What this unique 2026-27 offseason will look like for the Marlins

This Miami Marlins offseason has two separate finish lines. There's the one right before the 2027 season opener, but it's too soon to say when exactly that will be. In the meantime, the current Major League Baseball collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with a work stoppage expected to follow. Assuming the MLB owners lock out the players (as was the case when the previous CBA expired), no major league transactions can be made and the traditional Winter Meetings will be cancelled. Spring training could also be delayed and shortened if negotiations move along too slowly.

With so much uncertainty on the horizon, November figures to be a busy month across baseball. There is an urgency to make roster moves while teams are allowed to do so.

The Marlins have flexibility on their side. Entering Monday, there are only 35 players on their 40-man roster (21 pitchers and 14 position players). A sixth spot is expected to open up when left-handed reliever Andrew Nardi gets non-tendered—he'll miss most, if not all, of the 2027 season while rehabbing from elbow surgery.

It's unclear whether the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft will take place this winter, but just in case, several of the Marlins' best prospects should be getting protected with 40-man spots by the November 17 deadline. The leading candidates for 40-man selections are Karson Milbrandt (FOF No. 11 prospect), Eliazar Dishmey (No. 8), Brayden Taylor (No. 19) and Kemp Alderman (No. 13).

The tender deadline follows shortly after that on November 20. Including Nardi, the Marlins have 10 arbitration-eligible players. 

Fish On First can confirm the reporting from the Miami Herald that the Marlins will be searching for a starting pitcher and reliever. The team's top priorities are left-handed arms and right-handed bats.

The team has cast a wide net for an experienced starter and remains engaged in ongoing discussions. Two names to keep an eye on are right-hander Dustin May and left-hander Patrick Sandoval.

May, who is coming off his second World Series title, made 31 starts last season between stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. He posted a 4.70 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 8.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. May was in Los Angeles Dodgers organization from 2019 up until midway through the 2025 season, crossing paths with current Marlins manager Clayton McCullough and general manager Gabe Kapler.

As for Sandoval, it's been a strange ride for him these last couple of years. In 2024, he made 16 starts before missing the rest of the season due to a left elbow strain. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2025 as well. In 2026, his Boston Red Sox tenure lasted 15 games (13 starts) posting a 5.12 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 9.3 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9. He did poorly against lefty batters, but has historically limited them to a .219/.297/.353 slash line. This signing would be in hopes that Sandoval can regain the value that he had back in 2021 and 2022 where he was at his best.

The top reliever on the free agent market is Adrián Morejón and the Marlins remain interested in him. In 2026, he posted a 2.83 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 11.20 K/9 and 2.93 BB/9 in 76 appearances, primarily as the eighth-inning man in San Diego, paving the way for lights-out closer Mason Miller to pitch the ninth. The Marlins would have to go against their past behavior to get a deal done because Morejón will have a qualifying offer attached to him. If he doesn't return to the Padres, his new team would be required to give up an early-round draft pick (in addition to making him one of MLB's most expensive relievers).

Two names the Marlins appear to have interest in are Sean Newcomb and Alex Vesia. Those left-handers more comfortably fit within Miami's price range.

Newcomb spent the 2026 season with the Chicago White Sox, making a career-high 60 appearances (90.1 IP) while recording a 3.09 ERA, 3.21 FIP, 8.37 K/9 and 3.39 BB/9. The combination of his four-seam fastball (7 RV) and slurve (5 RV) along with his track record of success in a multi-inning role make him an intriguing fit for the Marlins pitching staff.

Vesia seems to be the higher priority, according to sources. Marlins fans should be familiar with him because he was their 17th-round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft and made his major league debut with Miami during the shortened 2020 season. In 2026, Vesia threw 58 innings in 2.64 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 11.48 K/9 and 4.97 BB/9. His unique arm angle has consistently made his four-seamer effective despite below-average velocity. Vesia can get out batters from both sides with ease, which makes him an option to enter games at any time. He is also a great high-leverage option.

SWEEP. https://t.co/0NBv2MpzuT

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 17, 2026

The Marlins could also be in the market for a catcher, though specifically a backup who wouldn't block Joe Mack's development. Ideally, that player would be capable of handling 30–40 starts behind the plate per season.

If the right fit does not present itself, their internal option would be using Agustín Ramírez to back up Mack. The organization believes that Ramírez  can hit at the level he did in 2025, when as a rookie, he slashed .287/.287/.413/.701 with 21 home runs, 67 RBI and a 91 wRC+. The pairing is a bit awkward because to this point in his career, Ramírez gains no advantage from facing left-handed pitching (90 wRC+ vs. LHP and 90 wRC+ vs. RHP).

Ramírez was working at first base last summer in Triple-A Jacksonville, but still hasn't made any game appearances at non-catching positions since joining the Marlins organization. He is out of minor league options moving forward.

The Marlins, who are always listening on their players, will continue to do that this offseason. They will also look to acquire high-level prospects who can contribute in 2027. Over the past two seasons, Franklin Arias of the Boston Red Sox has been a name that's come up, though the Marlins would have to give up a ton of talent in return. Turning 21 years old next week, Arias is ranked as the top prospect in the Red Sox system per Baseball America and he's second overall on BA's MLB Top 100 list. In 2026, he slashed .323/.400/.557/.957 with 25 home runs, 91 RBI and a 145 wRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A. 

Does Sandy Alcantara deserve to be in the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame after he retires?

Does Sandy Alcantara deserve to be in the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame after he retires?

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