Kevin Barral

Just after the 2025 Winter Meetings ended earlier this week, the Miami Marlins reached an agreement on Friday afternoon with Christopher Morel. It will be a one-year big league deal, sources tell Fish On First. Morel is getting $2 million, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Morel, 26, spent the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays, slashing .219/.289/.396/.684 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI and a 90 wRC+. He was designated for assignment at the end of the season and elected free agency after going unclaimed. He spent most of the season in left field. A source tells Fish On First that they expect him to play first base as well, a position he has never played in his career. The Marlins are buying low on Morel in hopes that he can recapture his 2023 season, where he slashed .247/.313/.508/.821 with 26 home runs, 70 RBI and a 120 wRC+. In the middle of the 2024 season, he was shipped off to the Rays with two other players in exchange for Isaac Paredes. He was never able to get it going with the Rays after that. A main reason for Morel's struggles has been his high strikeout percentage. In 2025, he struck out 35.7% of the time, which is a career-worst. The hope here is that they can help him cut down on the K%. In a best-case scenario, he could follow in the footsteps of Kyle Stowers (35.4 K% in 2024 and 27.4 K% in 2025). Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic cites hitting coach Pedro Guerrero as a key part of this acquisition. Despite having a great arm—ranking in the 93rd percentile of arm strength, per Baseball Savant—Morel posted minus-five defensive runs saved in left field, and has never been able to find a home defensively. Maybe the move to first base can help him establish himself defensively, opening up for more production on the offensive side. It is worth noting that Morel has two more arbitration years after 2026. That gives the Marlins club control of him through the 2028 season. He doesn't have any minor league options remaining. Morel was being pursued by teams in both Japan and Korea, according to Francys Romero. It's unclear if any other MLB teams were willing to offer him a guaranteed major league deal. Ely Sussman's updated Opening Day roster projection has Eric Wagaman losing his spot to make room for Morel. We could possibly see Morel in a platoon situation, with Liam Hicks or Graham Pauley getting starts at first base against tough right-handed pitchers. The Marlins 40-man roster will be at 40 players once the deal is announced. Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Marlins are trying to acquire another bat via trade. View full article

ORLANDO, FL—One of the strengths of the Miami Marlins organization in 2025 was their minor league relievers. Other MLB teams took advantage of that during Wednesday's Rule 5 draft, selecting major league-ready bullpen arms who the Marlins did not have room to protect on their roster. The Marlins held the 12th pick of the draft and passed. Meanwhile, they lost Matt Pushard to the St. Louis Cardinals and Zach McCambley to the Philadelphia Phillies. Pushard, 28, was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022. In 2025, he posted a 3.61 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 10.54 K/9 and 3.32 BB/9 through 62 ⅓ innings pitched (all of that with Triple-A Jacksonville). He has a three-pitch mix, which begins with a fastball that averages 94-96 mph, topping out at 97 mph, then has a sweeper and curveball. He also has a changeup and cutter, but does not consistently use them. He was among the oldest draft-eligible players. McCambley, 26, was selected in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He made the switch from the starting rotation to the bullpen in 2023, but has dealt with a plethora of injuries. Health was not an issue in 2025 as he threw 62 innings, posting a 2.90 ERA, 2.60 FIP, 12.05 K/9 and 3.19 BB/9 in 47 appearances. McCambley mainly relies on his fastball/slider combo. He also uses an occasional cutter. McCambley's slider has always been his best weapon—this past season, it had a 51% miss rate with a 34% chase rate. As Rule 5 picks, Pushard and McCambley must either make the Opening Day 26-man roster with their new clubs or be placed on the major league injured list. They also cannot be optioned to the minors at any point during the 2026 season. Otherwise, they have to be offered back to the Marlins. Last year, for example, the Marlins lost Anderson Pilar to the Atlanta Braves in the Rule 5, but he was returned to Miami during spring training. View full article

Jon Morosi of MLB Network speaks with Fish On First about what potential moves the Marlins may be cooking up and the World Baseball Classic returning in 2026. View full video

ORLANDO, FL—Edward Cabrera is no stranger to trade rumors, whether it be this past MLB trade deadline or previous offseasons. Right now, his value is as high as it's ever been. In the late hours of Day 2 of the Winter Meetings, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that Cabrera's market is heating up, with the Baltimore Orioles as a possible landing spot. In 2025, Cabrera broke out, posting a 3.53 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 9.81 K/9 and 3.14 BB/9 through a career-high 137 ⅔ innings pitched. His talent is undeniable, but the Marlins already have a very deep rotation for 2026 and beyond, opening up the possibility that they could flip Cabrera to address other areas of need. These teams had a positive experience trading with each other in 2024 when the Marlins sent Trevor Rogers to the Orioles in exchange for Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers. That could lead to them once again linking up on a big deal. Mock Trade #1 Orioles receive Edward Cabrera Marlins receive 1B Coby Mayo and LHP Boston Bateman Mayo, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, was a consensus Top 100 prospect entering 2024 and 2025. However, he hasn't lived up to the hype since being called up, slashing .217/.299/.388/.687 with 11 home runs, 28 RBI and a 95 wRC+ last season. With that being said, a right-handed hitting first baseman is exactly what the Marlins are looking for. The Marlins organization remains extremely high on Deyvison De Los Santos despite coming off a disappointing season of his own. Perhaps they could co-exist in the future with Mayo moving over to third base. The second piece in this deal, Boston Bateman was acquired from the San Diego Padres in July. Bateman spent most of 2025 at Low-A, but was promoted to High-A