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Ely Sussman

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Ely Sussman last won the day on September 22

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  1. 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.
  2. 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. View full article
  3. Fish On First has created this landing page to be frequently updated throughout the year with the latest on injuries affecting Miami Marlins players in both the majors and minors. Major league injuries RHP Anthony Bender (right shin stress reaction) Last official game appearance: August 18 (rehab assignment, Jacksonville) Underwent right shin surgery on September 23 Rehabbing in Jupiter as of September 29 Projected to be ready for spring training OF Owen Caissie (lumbar stress reaction) Last official game appearance: September 12 2B Xavier Edwards (left thumb discomfort) Last official game appearance: September 19 RHP Pete Fairbanks (right median nerve irritation) Last official game appearance: September 14 Landed on the IL two previous times this season due to nerve irritation Will undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on October 8 RHP Ronny Henriquez (60-day IL, right UCL reconstruction with internal brace procedure) Last official game appearance: September 28, 2025 Continuing throwing progression as of September 4 RHP William Kempner (60-day IL, right elbow sprain) Last official game appearance: July 11 Underwent elbow surgery with Dr. Keith Meister on August 19 Projected to miss majority, if not all, of 2027 season OF Jakob Marsee (elbow discomfort) Last official game appearance: September 26 Scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister as of September 29 RHP Adam Mazur (60-day IL, right UCL reconstruction surgery) Last official game appearance: March 2 Underwent surgery on March 11 Began throwing program as of September 14 Projected to return to game action in April/May 2027 RHP Max Meyer (neck strain) Last official game appearance: July 18 Rehabbing in Minnesota as of September 29 Projected to be ready for spring training LHP Andrew Nardi (60-day IL, left rib cage stress reaction) Last official game appearance: May 27 Experienced left elbow discomfort during rehab Underwent elbow surgery with Dr. Keith Meister on August 28 Projected to miss majority, if not all, of 2027 season LHP Robby Snelling (60-day IL, left UCL repair surgery with internal brace) Last official game appearance: May 8 Underwent surgery on May 23 (performed by Dr. Keith Meister) Began throwing program as of September 14 Projected to return to game action in May/June 2027 RHP Tyler Zuber (right elbow sprain) Last official game appearance: September 22 Scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister as of September 29 LHP RJ Shunck (60-day IL) Assigned to Low-A Jupiter Last official game appearance: April 14 RHP Jesús Tinoco (full-season IL, right UCL reconstruction surgery) Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: June 2, 2025 Underwent surgery in September 2025 Began throwing program on March 9 RHP Samuel Vásquez (60-day IL) Assigned to Double-A Pensacola Last official game appearance: April 16 LHP Joey Volini Assigned to Double-A Pensacola Last official game appearance: August 30 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL RHP Logan Whitaker Assigned to Double-A Pensacola Last official game appearance: August 26 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL RHP Brandon White Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: September 8 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL RHP Josh White Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: August 22 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL LHP Thomas White (60-day IL, left shoulder capsular sprain) Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: May 14 LHP Kaiden Wilson (full-season IL) Assigned to FCL Marlins Last official game appearance: August 19, 2025
