Marlins end-of-season roundtable: Fish On First staff discusses roster holes, free agency, playoffs

There are no more meaningful Miami Marlins games for (at least) the next six months, but Fish On First's coverage continues interrupted. At the conclusion of the 2026 regular season, FOF staffers were invited to answer five of my burning questions concerning both the state of the franchise and Major League Baseball as a whole.

Thanks to Louis Addeo-Weiss, Isaac Azout, Kevin Barral, Alex Carver, Sean McCormack, Sean Millerick, Daniel Rodriguez and Hector Rodriguez for their participation in the following roundtable.

1. What were the main weaknesses/issues that held the Marlins back from reaching the postseason this year?

Ely Sussman: This had the potential to be a great run prevention team. Instead, they placed near the middle of the pack due to a lack of swing-and-miss from their pitching staff. Eury Pérez helped a bit from that standpoint, as did Michael Petersen and Pete Fairbanks (although he performed terribly overall). That's about it. Overall, Marlins pitchers ranked 23rd in Major League Baseball in whiff rate. All of the balls in play put enormous pressure on Miami's defense. They need to generate more strikeouts moving forward. The Marlins were also constantly hamstrung by a thin bench. Leo Jiménez and Brian Navarreto both occupied active roster spots for the majority of the season as the front office was complacent about extending opportunities to more talented prospects or seeking upgrades from outside the organization.

Sean Millerick: In many ways, it's a tie between a punchless offseason and the most poorly timed losing streak in franchise history. Yet the shorter, and perhaps fairer, answer is depth. Even if everything worked out for Miami in 2026, they would have been hard-pressed to make some real noise this year. As we all know, that is not what happened. I'm not sure there was a moment this season the Marlins had more than three starting pitchers you felt confident in, and there were a lot of stretches where that number dropped to two. That lack of starting pitching depth eventually dragged the bullpen down with it. Even if the practice of pulling starters early is going to be a permanent thing, improving the caliber and depth of the starting pitcher foundation is arguably Miami's top priority for 2027.

Louis Addeo-Weiss: Lack of starting pitching depth.

Hector Rodriguez: Bullpen. They couldn’t stay consistently healthy. They had some key bullpens arm go down with injuries and Pete Fairbanks having a rough season didn’t help.

Kevin Barral: It's tough to not look at the team's struggles against left-handed pitching. The Marlins posted a .685 OPS against lefties this season. On top of that, their struggles on the road also killed them, going 33-48.

Isaac Azout: Lack of starting pitching depth was a major issue. The Marlins lost Paddack, Snelling, White and Meyer and brought in zero outside help to replace those innings, leaving the rotation extremely thin down the stretch. The second-half regressions from Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards also hurt them immensely, and, of course, trading your RBI leader while sitting just 1.5 games back didn’t help. The midseason injury to Anthony Bender further hurt them.

Alex Carver: Depth. Injuries to roster mainstays Max Meyer, Anthony Bender, Owen Caissie and others as well as top prospects ready to contribute such as Thomas White and Robby Snelling had Miami searching for innings and ABs in far-off places. The Marlins put a lot of faith in depthier arms such as Dax Fulton, Tyler Zuber and Ryan Gusto and uninspiring bats such as Leo Jiménez. All in all, the timing of prospects fully maturing and the frequency with which injuries struck the team canceled out their playoff hopes.

Daniel Rodriguez: The biggest issues were injuries and bullpen instability. The losses of Max Meyer and other key starters had a ripple effect on the 'pen, while injuries to position players forced frequent lineup changes. There weren't enough players who could be trusted to win close games.

Sean McCormack: Bullpen, lack of star power, managerial decisions, and lack of pitching depth.

2. Which injured Marlins player are you most excited to see get back to full strength next year?

Ely: To be consistent with my response to the previous question, I gotta go with Ronny Henriquez. In 2025, he racked up the third-highest strikeout total for a reliever in Marlins history. He and Petersen could be an elite high-leverage duo, helped by how they give opposing batters vastly different looks (the 6'7" Petersen towers over the 5'10" Henriquez). Having undergone elbow surgery in the middle of the 2025-26 offseason, Henriquez should have no restrictions come Opening Day.

Millerick: Pete Fairbanks. I know Ronny Henriquez is the chalk answer here, and trust me, I'm ecstatic about the prospect of his return. However, I am terrified that his return will be just the excuse the Marlins front office needs not to invest at all in the bullpen this offseason. A front office that re-signs Fairbanks in free agency to a cheaper, prove-it deal? That would show a clear commitment to winning. Plus, it could work out, giving Miami one more elite weapon. Until then, it's one more veteran voice around a team that will remain relatively young. Win-win move.