for his final three starts. Overall, he finished the season with a 4.14 ERA and 3.54 FIP in 87 total innings. The 20-year-old's best pitch is his slider, which is a 60-grade pitch, per Baseball America. The 6'7" lefty could have a future in the bullpen or as a back-end starter. Either way, he's a couple seasons away from contributing in the majors. Trade #2 Orioles receive Edward Cabrera Marlins receive OF Nate George, LHP Luis De León and OF Austin Overn George, who was selected in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, has gotten off to a phenomenal start to his professional career. At age 19, he posted a 158 wRC+ with 50 stolen bases through his first 87 career games. Ranked as the number four Orioles prospect by Baseball America and ninth by Just Baseball's Aram Leighton, George is still raw, but if it goes well, he can be the future at center field with a nice hit tool. In 2025 between three levels, De León posted a 3.30 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 11.03 K/9 and 4.23 BB/9 through 87 ⅓ innings pitched. After that, he did well in the Arizona Fall League, raising his strikeout rate even more with a fastball that sat in the mid-90s. He did not allow a single home run all year. Baseball America has his fastball as a 70-grade pitch and his slider and changeup as 60-grade pitches. The lefty could eventually be a number two or three starter in the rotation. De León's control/command will need some improving as he continues to develop. The final piece is Overn, who is the 30th-ranked Orioles prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Across High-A and Double-A, he slashed .249/.355/.399/.754 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 64 stolen bases and a 123 wRC+. With his combination of speed and swing decisions, the hope is that Overn can follow in the footsteps of someone like Jakob Marsee. View full article

ORLANDO, FL—Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara has accepted the invitation from the Dominican Republic to participate in the World Baseball Classic, per FanDuel Sport Network's Craig Mish. This will mark the second time he participates in the WBC, having previously done so in 2023. Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols could not confirm that Alcantara had accepted when asked on Tuesday afternoon, but said DR was interested in having him on the team. "Hopefully, he can be part and help us win," said Pujols. Alcantara, who returned from Tommy John surgery this past season, posted a 5.36 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 7.32 K/9 and 2.94 BB/9 through 174 ⅔ innings pitched. Even while struggling early in the season, he expressed his desire to once again participate in the tournament, saying "if they want to call me, I'm ready." In his lone outing of the 2023 tournament, Alcantara went 3 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs on five hits (one home run), three walks and struck out two. He took the loss against Venezuela and DR was eliminated during pool play. It has been announced this week that MLB All-Stars Elly De La Cruz, Manny Machado and Junior Caminero will also be on the team. The Dominican Republic has been assigned to Pool D along with Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua. All of their tournament games will be played at Miami's loanDepot park, beginning with their March 6 opener against Nicaragua. Alcantara might not be the only Marlin representing DR. Nelson Cruz, the general manager of the team, told Fish On First that they have contacted Agustín Ramírez, but also Samuel Basallo of the Baltimore Orioles, so there is competition at the catcher position. "We have so many players, and it's hard to choose," said Cruz. He does not expect a decision to be made until February. View full article

ORLANDO, FL—The Winter Meetings are underway and on day one, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Clayton McCullough spoke to the local media. After a 17-win improvement, Bendix believes that the 2026 club will be one that can compete for a National League wild-card spot, noting that 79 wins "is not the goal." Bendix also said that there will be additions needed from outside the organization to ensure the goal of another improving year. "We are trying to put a really competitive team together in 2026 and we're trying to build for to be as good as we can for as long as we can," said Bendix on Monday morning. "We're having lots of conversations with free agents and with other teams. It's my job to listen and to understand where the market is and what our opportunities are to ultimately to make the best decisions." When it comes to the current free agent market, a couple big names connected to the Marlins have come off the board. Relievers Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley signed multi-year deals with the Mets and Orioles, respectively. "I think there's parts of the market that are surprising, other parts that are taking a long time," said Bendix. "That's how it is every year. I think it's very easy to craft narratives when you get to the end of the offseason and look back, but in the moment, it's hard to tell." One of the main topics discussed was the potential trades of starters Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. As Fish On First reported ahead of the winter meetings, Cabrera appears to be the most likely to get traded, with the market looking similar to what it was during the trade deadline. Other reports have surfaced that the team is listening on every starter aside from Eury Pérez. "It is my job to listen," said Bendix. "I would be doing a disservice to our fans, a disservice to Bruce (Sherman), the organization if I didn't listen to what is out there and understand our possibilities. The second thing is that not everything that you read is true." Following an uneven season returning from Tommy John surgery, the Marlins expect Alcantara to be closer to his Cy Young self in 2026. Later in the day, manager Clayton McCullough opened his press conference, noting how year two of this process has been much more slowed down, rather than the craziness of having to fill out a staff and taking in as much information as possible. This also bleeds into spring training, now having more familiarity and a structure that the coaches and players are familiar with. "When you walk on the fields, it's one thing to know someone, their name, we watch them on the other side of the field or know a stat sheet," McCullough told the media. "But to spend a year or spend months with a person, that's when real bonds