Isaac Azout

Fish Unfiltered—Episode #71 Just in time for Opening Day, Isaac Azout and Ely Sussman speak with Miami Marlins president of business Caroline O'Connor. A Marlins executive since 2017, O'Connor discusses marketing the team in the midst of yet another rebuild, motivating fans to come to loanDepot park, hosting non-baseball events at the stadium and beginning work on the Miami Live! project. Find Fish Unfiltered on the Fish On First YouTube channel and wherever else you get your pods. FOF's audio programming also includes The Offishial Show, Big Fish Small Pod, Swimming Upstream and more. O'Connor originally joined the organization in October of 2017 as senior vice president and chief of staff before serving three years as chief operating officer. She now oversees all the club’s business operations, including analytics and strategy, sales, partnerships, marketing, human resources, finance, legal, communications, community outreach, technology, security, ballpark facilities and special projects. Follow Isaac (@IsaacAzout), Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View full article

Fish Unfiltered—Episode #72 Outfielder Kyle Stowers wasn't getting results at the plate in 2024 or during 2025 spring training. Incredibly, he has emerged as one of the most consistent players on the Miami Marlins. Stowers sits down with Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral on Fish Unfiltered to open up about his experiences with the Marlins organization so far, the impact of "torpedo" bats and Trajekt machines, the team's defensive improvement and more. Find Fish Unfiltered on the Fish On First YouTube channel, our new-look Apple Podcasts channel and wherever else you get your pods. FOF's audio programming also includes The Offishial Show, Swimming Upstream, Big Fish Small Pod and more. Stowers, 27, was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles along with Connor Norby prior to the 2024 MLB trade deadline in exchange for left-hander Trevor Rogers. He enters play on Thursday with a .281/.382/.421 slash line (127 wRC+) through 16 games and has settled into the everyday right fielder's job. This comes on the heels of struggles in the Grapefruit League as Stowers recorded zero extra-base hits in his 52 spring plate appearances. The possibility of being optioned to the minors even entered his mind, but he's grateful for the feedback he received from the Marlins coaching staff during that period. "It was just unique. In moments where I feel like maybe I wasn't at my highest confidence point, the way that they were able to pick me up and have conversations with me that were encouraging was a new experience for me this spring." Follow Isaac (@IsaacAzout), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View full article

Max Meyer was once again impressive, but Miami's offense was once again quiet. JUPITER, FL—Max Meyer made his third start of the Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, under the lights. After an uneven first inning, Meyer settled in and completed the next two frames very efficiently, without allowing a run. He was pulled after just 33 total pitches, but threw an additional eight in the bullpen following his outing. "I thought he was exceptional," manager Clayton McCullough said. "A couple of hitters in, probably wasn't the start you hope for, but I think it was actually a good thing to see, especially the way he got right back on the attack." Following the RBI double by Juan Soto, Meyer recorded an out on the next nine men who came to the plate. Soto singled again in the third, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. “Fastball and sinker felt really good and I was able to put them in good locations up and get some swings-and-misses,” said Meyer following his outing. His fastball velocity remained encouraging, sitting at 96 mph and topping out at 97.1 mph. Meyer mixed both types of breaking balls effectively, throwing eight sliders and eight sweepers. When asked to differentiate between the two, he explained, “I’d say I probably went more sweeper-heavy tonight. The ones in the 85-87 mph range are the sweepers, and anything harder is the slider.” Meyer credited the Marlins' new pitching staff for helping expand his pitch arsenal, noting, “The staff has done a great job relaying information that helps me understand when and where to throw each pitch. My arsenal is night and day compared to last year." Additionally, the 25-year-old mentioned the benefit of having more off-speed offerings to have to throw against right-handed hitters, admitting to the media that he felt “forced” to use the changeup more than he would have preferred. He told Fish on the Farm’s Alex Carver that he would consider the changeup his fifth-best offering. Meyer’s outing began with a few over-thrown fastballs to leadoff man Luisangel Acuña, later resulting in the hard-hit RBI double from Soto. "First inning is always going to be about getting the juices out and then you settle in," Meyer said. "For me, the impressive part of the outing was how he got right back to work, minimized the damage and continued the next couple of innings and got outs quickly," added McCullough. Meyer's final line: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO. Meyer is currently projected to be the number five starter for the Marlins in 2025. Roster trimmed down to 48 Before Saturday night’s game, the Marlins made their second wave of roster cuts, highlighted by the Marlins’ seventh-ranked prospect, Deyvison De Los Santos . In addition to De Los Santos, Luarbert Arias, Adam Mazur (#11), and Max Acosta (#15) were optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. Dax Fulton (#14) and Jared Serna (#10) were optioned to Double-A Pensacola and Matt Pushard, Christian Roa, Robby Snelling (#6), Dale Stanavich, Jacob Berry, Nathan Martorella and Andrew Pintar were reassigned to minor league camp. “These next two weeks, you’re going to see a lot of the position players get stretched out to that seven-inning mark, playing more back-to-back games to try and get their timing right and get ready for the season,” manager Clayton McCullough said on Saturday. Of note: After only allowing one earned run in his first four innings pitched this spring, Janson Junk allowed four earned in his 2 ⅔ innings of work on Saturday. Postgame, McCullough mentioned the team plans to stretch him out as a starter. Declan Cronin and George Soriano each threw a scoreless inning of relief. Graham Pauley continued his strong spring as he went 2-for-2 with an RBI double on Saturday. Xzavion Curry will start for the Marlins Sunday afternoon in West Palm Beach against the Houston Astros. View full article