  4. Several times throughout the year, in response to new information, recent on-field performances and player movement, the Fish On First staff revises our ranking of Miami Marlins top prospects. The table below illustrates how each player's position on the FOF Top 30 has changed from one update to the next. Any prospect who appeared on a Top 30 list over the last 12 months is included in the table, which is sorted in alphabetical order. The italicized names are currently ranked "UR" means the player was in the Marlins organization at the time, but not a Top 30 prospect "N/A" means the player was either not with the organization or has graduated from prospect eligibility "HM" means the player was an honorable mention who just missed cracking the list Name October 2025 January 2026 April 2026 June 2026 August 2026 October 2026 Maximo Acosta 12 15 17 UR UR UR Kemp Alderman 8 10 8 9 12 13 Luis Arana 26 UR UR 17 18 17 Aiva Arquette 4 7 7 4 6 5 Emilio Barreras UR UR UR 28 UR UR Nigel Belgrave 25 UR UR UR UR UR Keyner Benitez 17 21 19 22 23 24 Starlyn Caba 9 8 6 7 7 7 Owen Caissie N/A 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A Cam Cannarella 14 14 11 5 4 3 Connor Caskenette UR UR UR HM UR UR Brandon Compton N/A 29 25 19 13 10 Luis Cova 10 12 12 10 HM 29 Edgardo De Leon N/A UR UR 26 UR UR Carlos De Los Santos N/A UR UR UR HM UR Deyvison De Los Santos 23 28 UR UR UR UR Kevin Defrank 5 6 4 8 8 9 Eliazar Dishmey 15 18 15 14 11 8 Josh Ekness 22 27 20 23 24 N/A Drew Faurot 28 UR UR UR UR UR Raunny Figueredo N/A UR UR UR 29 30 Payton Green UR UR 28 UR UR UR Eric Guevara N/A N/A N/A N/A UR HM Dillon Head 8 9 9 11 10 14 Cristian Hernández N/A 23 24 18 20 18 Ryan Ignoffo 29 UR UR UR UR UR Carter Johnson UR UR UR HM 30 UR Brendan Jones N/A 17 14 13 14 15 Jacob Kisting N/A N/A N/A N/A HM 25 Ethan Kleinschmit N/A N/A N/A N/A 27 27 Luis León UR UR UR 27 UR UR Dillon Lewis N/A 5 5 3 5 6 Jacob Lombard N/A N/A N/A N/A 3 4 Jonathon Long N/A N/A N/A N/A 26 26 Joe Mack 2 2 3 N/A N/A N/A Liomar Martínez 27 UR UR UR UR UR Juan Matheus N/A 30 29 21 22 23 Aiden May UR UR HM 29 N/A N/A Julio Mendez UR UR UR UR UR HM Noble Meyer 18 22 27 30 UR UR Karson Milbrandt 13 13 10 6 9 11 Gage Miller UR UR UR HM HM UR PJ Morlando 16 26 26 UR UR UR Ronny Muñoz N/A HM HM UR UR UR Nate Payne UR UR 30 24 25 21 Ryan Peterson N/A N/A N/A N/A UR HM Andrew Salas 6 11 13 15 19 20 Adrian Santana N/A N/A N/A N/A HM UR Jared Serna 24 UR UR UR UR UR Robby Snelling 3 3 3 2 2 2 Santiago Solarte N/A 20 18 16 16 12 Brayden Taylor N/A N/A N/A N/A 15 19 Fenwick Trimble 20 19 16 12 17 16 Esmil Valencia 19 24 23 UR UR UR Andrés Valor 11 16 22 UR 28 28 Echedry Vargas UR UR UR HM HM UR Brandon White UR UR UR 20 21 HM Josh White 21 25 21 25 UR UR Thomas White 1 1 1 1 1 1 Max Williams UR UR UR UR UR 22
  5. Sanoja has been getting the Altuve comps since the minor leagues, and even with how great he played in the second half, I think that's setting him up for disappointment. Simply not on that level of offensive talent. In a best-case scenario, he could get close to the career that Placido Polanco had. Capable of being an All-Star eventually, but not on a consistent basis.
