10 best one-and-done players in Marlins history

Luis Arraez is already a Marlins legend, having shattered several single-season records for the franchise in 2023 while also becoming the first Marlin to ever hit for the cycle. They wouldn't have reached the playoffs without him. Even if it proves to be his only season in Miami, "La Regadera" will be remembered fondly.

For what it's worth, I don't think Arraez is going anywhere this offseason, but with vague trade rumors percolating courtesy of the New York Post's Jon Heyman, I went down a rabbit hole to rank the Marlins' top one-and-done flings. These are players who had only one season of major league action with the Fish and made the most of it.

Honorable Mentions

• Starling Marte (2020-21)—Marte's Marlins tenure lasted 11 months, having been acquired at the midseason trade deadline in 2020 and shipped away prior to the 2021 deadline. Injuries further restricted his playing time, yet he still accrued 3.6 fWAR in just 92 games. He would've been a no-doubt, top-five guy on this list had his contributions been confined to a single calendar year.

• Armando Benítez (2004 and 2007)—I entered this exercise assuming Benítez would be included on the strength of his dominant '04 campaign as Marlins closer, only to be reminded that he returned to Florida via trade three years later. Worth mentioning so we can simply ogle at the 1.29 ERA and 0.82 WHIP from his All-Star-caliber debut.

10. Adam Duvall (2021)

Duvall made the cut despite not completing his one-and-done season in a Marlins uniform. Although streaky and strikeout-prone, he was a valuable run producer for an otherwise lousy lineup and added remarkable outfield defense. For most fans, unfortunately, his name evokes the memory of the lopsided trade that sent him to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Austin Jackson. Duvall played even better following the change of scenery and won a World Series title with the Marlins' NL East rival.

9. Walt Weiss (1993)

One home run in 158 games?! Thankfully, Weiss found other ways to contribute, leading the inaugural Marlins in walks (79) and solidifying the shortstop spot. By sheer coincidence, he would later be teammates with Duvall on the championship-winning Braves.

8. Todd Jones (2005)

Jones placed fifth in the 2000 AL Cy Young balloting, but you could argue that his finest work actually came with the Marlins. The journeyman right-hander was proficient at stranding inherited baserunners that season and converted 88.9% of his save opportunities. His 2.38 FIP in 2005 ranks sixth-best among all qualified relief seasons in Marlins history.

7. Javier Vázquez (2011)

No hyperbole, Vázquez was one of the best pitchers in the majors from late June onward. Too bad he merely performed at replacement level prior to that. The Fish had faded from relevance by the time he found his groove. Vázquez was especially sharp at the very end of 2011, limiting opponents to six total runs over his final seven starts, with the Marlins winning each of those games.

6. Mark Buehrle (2012)

Buehrle was exactly as advertised after having spent the previous decade-plus as a good innings-eater in the American League. Following this season, he still had another three years and $51 million to go on his contract, but that wasn't the Marlins' problem: they notoriously packaged him with several other expensive veterans in a 12-player trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

5. Mark Redman (2003)

Redman was the graybeard of a baby-faced starting rotation. His 3.59 ERA and 1.22 WHIP for the World Series champs would prove to be his personal bests as a big leaguer.

4. José Reyes (2012)

Nobody on that disastrous 2012 team came close to posting every day except for Reyes (160 games played). He was a nice table-setter initially, then slid down to the No. 3 spot in the lineup once all hope was lost and put up even better numbers. Among all-time Marlins shortstops, Reyes' 3.8 fWAR for a single season trails only Hanley Ramírez's best years.

3. Moises Alou (1997)

Alou drove in 115 runs during the regular season and 15 more in October. He deserved serious World Series MVP consideration with a .321/.387/.714 slash line (186 wRC+) vs. Cleveland. Within a few weeks of the parade, the Marlins traded Alou to the Houston Astros, with whom he upped his production to an even higher level in 1998.

2. Carlos Delgado (2005)

In tandem with Miguel Cabrera, Delgado carried the Marlins offense in '05. His consistency was awesome en route to a sixth-place NL MVP finish. Successful signing! However, Jeffrey Loria ditched the backloaded contract instead of seeing it through, so Delgado enjoyed the twilight of his career playing against the Marlins rather than for them.

1. Iván Rodríguez (2003)

Regardless of what Arraez's future holds, "Pudge" is unassailable atop these rankings. With MLB teams apprehensive about making a long-term commitment to him, the 31-year-old restored his reputation as an elite, durable catcher. Rodríguez caught every pitch of every 2003 postseason win, not to mention an iconic throw home.

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