For the first time, Marlins players will be able to challenge borderline pitches during spring training games. The system could be coming to MLB regular season games as soon as 2026. JUPITER, FL—MLB has announced the implementation of the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system for approximately 60% of spring training games in 2025. The league plans to use the exhibition season to evaluate whether the system is suitable for the regular season. Hawk-Eye technology will be utilized in the background behind home plate, allowing pitchers, catchers and batters to challenge ball or strike calls they believe were incorrect by the umpire. For Miami, 19 of their 30 spring training games will be played in ballparks equipped with Hawk-Eye technology, including Hammond Stadium, Clover Park and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece. While the system will not be in place for the 2025 MLB regular season, it is expected to debut in the near future, with reports indicating 2026 as a potential start date. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough shared his thoughts on the upcoming trial. “I’m excited to see how it plays out,” McCullough said. “The reception in Triple-A was very positive and it’s exciting to have the chance to test it further in major league spring training.” Though the first-year manager is eager to see how the system performs in a major league setting, he wouldn’t be a fan of eliminating the human element of umpire decision-making. “I wouldn’t be a fan of total ABS, but Major League Baseball has done a wonderful job of trying to make this game as fan-friendly as they can, so maybe this is just another step in that direction.” Non-roster invitee Troy Johnston, a first baseman/outfielder, is more enthusiastic about the system’s implementation. “I think it should be implemented right away,” Johnston said. “It’s one of the best ways to hold umpires accountable. There have been both good and bad calls, and some umpires have off days. Holding them accountable is important.” Johnston, 27, has had extended experience with the challenge system in the minors, referencing the strategy that goes along with it, depending on how many the players get. “I’ve played with two and I’ve played with three, and I strongly prefer three,” said Johnston. "It gives a bit more flexibility because with two, there’s a ton of strategy to it. However, more than three, it will get a hectic.” Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine is also an advocate for the challenge system. “I think the system is the perfect medium where you don’t make the umpires obsolete, they’re still a part of the game, but you’re also holding them accountable if you trust your eyes enough at the plate.” Conine, 27, who has accumulated over 2,400 plate appearances in the minors, is familiar with the system. “I’m not sure of my exact percentages, but I’ve never had a bad challenge,” he said. “Some players will challenge calls and it turns out the pitch is right down the middle.” ec164w.mp4 Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers, who is competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster, shared his perspective as a hitter. “I like the objectivity the ABS system brings,” Stowers said. “While the human element can make the game more entertaining, I think the challenge system is a great compromise.” Stowers, who has experienced the ABS system in previous seasons, acknowledged his approach as an aggressive hitter. “I’d say I’m decent with it,” he chuckled. “As an aggressive hitter, if I take a pitch, it’s usually way outside, so I need to get better with it.” News and notes from around camp Marlins NRI Woo-Suk Go has a fractured right index finger he sustained while doing some drill work in the weight room. He will be reevaluated in the next couple of weeks, per Clayton McCullough. Ace Sandy Alcantara will make his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday, February 23 in Port St. Lucie against the New York Mets. “It’s about lining things up where it fits best into his calendar and working backwards from Opening Day,” said McCullough on Thursday. Alcantara is expected to throw one inning or 25-30 pitches on Sunday. During a live batting practice session on the main field, Griffin Conine launched a gargantuan home run of Xzavion Curry that landed on the roof of the Cardinals’ office buildings in right field. “Homers always feel good, but I’m more focused on controlling the zone and swinging at strikes and laying off balls,” said Conine. “I’ve seen days where 110 (mph exit velocities) aren't getting out in Roger Dean, so yeah, I definitely squared it up pretty good. View full article