  6. I made this short one of them together a long time ago (when the site was still Fish Stripes):
  7. Prior to the start of each new Miami Marlins series, we invite the Fish On First staff, FOF LIVE guests and SuperSubs to participate in Prediction Time. Results for the 2026 season will be tracked here. This is how the scoring system works: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) That's a maximum of three points per series. Rank Name Total Prediction Points Series Winner Points Series MVP Points 1 Jeremiah Geiger 👑 62 54 8 2 David Fernandez 61 50 11 3 Baby Seal 60 51 9 4 Sportsman38 58 51 7 5 Robert Hanson 55 48 7 6 Chad Turner 54 47 7 7 Hans Herrera 51 45 6 8 TenofSpades BK 50 42 8 9 Daniel Rodriguez 50 45 5 10 Sean Millerick 50 42 8 11 Hector Rodriguez 48 46 2 12 Ely Sussman 47 40 7 13 Kevin Barral 46 42 4 14 Richard 42 38 4 15 Bassmaster4 41 38 3 16 Stevo 40 38 2 17 2qbn 40 38 2 18 1993 fan from start 35 32 3 19 rings 35 33 2 20 Nate Karzmer 33 28 5 21 M.J.S 30 26 4 22 Alex Carver 30 27 3 23 Shawn 29 27 2 24 Loud Miami Fan 26 24 2 25 JustMyFandom 25 22 3 26 Gabriel Revilla 23 20 3 27 Sean McCormack 22 19 3 28 Saul Goodman 22 21 1 29 MRDHU75 22 21 1 30 David Slaton 19 18 1 31 Jose Herrera 17 17 0 32 HAMPTIME 17 14 3 33 JustMarlins 15 12 3 34 Michael Cronin 13 12 1 35 Alex Krutchik 12 10 2 36 Louis Addeo-Weiss 11 10 1 37 Rob V 11 11 0 38 One Regend 11 11 0 39 Burr 10 9 1 40 Thomas Joseph 9 9 0 41 Isaac Azout 9 9 0 42 Cartern 9 7 2 43 Ryan Schlesinger 7 7 0 44 Greek in Miami 7 7 0 45 Casey Marika 6 5 1 46 Slacker Mills 5 4 1 47 njp 2 2 0 48 tbonemalone 2 2 0 49 MarlinszDude86 1 1 0 50 ducat2 1 1 0 51 Hippyboi 1 1 0 52 ForeverMarlins 0 0 0 Last series
  8. The Miami Marlins will not be participating in the 2026 MLB postseason, but as usual, many of their former players will be. Here is a team-by-team breakdown of all playoff-bound individuals who received major league playing time with the Marlins earlier in their career. I have included anybody on a 40-man roster, MLB injured list (🤕) or coaching staff, though non-roster players assigned to a minor league affiliate were excluded. Atlanta Braves Manager Walt Weiss (played for 1993 Marlins) Boston Red Sox Tyron Guerrero (2018-19) 🤕 Chicago Cubs Edward Cabrera (2020-25) Manager Craig Counsell (1997-99) Braxton Garrett (2020-26) Colin Rea (2016) Chicago White Sox Huascar Brazobán (2022-24) Cleveland Guardians No former Marlins Houston Astros Steven Okert (2021-23) 🤕 Los Angeles Dodgers Kiké Hernández (2014) Miguel Rojas (2015-22) Tanner Scott (2022-24) Alex Vesia (2020) Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich (2013-17) New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone (2007) Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2020-24) Ali Sánchez (2024) Giancarlo Stanton (2010-17) 🤕 Ryan Weathers (2023-25) 🤕 Philadelphia Phillies Luis Arraez (2023-24) Bryan De La Cruz (2021-24) Derek Hill (2024-25) Jesús Luzardo (2021-24) J.T. Realmuto (2014-18) San Diego Padres Bryan Hoeing (2022-24) 🤕 Tampa Bay Rays First base coach Corey Dickerson (2020-21) Nick Fortes (2021-25) Liam Hicks (2025-26) Victor Mesa Jr. (2025) Cole Sulser (2022) View full article