start to form. We hope that we can just somewhat pick up where we left off last year. The players will come in with an expectation and an understanding of what's important to us, how we are going to run our drills and going to run camp. There's going to be less of those unknowns. We can firmly make the focus on areas of which our team and individuals need to get better for us to accomplish what we'd like to." Although McCullough is retaining the majority of his 2025 staff, assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman is the most recent ex-Marlin to depart for a promotion elsewhere as he will become the Colorado Rockies lead pitching coach. Derek Shomon, Joe Singley and Tyler Smarslok also left for gigs with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, respectively. The additions to the staff filling their shoes are assistant hitting coaches Chris Hess and Corbin Day, first base/catching coach Craig Driver, and as Fish On First reported, Blake Butler will become the new infield coach. "As we went through that process, Blake stood out," said McCullough. "Coming over from the Pirates, he managed in their system. He was going to be their infield coordinator. We love his technical acumen. He's also someone who culturally will be a real additive for our group. I feel like Blake will come in and build strong relationships with our guys and team up with Hector Crespo, and those guys will continue to push our infield program forward." Looking at the team in 2026, the expectation is that Agustín Ramírez will catch Sandy Alcantara on Opening Day. The Marlins continue to believe in Ramírez as a catcher and want to see more out of him before pivoting. Driver and McCullough both spent time with the 24-year-old in the Dominican Republic. "I think Gus had a chance to self-reflect some on the year, take a breath," said McCullough. "One thing that he mentioned: physically he felt okay, but mentally, it's quite the grind. I asked him to hit in the top of the lineup almost every day and having to go back there and catch, probably played more than he ever has. Gus was saying all the right things. He was embracing and taking on this offseason different than he did the last season, which is fair. He has a different perspective on what's ahead and what's expected." Aside from the two media availabilities, it was a slow first day at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Day two will feature the MLB Draft Lottery, where the Marlins have a 1.85% chance to earn the number one overall pick in the 2026 draft. A new episode of Fish On First LIVE begins at 6:00 p.m. ET to react to the lottery results. Elsewhere around the league, Michael Soroka signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Steven Matz signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. View full article

The Winter Meetings: the biggest event of the MLB offseason. Annually, key figures from all across the baseball world gather in one place, this time in Orlando, Florida. The Winter Meetings give the sport a jolt of adrenaline, producing more than their fair share of rumors and transactions. Fish On First will have boots on ground with Kevin Barral and Isaac Azout there. Our guide below covers everything you need to know from the perspective of the Miami Marlins. This page will be regularly updated leading up to the start of the event. Table of contents Marlins moves so far Winter Meetings schedule Four big questions What we are hearing Marlins moves so far Here's a complete roundup of Marlins personnel changes since the end of the 2025 regular season. Acquired players: RHP Zach Brzykcy (waiver claim), RHP Evan McKendry (minor league deal), RHP Samuel Vásquez (minor league deal) and RHP Tyler Zuber (re-signed to minor league deal) Departed players who've found new teams: 1B/OF Troy Johnston (claimed by Colorado Rockies), RHP George Soriano (claimed by Baltimore Orioles), OF Joey Wiemer (traded to San Francisco Giants), LHP Adam Laskey (signed by Colorado Rockies) and RHP Freddy Tarnok (signed by NPB's Hiroshima Carp) Departed players who remain free agents: C Brian Navarreto, RHP Jesús Tinoco, RHP Valente Bellozo, RHP Christian Roa, INF Jack Winkler, RHP Lane Ramsey, RHP Morgan McSweeney, UTIL Dalvy Rosario, LHP Luis Palacios, OF Grant Richardson, OF Shane Sasaki and RHP Evan Fitterer Selected to 40-man roster: C Joe Mack, RHP Josh White and RHP William Kempner Coaching staff additions: Chris Hess (assistant hitting coach), Corbin Day (assistant hitting coach), Craig Driver (first base/catching coach) and Harry Wilonsky (bullpen catcher) Coaching staff departures: Derek Shomon (hired by Chicago White Sox), Joe Singley (Baltimore Orioles), Tyler Smarslok (Washington Nationals) and Chi Chi González Winter Meetings schedule The Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf in Orlando, Florida, will host the 2025 Winter Meetings from December 8-11. Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix is expected to hold multiple media availabilities during the course of the week. 2026 MLB Draft Lottery (December 9) The lottery is very unpredictable, as the Marlins learned the hard way last year. They were tied with the Colorado Rockies for the best odds of winning the number one overall draft pick, but fell all the way to seventh. This time, the Marlins have a 1.85% of winning the lottery. The most likely outcome is that they will land the 10th pick. The drawing will be held at 4:00 p.m. ET and broadcasted to the public on MLB Network at 5:30 p.m. ET. Rule 5 draft (December 10) The Marlins are 12th in the Rule 5 draft order. However, they would need to open up at least one spot on their 40-man roster to participate in the major league phase of the draft. The draft begins at 2:00 p.m. ET. Unprotected Rule-5 eligible players in the Marlins organization include: Catchers Spencer Bramwell, Bennett Hostetler and Sam Praytor Infielders Nathan Martorella, Jacob Berry, Cody Morissette, Yiddi Cappe, Jesús Hernández, Echedry Vargas and Wilfredo Lara Outfielders Andrew Pintar and Ian Lewis Right-handed pitchers Zach McCambley, Matt Pushard, Jesse Bergin, Riskiel Tineo, Gabe Bierman, Alex Williams, Brandon White, Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, Tristan Stevens, Holt Jones, Juan Reynoso, Michael Pérez and Jhoniel Serrano Left-handed pitchers Dale Stanavich, Justin King, Dameivi Tineo and Brayan Mendoza Four big questions 1. What are the team's biggest needs? The Marlins have a nice combination of depth and upside in their starting rotation and outfield. Beyond that, they have to consider outside