The Marlins are bringing many new faces to Jupiter in 2025 and counting on their veteran starting rotation leader to regain his old form. With organized spring training activities about to begin, here are the top three storylines to follow throughout Miami Marlins camp. What will post-TJ Sandy Alcantara look like? All indications point toward the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner taking the mound for the Marlins in their season opener against the Pirates on March 27. Following arguably the greatest-pitched season in franchise history, 2023 was an uneven year for Miami’s ace despite leading the league in complete games. The Dominican right-hander posted a 7-12 record with a 4.14 ERA across 28 starts before being shut down in late September due to a right forearm strain. Subsequently, Alcantara underwent Tommy John surgery on October 6, 2023, sidelining him for the entire 2024 season. Alcantara resumed his throwing program last March and participated in live batting practice sessions in September at loanDepot park. Following a traditional offseason throwing program, all eyes will be on him when he makes his Grapefruit League debut. “Normal offseason, non-stop working every day and just trying to get better,” said Alcantara at Friday's Media Day. Suppose he can provide the Marlins with something between his ‘22 and ‘23 seasons. In that case, they will have one of baseball’s premier starting pitchers in their rotation again and potentially the crown jewel of the 2025 trade deadline. Alcantara is in the fourth year of the five-year, $56M extension he signed before the 2022 season. Prospects galore! The Marlins have a promising crop of prospects set to attend big league camp, with several players expected to make their MLB debuts during the upcoming season. Among those joining camp are catchers Agustín Ramírez (ranked #4 by Fish On First) and Joe Mack (#11), first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos (#5), shortstop Jared Serna (#8), left-handed pitcher Robby Snelling (#6), right-handed pitcher Adam Mazur (#10) and many more. Ramírez, De Los Santos, Serna, Snelling and Mazur were all acquired at the 2024 trade deadline and finished the season with Triple-A Jacksonville. Mazur got his first taste of the majors with the San Diego Padres last season, making eight starts. Acquired as the centerpiece in the trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ramírez’s bat is major league-ready. However, concerns remain about his defense, with one team source stating to Fish On First, “he’s not a catcher.” Rule 5 Draft pick Liam Hicks will presumably back up Nick Fortes to begin the regular season, but it's only a matter of time before Ramírez forces his way into the Marlins lineup, whether that be at DH, first base or behind the plate. While Matt Mervis and Jonah Bride are expected to see most of the playing time at first base initially, De Los Santos is undoubtedly a candidate who will be up sooner rather than later. Across Double-A and Triple-A, De Los Santos slashed .294/.343/.571 in 2024, including 40 home runs and 120 RBI. What impact can the new coaching staff make? After an extensive search, the Miami Marlins hired former Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough as the 17th manager in franchise history. McCullough succeeds Skip Schumaker, the 2023 NL Manager of the Year. This marks McCullough’s first MLB managerial role and his staff boasts a similarly inexperienced group of coaches, with most assuming their respective roles for the first time. Regardless, McCullough is focused on establishing clear expectations for his team entering camp. “We want our players to be open-minded and understand that each day presents an opportunity for individual development and growth as a ballplayer,” said McCullough Notably, this coaching staff has less combined major league playing experience than any other in the league. However, McCullough and his staff aren't concerned. “Our job as staff members is to provide the type of coaching and information that makes guys better and create an environment that guys look forward to coming to." Although position players have yet to report, first base/infield coach Tyler Smarslok has already hit the ground running with infielders Connor Norby and Xavier Edwards. “Tyler (Smarslok) is going to do great things,” McCullough said. "We know Norby is highly motivated, and the ability is there, He's an exceptional athlete." Additionally, Edwards dedicated the offseason to strengthening his arm. “I’ve been doing this throwing program for three months and my shoulder finally feels healthy. It’s a huge sigh of relief to come into a season with a healthy arm,” said Miami’s shortstop. View full article