  9. The Miami Marlins will not be participating in the 2026 MLB postseason, but as usual, many of their former players will be. Here is a team-by-team breakdown of all playoff-bound individuals who received major league playing time with the Marlins earlier in their career. I have included anybody on a 40-man roster, MLB injured list (🤕) or coaching staff, though non-roster players assigned to a minor league affiliate were excluded. Atlanta Braves Manager Walt Weiss (played for 1993 Marlins) Boston Red Sox Tyron Guerrero (2018-19) 🤕 Chicago Cubs Edward Cabrera (2020-25) Manager Craig Counsell (1997-99) Braxton Garrett (2020-26) Colin Rea (2016) Chicago White Sox Huascar Brazobán (2022-24) Cleveland Guardians No former Marlins Houston Astros Steven Okert (2021-23) 🤕 Los Angeles Dodgers Kiké Hernández (2014) Miguel Rojas (2015-22) Tanner Scott (2022-24) Alex Vesia (2020) Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich (2013-17) New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone (2007) Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2020-24) Ali Sánchez (2024) Giancarlo Stanton (2010-17) 🤕 Ryan Weathers (2023-25) 🤕 Philadelphia Phillies Luis Arraez (2023-24) Bryan De La Cruz (2021-24) Derek Hill (2024-25) Jesús Luzardo (2021-24) J.T. Realmuto (2014-18) San Diego Padres Bryan Hoeing (2022-24) 🤕 Tampa Bay Rays First base coach Corey Dickerson (2020-21) Nick Fortes (2021-25) Liam Hicks (2025-26) Victor Mesa Jr. (2025) Cole Sulser (2022)
  10. This podcast is brought to you by Jet Ski Rentals of South Florida—offering Miami’s best jet ski and boat adventures. With six jet ski locations and over 120 boats, there’s something for every style and every budget. They’re reservation-based only. To inquire, call 305-990-2192, or check them out online at SFJetskiRentals.com. Make sure to use promo code FISHONFIRST to receive 10% off your next booking. Fish On First staffers react to the latest Miami Marlins series and prepare you for what lies ahead. Sunday's show was hosted by Ely Sussman and featured panelist Kevin Barral. The following topics were covered: Eury Pérez's brilliant shutout on Friday Rich Waltz surprises Tommy Hutton with return to broadcast booth Sandy Alcantara saves another game Marlins 40-man roster overview Notable players projected for significant pay raises next season Previewing the Wild Card Series matchups Crowning our 2026 Prediction Time champion You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. The specifics of our FOF LIVE offseason schedule are still to be determined, but rest assured, we'll be covering all things Marlins-related with the same thoroughness and fairness that you've grown accustomed to. View full article
  11. Fish On First staffers react to the latest Miami Marlins series and prepare you for what lies ahead. Sunday's show was hosted by Ely Sussman and featured panelist Kevin Barral. The following topics were covered: Eury Pérez's brilliant shutout on Friday Rich Waltz surprises Tommy Hutton with return to broadcast booth Sandy Alcantara saves another game Marlins 40-man roster overview Notable players projected for significant pay raises next season Previewing the Wild Card Series matchups Crowning our 2026 Prediction Time champion You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. The specifics of our FOF LIVE offseason schedule are still to be determined, but rest assured, we'll be covering all things Marlins-related with the same thoroughness and fairness that you've grown accustomed to.