acquisitions to put themselves in a position to contend in 2026. First base is wide open for the Marlins. Eric Wagaman struggled in 2025 while starting the majority of the team's games, as did most of the other players who split time at the position. Still only 22 years old and coming off a disappointing season at Triple-A, Deyvison De Los Santos could use more development time. A veteran, short-term addition makes sense here. Ryan O'Hearn is coming off of an All-Star season with the Baltimore Orioles and later the San Diego Padres. Aging Paul Goldschmidt can still get red-hot for extended stretches. There's also the potential return of Josh Bell, who at the age of 33, still hit 22 home runs with a 107 wRC+. One trade target would be Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz, who is coming off a season with a 135 wRC+. Before the offseason even began, reports linked the Marlins to some of this offseason's top high-leverage bullpen arms, and that continues to be a priority. Other than Ronny Henriquez, manager Clayton McCullough didn't have relievers he could trust in strikeout situations last year. Among all MLB teams, the Marlins 'pen ranked 22nd in ERA and 26th in fWAR. Free agents Raisel Iglesias and Ryan Helsley have already come off the board, signing with the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles, respectively. 2. Which returning players are candidates for position changes? One source told Fish On First that in addition to Wagaman, we could potentially see players such as Connor Norby, Graham Pauley and Liam Hicks receive reps at first base moving forward. Norby is the only one of that group who has no previous MLB experience there. Norby struggled as a full-time third baseman this past season—he posted minus-4 outs above average and minus-5 defensive runs saved. That may have bled into his offensive performance, slashing .251/.300/.389/.689 with eight home runs, 34 RBI and a 90 wRC+. Norby's usage will depend on whether the Marlins are comfortable enough in Pauley's all-around game to make him an everyday starter at the hot corner. Meanwhile, Agustín Ramírez will not be moved off of catcher anytime soon. There isn't a logical fallback plan for him, in the Marlins' opinion. When he was with the New York Yankees, Ramírez's minor league appearances at first base went very poorly. His lack of speed rules out a move to the outfield and they would rather live with flawed defense behind the plate than limit him to designated hitter. 3. Will any starters head to the bullpen? In Fish On First's most recent roster projection, the Marlins starting rotation consisted of Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Eury Pérez, Ryan Weathers and Janson Junk. That leaves Max Meyer, Braxton Garrett, Adam Mazur, Ryan Gusto and Dax Fulton on the outside looking in, not to mention top prospects Robby Snelling and Thomas White, who are expected to be called up at some point this season. Could any of these traditional starters be converted into relievers and compete for opportunities in the bullpen? The Marlins have been patient with Meyer, a former first-round draft pick, but he's on the mend from yet another major surgery, this time to his left hip. His plus-plus slider has carried him for his entire career, and a move to the 'pen would allow him to throw it more often than ever. Although the Marlins could option him to the minors if he gets squeezed out of the rotation, he seems ready to contribute now in a more specialized role. Last season between Double-A and Triple-A, Fulton posted a 5.38 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 9.98 K/9 and 5.12 BB/9. Other than limiting home runs, there weren't any positive takeaways. A move to the bullpen could be in everybody's best interest as the 6'7" lefty provides a much different look to batters than any of the club's other arms. This is all assuming Alcantara and Cabrera are not moved. The Marlins listened to offers for both of them at the July trade deadline, but talks have not advanced to that point so far this offseason. 4. How much is Bruce Sherman willing to spend? The 2025 Marlins finished with a payroll of approximately $68 million, which was the lowest in MLB. They are currently projected to spend even less next season. It's difficult to earn a postseason spot, much less contend for a championship, with such limited investment from ownership. As we detail below, the front office is evaluating impactful free agents and potential contract extensions for core players. However, actually getting deals done will require money from principal owner Bruce Sherman, who has been non-committal about increasing payroll. What we are hearing - On the subject of high-leverage relievers, a source tells Fish On First that the Marlins are showing interest in both Devin Williams and Pete Fairbanks. Williams, who was with the New York Yankees last season, posted a 4.79 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 13.06 K/9, 3.63 BB/9 and 18 saves through 62 innings pitched. Fairbanks, who had his $11M club option declined, posted a 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 8.80 K/9, 2.69 BB/9 for the Rays. He had career-highs of 27 saves and 60 ⅓ innings pitched. Either of them would instantly become the club's closer. - Despite recent reports linking Miami to right-hander Michael King, FOF has learned that a reunion with the former Marlins farmhand is highly unlikely. - Miami is in discussions with several pre-arbitration players about potential contract extensions. No player has received an extension from the Marlins since Richard Bleier in March 2022. - Between Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, Cabrera appears the more likely trade candidate this offseason—but Miami will only consider a deal that nets an overwhelming return. The organization expects Alcantara to be on the mound for Opening Day 2026. View full article