Louis: Max Meyer to see if 2026 was merely an aberration.

Hector: Max Meyer. It looks like he has finally taken the next step in the development. If the Marlins can get Max, Eury, and Sandy together for a full season, that’s a nasty rotation considering the starting pitching depth with guys like Robby Snelling and Thomas White.

Kevin: A full season of Max Meyer excites me. I wonder what his second half would've looked like because he certainly underwent the right changes in his pitch mix to become a better pitcher.

Isaac: Ronny Henriquez. Very intrigued to see what his second season with Miami looks like. Max Meyer as well.

Alex: Thomas White. For good reason, hype was very high surrounding the Marlins’ top prospect as spring training got underway only for his season to be cut short due to injury. If White returns at full strength, it shouldn’t be long until he’s ready to contribute to the big league club. A dazzling mix of size and stuff, White has future ace potential and could be exactly what the Marlins need to push their pitching staff over the hump and into the playoffs.

Daniel: Max Meyer. Even though we got to see All-Star level pitching from Meyer and over 100 innings this season, we still didn’t get to see it over a full season. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do next year.

McCormack: Robby Snelling.

3. Any specific pending free agents you'd like the Marlins to target this offseason?

Ely: Bolster the starting rotation with Robbie Ray. He's been very durable outside of 2023 elbow surgery and difficult to hit. Even if Ray flops for whatever reason, there is a path for the former AL Cy Young Award winner to salvage some value as a left-handed reliever. Ray's age (35) and league-leading walk total should limit him to a short contract. I'm sold on Javier Sanoja as an everyday player, which means finding somebody to take over the classic utility player responsibilities. Edmundo Sosa would be very solid on a two-year deal. In addition to providing defensive versatility, he has slugged over .420 in four consecutive seasons. Sosa comes with some legitimate upside if the Marlins can find a way to tame his overaggressiveness at the plate.

Millerick: Ty France. Miami should have signed him last year, and they still should, even off a career year. He's not going to be able cash in that much, and he'd still be the best first baseman on the Marlins. Then, at the other end of the career-year spectrum, give me some Kevin Gausman. The man is up there with Sandy Alcantara when it comes to the trick of being physically present every fifth day and racking up innings. This was his worst season since 2019, so he'll come at a discount. For the bullpen, how about Brent Suter—a veteran, capable lefty reliever with a proven track record? If we're being extra greedy and hopeful about a spike in payroll, make a run at Seiya Suzuki, and if that fails, bring Luis Arraez home. A real backup catcher ought to be on the shopping list, too. 

Louis: I’ll give you two, one pitcher and one position player. Pitching-wise, I’d learn towards Adrián Morejón. For a position player, I’d lean towards Seiya Suzuki, where he would certainly prove an upgrade at DH over Agustín Ramírez, and could moonlight in the corner OF spots when needed. Honorable mention: David Bednar.

Hector: Jake Bauers. He’s coming off a very strong season and the Marlins need someone to play first base unless the plan is to have Stowers there for the future.

Kevin: The Marlins need another right-handed power hitter. Targeting someone like Randy Arozarena would be fun. He is coming off his sixth straight 20/20 season and in 2026, he posted a career-high 148 OPS+. Maybe it's dreaming big, but the thought of Arozarena in the middle of the Marlins order is exciting. A more realistic target is someone like Eugenio Suárez. After an amazing 2025 season, Suarez's production heavily dropped, but he still managed to hit 26 home runs with a 104 OPS+. It would be much cheaper than Arozarena, but easily would help this team in the power department and especially against left-handed pitching.

Isaac: In a relatively weak free-agent class, I'd like to see Miami shore up third base and potentially the back end of the rotation. Eugenio Suárez and Bailey Ober feel like realistic options for Miami this offseason. If they want to go a hair sexier, Nick Pivetta.

Alex: Alec Bohm had a down contract year, but he’s two seasons removed from a 2.8 bWAR season. The Marlins are in short supply of both righty sluggers and corner infielders, especially at the harder-to-fill hot corner. Bohm presents a true power threat from the right side who can hold down third base at least at replacement level. The Marlins should be all-in on Bohm if they are serious about competing in 2027.