  12. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the third and final game of Miami's home series against the Atlanta Braves, which is also the final game of the 2026 Marlins season. Starting Lineup RF Griffin Conine (L) SS Javier Sanoja LF Heriberto Hernández DH Agustín Ramírez 3B Graham Pauley (L) CF Esteury Ruiz 1B Deyvison De Los Santos 2B Jared Serna C Brian Navarreto P Janson Junk Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below)
  13. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal readers. These notes apply to the second game of Miami's home series against the Atlanta Braves. Starting Lineup SS Otto Lopez LF Heriberto Hernández DH Jakob Marsee (L) 3B Javier Sanoja C Agustín Ramírez CF Esteury Ruiz RF Griffin Conine (L) 1B Deyvison De Los Santos 2B Jared Serna P Jack Ralston Click HERE to download the full game notes (preview below)
  14. SuperSubs, comment below with your Prediction Time picks: 1. How many games will the Marlins win in this series? (three-game series) 2. Who will be the Series MVP? (determined by win probability added) Once again in 2026, I will be monitoring Miami Marlins predictions from our valued SuperSubs, Fish On First staffers and livestream guests. Individual article pages like this one will be created prior to every Marlins series and featured prominently on the FOF site. Consistent participation is key if you want to win this annual contest. Submissions only take a few seconds. Scoring system A "perfect" series is worth three points: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) FOF SuperSub David Fernandez is currently atop the 2026 season leaderboard, which will be updated between every Marlins series. If you are a SuperSub, leave a comment with your Prediction Time picks on this page, or join the Marlins Discord Server and submit there. We'll feature them on the upcoming Fish On First LIVE episode and track your points throughout the season! Any picks submitted prior to the first pitch of the series opener will be counted. If you are not a SuperSub, please consider signing up here to support the FOF staff. Series preview notes Probable starting pitchers: RHP Eury Pérez (MIA) vs. TBA (ATL) on Friday TBA (MIA) vs. TBA (ATL) on Saturday RHP Janson Junk (MIA) vs. TBA (ATL) on Sunday The Marlins rank 16th in MLB with a 100 wRC+ and 17th in MLB with a 4.16 FIP. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have a 45-33 record at home this season. The following Marlins players are on the injured list: Anthony Bender (15-day IL), Owen Caissie (10-day IL), Pete Fairbanks (15-day IL), Ronny Henriquez (60-day IL), William Kempner (60-day IL), Adam Mazur (60-day IL), Andrew Nardi (60-day IL) and Robby Snelling (60-day IL). The Braves rank 18th in MLB with a 98 wRC+ and 14th in MLB with a 4.08 FIP. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have a 41-37 record on the road this season. The following Braves players are on the injured list: Bryce Elder (15-day IL), Joe Jiménez (60-day IL), Reynaldo López (15-day IL), Martin Pérez (15-day IL), Spencer Schwellenbach (60-day IL), Spencer Strider (60-day IL), Lane Thomas (10-day IL), Hurston Waldrep (60-day IL) and Joey Wentz (60-day IL). View full article
  15. Once again in 2026, I will be monitoring Miami Marlins predictions from our valued SuperSubs, Fish On First staffers and livestream guests. Individual article pages like this one will be created prior to every Marlins series and featured prominently on the FOF site. Consistent participation is key if you want to win this annual contest. Submissions only take a few seconds. Scoring system A "perfect" series is worth three points: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) FOF SuperSub David Fernandez is currently atop the 2026 season leaderboard, which will be updated between every Marlins series. If you are a SuperSub, leave a comment with your Prediction Time picks on this page, or join the Marlins Discord Server and submit there. We'll feature them on the upcoming Fish On First LIVE episode and track your points throughout the season! Any picks submitted prior to the first pitch of the series opener will be counted. If you are not a SuperSub, please consider signing up here to support the FOF staff. Series preview notes Probable starting pitchers: RHP Eury Pérez (MIA) vs. TBA (ATL) on Friday TBA (MIA) vs. TBA (ATL) on Saturday RHP Janson Junk (MIA) vs. TBA (ATL) on Sunday The Marlins rank 16th in MLB with a 100 wRC+ and 17th in MLB with a 4.16 FIP. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have a 45-33 record at home this season. The following Marlins players are on the injured list: Anthony Bender (15-day IL), Owen Caissie (10-day IL), Pete Fairbanks (15-day IL), Ronny Henriquez (60-day IL), William Kempner (60-day IL), Adam Mazur (60-day IL), Andrew Nardi (60-day IL) and Robby Snelling (60-day IL). The Braves rank 18th in MLB with a 98 wRC+ and 14th in MLB with a 4.08 FIP. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have a 41-37 record on the road this season. The following Braves players are on the injured list: Bryce Elder (15-day IL), Joe Jiménez (60-day IL), Reynaldo López (15-day IL), Martin Pérez (15-day IL), Spencer Schwellenbach (60-day IL), Spencer Strider (60-day IL), Lane Thomas (10-day IL), Hurston Waldrep (60-day IL) and Joey Wentz (60-day IL).
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