The Miami Marlins have not signed any of their players to contract extensions since 2022. That should change this offseason, not only to lock them up for the future, but also to increase the team's luxury tax payroll and avoid a potential grievance from the Major League Baseball Players Association. In a report from The Athletic, Brittany Ghiroli said that there was a large gap between Marlins and Kyle Stowers in their recent negotiations, which have since ceased. Expect the Marlins to now turn their attention to potential long-term building blocks like outfielder Jakob Marsee, catcher Joe Mack and pitcher Eury Pérez. Eury Pérez Fish On First has confirmed that the Marlins and Pérez's camp were engaged in extension talks last spring training. The expectation is talks will pick up again soon. Pérez is coming off a season where he posted a 4.25 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 9.91 K/9 and 3.02 BB/9 through 95 ⅓ innings pitched. He made all of his scheduled starts after completing Tommy John surgery rehab and his average fastball velocity actually increased slightly from where it had been as a rookie (from 97.5 mph to 97.9 mph). The expectation is that the Marlins righty will have no innings limit and will be full throttle in 2026. The 22-year-old has one more season to go before he's eligible for arbitration and he's four seasons away from free agency. A couple contract extension comparisons are Bryan Bello (Boston Red Sox), who signed for six years, $55M, and Spencer Strider's six-year, $75M extension with the Atlanta Braves. Jakob Marsee Marsee, 24, was one of four players acquired in the trade that sent Luis Arráez to the San Diego Padres. His first taste of the big leagues far exceeded expectations, as Marsee slashed .292/.363/.478/.842 with five home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases while playing all three outfield spots. It has become increasingly common for players to be extended with only a partial season of MLB experience. However, in most of those cases, the player was considered an elite prospect before debuting. Marsee, on the other hand, wasn't even ranked on Top 100 lists. The comparison that comes closest to being relevant to Marsee is Kristian Campbell of the Boston Red Sox. Just days after making his debut, he agreed to an eight-year, $60M guarantee and the Red Sox got club options for years nine and ten. Applying the same contract structure to Marsee would fully buy out two of his free agent years, with options covering two more if he's still an impactful player past age 32. Joe Mack Mack began the 2025 season in Double-A, but was quickly promoted to Triple-A, finishing the season slashing .257/.338/.475/.813 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI and a 120 wRC+ between both levels. Just as importantly, he is a fantastic defensive catcher, particularly when it comes to throwing out baserunners attempting to steal. The Marlins' search for a high-quality successor to J.T. Realmuto has been ongoing for seven years, but may finally be coming to an end here. Likely the only way Mack makes the 2026 Opening Day roster is if an extension is agreed to ahead of time. Similar to Campbell's case, the Marlins would delay announcing the deal until the season gets underway to keep him eligible to earn them a future Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick. Eight extensions have been handed out to catchers at any point of the pre-arb process. Keibert Ruiz signed with the Washington Nationals for eight years, $50M. That contract has aged poorly from the team's perspective as Ruiz has a 79 wRC+ and negative fWAR through the first three years. Most recently, Samuel Basallo got eight years, $67M from the Baltimore Orioles. View full article

The Rule 5 draft will take place on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida. The Miami Marlins usually participate in the major league phase of the draft. They are set to pick 12th this time—compared to third the year before—and it's hard to justify carrying a rookie on the roster all season when there are expectations of the team being competitive in 2026. With that being said, the Marlins recently opened a 40-man roster spot, giving them the flexibility to make a pick if a player with the right upside and role falls into their lap. Catcher Liam Hicks proved to be a nice pickup in the 2024 draft and the Marlins are starting to show an ability to develop under-the-radar players who didn't reach their potential with their previous organizations. Below are 10 unprotected players who the Marlins should be considering. Pitchers RHP Blake Burkhalter (Atlanta Braves) The majority of Rule 5 picks are pitchers, so we will begin with them. Burkhalter may be one of the first names off the board this year, before the Marlins are even on the clock. Taken with the 76th pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, the righty reached the Triple-A level in 2025, posting a 3.77 ERA, 4.82 FIP, 6.68 K/9 and 4.65 BB/9 in 31 innings pitched. Overall on the season, he had a 3.32 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 7.69 K/9 and 3.93 BB/9 in 32 appearances (16 starts) and 103 innings. Ranked 11th among Braves prospects per MLB Pipeline, Burkhalter could bolster the bullpen with his strong fastball/cutter combo, along with a low-80s curveball and occasional changeup. TDZHUWJfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0JGZFpBRlFEQjFjQVhsSlhVd0FIVUFCZkFGbFhVQWNBQkFBRkNBSUhBZ1FIQlZOUQ==.mp4 Upgrading the bullpen is one of the Marlins' top priorities heading into 2026. In addition to bringing in a veteran reliever, it wouldn't hurt to give Burkhalter an opportunity to see what he can show during spring training. LHP Hayden Mullins (Boston Red Sox) Mullins, who is 25 years old, spent the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A, posting a 2.21 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 10.89 K/9 and 4.51 BB/9 through 101 ⅔ innings pitched. His arsenal consists of a fastball, slider, cutter and changeup. The slider seems to be his best pitch, per FanGraphs, with a 60-grade future value and 55-grade current value. It is a bit risky to select a prospect with no AAA experience. However, that did not scare the Marlins away from picking Hicks when he was in that situation last year. RHP Griff McGarry (Philadelphia Phillies) McGarry spent most of the season in AA, but was then promoted to AAA. Between both levels, he posted a 3.44 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 13.34 K/9 and 5.27 BB/9. He has been a strikeout machine throughout his professional career thanks to a 60-grade slider and overpowering fastball. McGarry is very tough for right-handed batters to hit, and that should carry over to the majors. Clearly, the issue is control. LHP Dalton Rogers (Boston Red Sox) Another lefty in the Boston system, Dalton Rogers was a third-round pick in 2022 out of Southern Mississippi. He had a breakthrough year in 2025 after previously being stuck at the High-A level. In 105 innings pitched, Rogers finished with a 3.09 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 15% K-BB%, almost all of that coming against AA competition. Rogers has electric stuff, but will need to control it better if he wants to stick as a starter. With an over-the-top fastball, sweeper, and lofty curveball, he should reliably miss bats if turned into a reliever. RHP Alaska Abney (Cleveland Guardians) Perhaps the most unique player on this list is Guardians submariner Alaska Abney. Pure deception and grit are the name of the game for Abney, who was a 15th-rounder in 2021. Abney spent the majority of the 2025 season rehabbing from a shoulder injury, but he finished strong. In his 20 ⅓ innings at AA, he had a 1.44 ERA, 3.12 FIP, and 23.4% K-BB%. Unlike the couple pitchers mentioned before him, he locates with precision and issued only two walks. The Marlins bullpen hasn’t had an arm angle like this since Adam Cimber. RHP RJ Petit (Detroit Tigers) Petit had an extremely successful 2025 season. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 2.44 ERA, 2.94 FIP, and 21.3% K-BB%. One tall glass of water, Petit stands at 6’8”, 300 pounds. Those unique physical characteristics contributed to the excellent results on his slider and sinker. With the way he commands the zone, limits damage, and strikes hitters out, it would be a surprise if none of the teams picking before the Marlins took a shot on Petit. Position Players OF Kyler Fedko (Minnesota Twins) Last season, Fedko broke out, slashing .258/.367/.487/.855 with 28 home runs, 82 RBI and a 131 wRC+. For such a power-heavy profile, the right-handed bat only struck out 21.2% of the time and walked 14.0% of the time. There isn't much of a need for an outfielder in Miami, but the 2021 12th-rounder would provide some versatility having been used part-time at first base over the last two years. 1B/C Creed Willems (Baltimore Orioles) In AA with the Orioles, Willems slashed .253/.338/.441/.779 with 16 home runs, 59 RBI and a 117 wRC+. He is even more familiar with first base than Fedko, including 29 starts there in 2025. On the other hand, at only 22 years old, it would be a huge adjustment for Willems to face MLB pitching right now. INF Austin Gauthier (Los Angeles Dodgers) Gauthier, a former undrafted free agent, stands out for his plate approach, contact, and defense. In a full season at Triple-A, he posted a slash line of .259/.404/.354, with a wRC+ of 108 and .364 wOBA. Gauthier walked as many times as he struck out with a chase rate of 17.5% and whiff rate of 20.4%. Gauthier's average launch angle is extremely low at three degrees, hence his 54% ground ball rate. He does have decent exit velocities, suggesting that if a team could increase his pulled fly ball rate, they could find themselves a diamond in the rough. OF Yohendrick Piñango (Toronto Blue Jays) Yohendrick Piñango is a true data darling with elite EVs. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Piñango slashed .258/.361/.430, with a wRC+ of 122 and .362 wOBA. He gives scouts a lot to dream on as well with his strong frame and sweet lefty swing. The downside of Piñango is his lack of defensive ability—he'll probably be limited to left field in MLB. The 23-year-old has two weeks left to raise his profile in the Venezuelan Winter League. He homered Tuesday in his first game with Cardenales de Lara. View full article

Miami Marlins fans are excited to see what the team does in free agency this offseason, but keep in mind that it's possible to add quality depth without getting big names on guaranteed contracts. Last year, for example, the Marlins signed Janson Junk and Heriberto Hernández to minor league deals. They both went on to spend the majority of the 2025 season in the big leagues and produced well enough to put themselves in strong position to crack the 2026 Opening Day roster. The minor league free agent market is once again filled with hundreds of names. Fish On First has identified 10 of them who should be particularly attractive to the Marlins as either bounce-back candidates or diamonds in the rough. If signed, they would report to spring training as non-roster invitees. The first three players highlighted below actually have some MLB experience, while the rest are career-long minor leaguers looking for their opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level. RHP Matt Manning 2025 organizations: Detroit Tigers (AAA) and Philadelphia Phillies (AA) Once a top prospect in the Tigers organization, Manning got called up multiple times, but never really found any consistency and hasn't surpassed 100 innings pitched in any individual MLB season. The former starter mainly worked out of the bullpen in the minors in 2025 and control was a huge issue for him (44 BB in 55.2 IP). Manning's sweeper continues to be a plus pitch for him, generating a lot of whiffs. His fastball velocity peaks at 98 mph. The Marlins like to tinker with pitch arsenals and that could benefit Manning moving forward. The former first-round draft pick is entering his age-28 season. RHP Elvis Peguero 2025 organizations: Milwaukee Brewers (AAA/MLB) and Chicago White Sox (AAA/MLB) Peguero is not far removed from having an important bullpen role for a postseason-bound team. In 2024, he posted a 2.98 ERA through 51 ⅓ innings pitched, but did have a 4.04 FIP, showing some signs of being lucky. The following season, Peguero struggled to stay up with the big league team and also finished 2025 with a right elbow strain. Peguero is an uncomfortable pitcher to face because of how his sinker moves and how much extension there is in his delivery. If healthy, the Marlins should bring him in during spring training and see what he's got. RHP Shawn Dubin 2025 organizations: Houston Astros (AAA/MLB) and Baltimore Orioles (MLB) More potential bullpen help for the Fish. Dubin has had MLB stints with the Astros and Orioles since making his debut in 2023. In 2025, he posted a 5.08 ERA and 4.95 FIP through 33 ⅔ innings in the majors. Most of the damage inflicted on him this season came during a rough patch in mid-August. Dubin throws six pitches with good command, limits barrels, and generates ground balls. Wng0V1dfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0J3RUZCUVpYWHdzQUQxUUNYd0FIVjFjQ0FBTldVd01BVjFBSFZsVlhDRkZVVkFjSA==.mp4 Dubin's past as a starter and deep pitch mix give him a shot to contribute in a variety of roles moving forward. 1B/3B Malcom Nuñez 2025 organization: Pittsburgh Pirates (AAA) Once lauded as a top prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Nuñez is the youngest player we'll be covering (he turns 25 in March). Splitting time between first base and third base in AAA, he slashed .283/.335/.428/.763 with two home runs and 22 RBI. Injuries kept him out for the whole second half of the season. His age, physical build and right-handed bat give Nuñez some things in common with Heriberto Hernández. His path to joining the Marlins active roster is clear considering the club's mediocre production at the corner infield spots. 