Daniel: Ryan Mountcastle. He is coming off an injury-plagued year, so the Marlins can get him for cheap. Eugenio Suárez fits as a vet power bat for the lineup.

McCormack: Yoán Moncada, Andrew Vaughn if non-tendered by the Brewers, or a starter (Freddy Peralta?)

4. Which teams will reach the 2026 World Series and who will win it all?

Ely: The New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers. For the first time in franchise history, the Brewers win a ring.

Millerick: Time to run back the 2020 World Series without the asterisk: Dodgers over Rays. I was tempted to zag and pick another NL club...and then Mookie Betts started heating up. The Dodgers are simply the other side of the coin when it comes to the depth issues that plagued Miami this season, being able to stash arms like Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell until playoff time comes around. While every Marlins fan would love for the Marlins to be able to start doing Dodgers things, the Rays are the more realistic model. It'll be a tight series—Tampa is very good and is one of the smartest teams in baseball. Unfortunately, and stop me if you've heard this, the Dodgers are smarter and more talented. Pat Riley can get ready for some royalty checks, because the three-peat is coming.

Louis: Brewers-Rays, and I have Milwaukee winning in six. They’re the team of the year, so it’s only fitting.

Hector: Brewers versus Yankees. Brewers win in six games.

Kevin: I am a big fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and what they have done so far. I think the additions of Liam Hicks and Freddy Peralta really put them above the rest of the American League. That along with the core of Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda will have them in the World Series. On the other side, it's tough to pick against the Dodgers. They will have most of their pitching back and Shohei Ohtani, in an injury-riddled season, is still one of the best performers in the postseason. Milwaukee is a close second, but it'll be the Dodgers facing the Rays in the postseason with Tampa winning in seven games.

Isaac: The Brewers will defeat the Rays in the 2026 World Series, only complicating CBA negotiations even further ahead of Dec. 1.

Alex: Dodgers and Yankees. Dodgers win it all in five games.

Daniel: Dodgers-White Sox. Dodgers in six.

5. MLB owners are pushing hard for there to be a salary cap in the league's new collective bargaining agreement. Are you for or against a cap?

Ely: Some kind of substantial reform to the league's economic model would be welcome. As things currently stand, teams like the Marlins simply have no chance to win the bidding on established stars. I'm not particularly enthusiastic about a hard team cap, but how about installing a maximum salary for individual players and limiting the number of "max players" allowed on each team while boosting the minimum salary? I have a hard time believing that the players' union would sign off on that, but think it'd be a step in the right direction.

Millerick: Emphatically, unequivocally for. End the perception among fans that the Marlins exist to be a farm team for baseball's richer teams. Money doesn't guarantee a championship, but this is entertainment, and I'll be more entertained if the Marlins have roughly the same odds of landing a big free agent as any other team. Give me a cap, and I'll save my fretting over salary restrictions for many, many other segments of society.

Louis: I’m for a reasonable cap, but more in favor a salary floor. That being said, I think a salary cap would prove an absolute disaster for members of the players' association.

Hector: I am for whatever guarantees that we have baseball in 2027. I am only okay with a salary cap if it includes a high salary floor that forces cheap owners to actually invest on their MLB roster.

Kevin: I am against a cap. Although I can understand why there is a case for it, the need for a floor is far larger than for the cap. If you get to a floor, small-market teams will spend more and compete more.

Isaac: I’m generally not in favor of formal salary cap or floor, but I can certainly understand why so many are. I’d rather see no deferrals, more teeth put behind the existing “soft cap” so teams can’t operate as far over it as the Dodgers have, and better revenue sharing with much more specific rules on how that money can be spent.

Alex: The Marlins fan in me would be in favor of both a floor and a cap. While I believe teams should be financially responsible for fielding a competitive team and product for the benefit of fans, small-market teams will only be willing to spend so far. A salary floor and cap would draw competition closer while keeping the on-field product consumable.

Daniel: I’m in favor of a salary cap if it is paired with a meaningful salary floor. The Marlins currently operate with different financial restraints from some of the league’s highest-spending teams, so having both a floor and a ceiling could create more competitive balance while still requiring teams to invest in their rosters.

McCormack: Against the cap. 

Which Marlins player do you trust most at the plate with the game on the line?

Which Marlins player do you trust most at the plate with the game on the line?

• Which Marlins player do you trust most at the plate with the game on the line? Required
  • Heriberto Hernández
  • Otto Lopez
  • Javier Sanoja
  • Kyle Stowers
  • Other
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