs in only one of his last 22 outings.
    Ely Sussman
    I don't find The Athletic's Jim Bowden to be particularly reliable on these sort of things, but for what it's worth:
    I surveyed more than 35 executives — including presidents of baseball operations, general managers and assistant GMs — and asked them to name the best starting pitcher, reliever and position player they think will be traded. The execs were granted anonymity so they could answer candidly. Their responses were illuminating — and in some cases surprising.
    1. Jazz Chisholm Jr., INF/OF, Marlins
    I thought Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox would be leading this part of the poll, but he wasn’t even close. Based on the responses, the industry believes Chisholm is the position player most likely to be traded between now and July 30. Chisholm, 26, is starting his prime years and has a special combination of speed and power that many evaluators think will result in him someday joining the 30-home run/30-stolen base club. This year, he’s reached base at a .330 clip with 10 homers and 14 steals. He has a 113 OPS+. Some teams are interested in him as a center fielder and others view him as a middle infielder, where he played before a position switch last year. Either way, it sounds like he’ll be traded if Miami gets the right offer over the next five weeks. He would fit nicely with the Phillies or Giants.
    Ely Sussman
    According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates are "actively" discussing potential trades, with the Pirates focused on acquiring immediate starting rotation help. Mackey singles out Edward Cabrera as the arm that the Marlins would be most willing to move and whose combination of upside and club control would appeal to the Pirates.
    Last season, Cabrera established new career bests in innings pitched (99 ⅔), FIP (4.43) and strikeout rate (27.2%). However, his control issues were as bad as ever. He led the Marlins with 66 walks allowed despite appearing in only 22 MLB games and he was demoted to Triple-A in August even when the team was thin on rotation alternatives. The Dominican right-hander also missed part of the season with a shoulder impingement. He turns 26 in April and has no minor league options remaining.
    Mackey believes that one of the Pirates' infielders, Liover Peguero, Nick Gonzales or Ji Hwan Bae, would "likely" go to Miami as the headliner of the return package. Of that trio, Peguero has the most big league shortstop experience. They each could be optioned to the minors if there isn't a fit on the Opening Day active roster.
    Personally, I'm skeptical of Cabrera's future as a starter and would be amenable to trading him now if the return is appropriate (with Pittsburgh including another asset on top of Peguero/Gonzalez/Bae).
    Mackey writes that the Pirates are also seriously considering free agent starters, so they could pivot in that direction if unable to compromise with the Marlins.
    Ely Sussman
    There are no good starting shortstop solutions left in the 2023-24 MLB free agent class (frankly, there weren't any to begin with), but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Miami Marlins are considering signing a veteran at the position. The group of free agents that they're "mulling over" includes Tim Anderson, Amed Rosario, Adalberto Mondesi and Nick Ahmed.
    Miami's Mondesi interest was previously mentioned by the New York Post's Jon Heyman last week. Unlike Mondesi, these three other names were at least on a major league field in 2023.
    Last season, Ahmed (Diamondbacks) slashed .212/.257/.303 with a 51 wRC+ and 0.0 fWAR. He was released in early September. A rumored trade target for the Fish last summer, Anderson (White Sox) slashed .245/.286/.296 with a 60 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR. The White Sox declined Anderson's 2024 club option to make him a free agent. The "best" of the bunch, Rosario (Guardians/Dodgers) slashed .263/.305/.378 with a 88 wRC+ and 0.2 fWAR. You can compare their individual stats in greater detail on FanGraphs.
    Rosenthal didn't mention the possibility of trading for Milwaukee's Willy Adames.
    Brock Beauchamp
    The Milwaukee Brewers stunned their fans on Thursday evening by trading away ace pitcher Corbin Burnes for an MLB-ready shortstop and pitcher.
    This puts the organization at a crossroads: they traded away their best pitcher whose contract expires at the end of the season and brought back a young shortstop who needs time at the major league level. Willy Adames's contract also expires after this season and with the Brewers seemingly pushing toward a youth movement, may now be willing to listen to offers on the 28-year-old shortstop.
    In the mix is Tyler Black, another MLB-ready prospect in the Brewers system who will likely take reps at third base in 2024.
    Is this the perfect opportunity for the Marlins to shore up their needs in the middle infield?
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