1B Jake Holton 2025 organizations: Detroit Tigers (AA) and Gigantes del Cibao (LIDOM) Holton just got through with his third consecutive season at the Double-A level. He slashed .257/.349/.479/.828 with 19 home runs, 66 RBI and a 142 wRC+. He also struck out 25.4% of the time, but walked 11.6% of the time, proving to be someone with nice plate discipline. Defensively, he has spent the majority of his career at first base, but does have some limited experience in the outfield. An added plus: Holton is currently tearing it up in the Dominican Winter League, slashing .419/.510/.674/1.184 with two home runs and eight RBI through 13 games thus far. Bringing both Nuñez and Holton to camp would suggest that the Marlins couldn't find the right match with a veteran first baseman and decided to spend their real money to address other positions. LHP Mitchell Tyranski 2025 organization: Chicago Cubs (AA) Tyranski is on the older side of this MiLB FA list at 28 years old. During the 2025 season, he posted a 2.37 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 9.32 K/9 and 5.53 BB/9 in 47 relief appearances. The Marlins need more lefty bullpen depth. Tyranski's low-90s fastball won't overpower anybody, but he may still be able to generate enough soft contact to be effective. OF Nick Schnell 2025 organization: Washington Nationals (AA/AAA) Schnell was also a free agent last winter when he made the move from the Rays to the Nationals. In 2025 with the Rochester Red Wings, he slashed .244/.322/.490 in 92 games. The 25-year-old has shown legitimate MLB power—a 14.1% barrel%, 41.8% hard-hit%, and 113.2 max exit velocity. Schnell's poor contact rates and plate approach have culminated in a strikeout rate over 30% and held him back from cracking the major leagues. The former first-rounder may be attractive to the Marlins because there is so much to gain if they can find a way to enhance his swing decisions. RHP Justin Yeager 2025 organization: Milwaukee Brewers (AA/AAA) A 2019 33rd-round draft pick, Justin Yeager began his minor league journey with the Atlanta Braves org. Three years ago, Yeager was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves and William Contreras to the Brewers. Now 27 years old, Yeager has seen a sharp decrease in strikeouts since entering the Brewers org with a slight decrease in walks. In his 21 ⅔ innings pitched with Triple-A Nashville in 2025, he put up a 0.84 ERA, heavily aided by a low batting average on balls in play (his xFIP was 5.47). Yeager throws a fastball, cutter, and slider, each of which had a sub-.300 xSLG. Good individual pitch characteristics may make him an interesting pickup regardless of his lackluster advanced metrics. RHP Houston Roth 2025 organization: Baltimore Orioles (AA/AAA) Another 2019 draft pick, Roth was selected in the 29th round by the Orioles. Across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, he posted a 2.96 ERA, 4.25 FIP, and 13.5 K-BB%. Those stats are skewed somewhat by Roth's very last appearance of the season in which he set season-highs with five earned runs and three walks allowed. Roth throws a four-seamer, sweeper, cutter, and splitter. His four-seam has 19 inches of induced vertical break, but it's thrown at a below-average velo of 92.3 mph. During his 40 ⅔ innings in Triple-A, Roth's sweeper recorded a 36.7 whiff%, .210 xwOBA, and .154 xBA. That was outdone by his dominant splitter, which got hitters to whiff 63.2% of the time, with a .085 xwOBA, and .050 xBA. Video game numbers from Roth, with breaking pitches like that, any team that can unlock more velo out of Roth could lead him to being a mainstay in any MLB bullpen. OF Yonathan Perlaza 2025 organizations: San Diego Padres (AAA) and Águilas del Zulia (LVBP) After a 2024 season in the KBO, Perlaza came back stateside to play for the Padres, spending the whole season in Triple-A. He slashed .307/.391/.510 with a .397 wOBA and 115 wRC+ and won the organization's Minor League Player of the Year award. Perlaza is continuing to get everyday reps in the Venezuelan Winter League. As was the case during the regular season, right field is his primary position. A switch-hitter, Perlaza brings loud pop to the plate with a max exit velo of 113.7 mph and a 46.1 hard-hit%. What has held Perlaza back is iffy contact rates, trouble with offspeed, and lackluster outfield defense. Perlaza has enjoyed success everywhere he's been over the last two years. Why not give him a shot to translate that to MLB competition? View full article

One of the more shocking moves of the MLB offseason thus far has been the Tampa Bay Rays declining the $11M club option on longtime reliever Pete Fairbanks. He finished his stint with the Rays throwing 256 ⅔ innings, posting a 2.98 ERA, saving 90 games (third in franchise history) and posted a 5.7 fWAR. Clearly, there will be a major market for Fairbanks in what is already a pretty loaded marker with Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez leading the charge, but Fairbanks could potentially reunite with his former boss Peter Bendix in Miami. The Texas Rangers drafted Fairbanks in the ninth round of the 2015 MLB Draft and was traded to the Rays in a one-for-one deal, sending Nick Solak to the Rangers in 2019. Bendix at that point was the Rays vice president, which who knows how much of a say he had when that deal is made, but certainly should mean something that the team traded for Fairbanks at that point. Solak went on to slash .252/.327/.372/.700 with 21 home runs, 93 RBI and a 91 OPS+ in his four season with the organization. He was later traded to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations and has been bouncing around the league ever since. The trade went on to be a clear win for the Rays. In 2025, Fairbanks posted a 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 8.80 K/9, 2.69 BB/9 and a career-high 27 saves through another career-high 60 ⅓ innings pitched. His four-seam fastball was his best pitch per Run Value (four), averaging 97.3 mph and generating 21.9% whiff rate with opposing hitters posting a batting average of .221 and slugging percentage of .319. The one pitch that took a major dip in production was his slider, going from a seven run value down to zero (league average) and a major reason for that was that he wasn't able to strike out many hitters with it, going from a 25.8 PutAway% to 19.7%. He did