Why the Marlins should explore a Thomas White extension

Compared to hitters, pitchers generally have more to prove at the big league level before being considered for contract extensions. In fact, there's never been a pre-debut deal for an arm. But Thomas White isn’t just another arm. Will the Marlins set a new precedent and get their star-studded lefty on paper at the tender age of 21? Here are some reasons why they should be attempting to sign him ASAP.

White was drafted by the Marlins in 2023 in the competitive balance round already ahead of the curve. Regarded as the 24th-ranked prospect in that year’s MLB Draft, he came supplied with a plus fastball in the mid 90s, a curveball with spin rates in the 2700 rpm range and the blueprint for a late-fading changeup. He also enticed the Marlins with his intangibles, including great grades, a commitment to a top-tier collegiate program at Vanderbilt, and supreme maturity.

What prevented White from being selected closer to the head of his class was uncertainty surrounding his future ability to fully iron out nascent control and repeatability while growing into a long 6’5” frame.

During his first full pro season, White had a 120/38 K/BB ratio in 96 frames across both single-A levels. The 19-year-old got called strikes at a 16% clip, attributing to a 30 CSW%, though he only threw first-pitch strikes at a 53% rate.

This past season, the already-impressive prospect became a potential superstar. White came in to minor league spring training 30 pounds heavier than he was at the time of his draft selection. He showed what he could do with the extra muscle mass in one of his first side sessions. White was touching 97 while throwing at 80% effort when one of his coaches uttered, “Let it go.” White lit up the radar at over 100 mph. He morphed his breaking ball into a wipeout slider to generate more whiffs. Finally, his changeup also became firmer.

This combination of higher velo and better stuff all while holding onto solid control made White even more unhittable. He had an amazing 2025 season, earning Double-A Pensacola MVP honors and ending at Triple-A contributing to the Jumbo Shrimp’s playoff run.

With size, stuff, control, and maturity beyond his years, White is the prize of a rebuilt Marlins farm system and one of the best prospects Minor League Baseball has to offer. He's on the precipice of a potential major league debut this coming season. If White comes to the majors and dominates, he will quickly exceed his small-market team’s price range. Offering him an extension now may be Miami's only chance to push back his free agency. Signing White would reinforce the Marlins’ commitment to breeding in-house talent, rewarding success, and keeping young players in Miami. It would stifle the stigma that the club mortgages assets once they reach a certain service-time threshold. An extension would give Miami a rotational anchor from the left side, which they lacked throughout the last two losing seasons.

Negotiating with Scott Boras is always a chore—he is notorious for getting his clients top dollar as dictated by the open market. In this case, perhaps he would be intrigued by the opportunity to venture into uncharted territory and secure generational wealth for White when he's only a few months above the legal drinking age.

A good starting point for a potential White deal would be Hunter Greene. Shortly after embarking on his second season at the MLB level in 2023, he inked a six-year deal (including a club option) worth $53 million guaranteed and $95 million if all performance incentives are met. A key consideration for the Marlins would be securing a second club option, stretching their control of White through 2033.

It's been a busy year at the bargaining table for the Marlins, discussing extensions with Kyle Stowers and most recently Eury Pérez, but to no avail. Although those ascending stars are important future building blocks themselves, they need to prioritize White.