get many to whiff on it, going from a 23.6% whiff rate in 2024 to 30.8% this past season. This past season, Fairbanks added a cutter to his arsenal, which he began to use midway through the season, ended up being an elite pitch that he is using to better manage contact against him. That pitch had a run value of three, averaging 90.5 mph and hitters whiffed on that pitch 34.4% of the time. Now with the opportunity to use that pitch for a full season, it'll be interesting to see how far along that pitch can go and how much more usage he will give it. If the Marlins go out and sign Fairbanks, he would be at the highest end of the realistic price range that the team would spend and maybe Bendix, knowing the player from his time with the Rays, would go out and make a bit of a stronger push. Fairbanks would immediately become the team's everyday closer regardless of what has been said with a possible closer by committee. The team wants a high-leverage reliever per many reports and now, if they add one like Fairbanks, who is coming off a career year and has playoff experience, he needs to be the closer, shifting Ronny Henriquez over to the setup man. The likeliness that this happens is low, but it never hurts to dream assuming all the prior connections between the now two former Rays members. View full article

On Wednesday, the Miami Marlins announced their first flurry of roster moves since the end of the 2025 season: George Soriano was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles and Troy Johnston was claimed by the Colorado Rockies; Jesús Tinoco and Tyler Zuber were both activated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville; and Valente Bellozo, Freddy Tarnok and Brian Navarreto were outrighted to Jacksonville as well. Miami's 40-man roster is now at 39. Soriano was one of the longest-tenured players in the organization, having signed with them as an international free agent in 2015. But it was time to move on. After a strong 2023 campaign, the right-handed reliever was never able to recapture that success, posting a 6.75 ERA in 2024 and 8.35 ERA in 2025. Soriano was out of minor league options entering 2026. Johnston's departure was the biggest surprise amongst the roster moves made. Drafted in the 17th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Johnston was consistently productive at the plate during his MiLB career. He was named Marlins Minor League Player of the Year in 2023 after a 20/20 season. As a rookie this season, he slashed .277/.331/.420/.750 with four home runs, 13 RBI and a 109 wRC+ through 44 games played. After finishing with MLB's worst record, the Rockies were first in the waiver order and they jumped at the opportunity to claim Johnston. With the ability to play both the outfield and first base, the 28-year-old should have a strong chance of cracking Colorado's Opening Day roster. First base was already an area of weakness for the Marlins and this doesn't help. They still have Eric Wagaman and prospect Deyvison De Los Santos as well as Liam Hicks, though he is undersized for the position and primarily a catcher. In 2024, Bellozo started 13 games, posting a 3.67 ERA, 5.73 FIP, 5.77 K/9 and 2.75 BB/9. His luck began to even out toward the end of this season, finishing 2025 with a 4.65 ERA and 5.20 FIP in 32 appearances (six starts). Turning 26 in January, he was the youngest player to lose his roster spot on Wednesday. Although the Marlins didn't trust in Bellozo's ability moving forward, his production to this point was useful. Acquiring him from the Houston Astros in a one-for-one swap with infield prospect Jacob Amaya was a good under-the-radar deal. Tarnok had a nice season in Jacksonville, posting a 3.28 ERA through 68 ⅔ innings pitched. He only made five appearances at the major league level. If Tinoco wasn't outrighted, he was going to be non-tendered later this month. After undergoing underwent UCL hybrid reconstruction surgery, he will miss the entire 2026 season. Zuber's season-ending injury was a right lat strain. Claimed off waivers from the Mets, he only pitched in nine games, posting a 11.70 ERA. Navarreto could be someone that the Marlins aim to bring back on a minor league deal to provide some catching depth. All of the outrighted players can now elect minor league agency. By November 18, the Marlins have to decide which Rule 5 draft-eligible prospects to protect with 40-man selections. Assuming that catcher Joe Mack isn't the only protected prospect, there will need to be additional roster moves between now and the deadline to create room. View full article

While we still await the first player transactions of this Miami Marlins offseason, changes are already being made to the coaching staff. The Chicago White Sox have hired Marlins assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon to be their lead hitting coach. In Shomon's place, Miami will have two assistant hitting coaches in 2026: Chris Hess and Corbin Day. Hess, 30, is a former infielder who was drafted in the 17th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. He made it to High-A, and after a short stint in independent ball, Hess retired and went back to his alma mater, the University of Rhode Island, to become the team's assistant coach. Hess began his professional coaching career in 2021 with the Boston Red Sox organization. Hess was the Double-A Portland hitting coach for the past two seasons. In 2024, his Sea Dogs led the Eastern League in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. That team featured top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel, all of whom are now in the big leagues. Portland's roster wasn't as talented in 2025 and the results reflected that, with a 106-point drop-off in OPS (from .753 to .647). As for Day, 28, he played two years of college ball at Mount Mercy before going into coaching. He spent three years as an assistant coach at Kirkwood Community College and notched his first pro ball job as the hitting coach for High-A Cedar Rapids (Minnesota Twins affiliate). In 2024, he was moved up to become the hitting coach at AA-Wichita. His most recent role before joining the Marlins was in advance scouting for the Twins at the big league level. Shomon's departure comes after only one season in Miami. It's unsurprising that he is getting a promotion from the White Sox considering how he helped an inexperienced Marlins roster exceed expectations in 2025. He'll turn 36 in February. It does seem as if Pedro Guerrero will return as Marlins hitting coach, but nothing has been formerly announced by the club. View full article