In an interview with Fish Unfiltered, Jonah Bride discusses his extreme starter/reliever splits and how he's been training differently to become a better first baseman in 2025. View full video

First-ballot Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki spent three seasons in Miami (2015-2017), most notably recording his 3,000 MLB hit with the Fish. View full video

With the start of spring training only a month-and-a-half away, these Marlins players are best positioned to break camp and head to Miami for Opening Day on March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Three weeks removed from Fish On First's previous Marlins roster projection, a series of recent transactions calls for a fresh update. The trade of another fan favorite has muddied the starting rotation picture while two new inexpensive bats seemingly have good shots of landing Opening Day jobs. To recap, Miami dealt left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for two prospects, highlighted by 19-year-old Starlyn Caba, who now ranks second on FOF's Top 30 prospects list. While neither Caba nor Emaarion Boyd (the other prospect in the deal) will be with Miami on March 27, Luzardo's active roster spot is now up for grabs. It wasn’t as significant as the Luzardo deal, but Miami did complete a trade of a couple of former Top 100 prospects in late December. The Marlins sent utility man Vidal Bruján to the Chicago Cubs for first baseman Matt Mervis and cash considerations. Mervis, 27, should see considerable playing time at first base and designated hitter against right-handed pitching. Additionally, the club signed free agent Eric Wagaman to a one-year split contract. The 27-year-old is a right-handed bat with solid power potential and will attempt to help fill the void left by Jake Burger's departure. As a periodic reminder, the MLB active roster consists of 26 players, typically 13 position players and 13 pitchers. Below are the 26 players I believe will break camp with the big league team and make the 83-mile drive to loanDepot park from Jupiter. Disagree with any aspect of this projection? Feel free to comment with your own. Position players Default starting lineup: C Nick Fortes, 1B Matt Mervis, 2B Otto Lopez, 3B Connor Norby, SS Xavier Edwards, LF Kyle Stowers, CF Dane Myers, RF Jesús Sánchez and DH Jonah Bride. Bench: C Liam Hicks, INF Eric Wagaman, UTIL Javier Sanoja and OF Derek Hill. While top prospects Deyvison De Los Santos and Agustín Ramírez are both on the 40-man roster and practically big league ready, I find it hard to believe the Marlins will start the clock on them in late March. Also, each could benefit from more Triple-A reps as Ramirez needs to fine-tune his defense and DLS his offensive approach. Assuming he doesn't have an atrocious spring training, Rule 5 Draft selection Liam Hicks figures to be the backup catcher to Nick Fortes. If he is returned to Detroit, the other two catchers on the 40-man roster are Jhonny Pereda and the aforementioned Ramírez. The lone free agent addition for Miami this off-season was Wagaman, who should see a decent amount of playing time at first base, mostly platooning with left-handed hitting Matt Mervis. Wagaman spent most of 2024 in the Angels system, slashing .274/.339/.469 across AA/AAA. Lastly, with lefty hitters like Kyle Stowers and Jesús Sánchez expected to do most of their damage against right-handed pitching, it could open the door for Javier Sanoja to get enough reps to justify putting him on the major league roster. Sanoja, the 14th-ranked prospect in Miami’s system, got his first taste of the Majors last season and performed exactly as advertised: great defensive versatility, excellent bat-to-ball skills and limited power. He will likely begin the year at AAA so he can play every day, but I do see a world where he breaks camp with the team. The one notable omission would be Griffin Conine, who played surprisingly well in his 30 games in the majors last season. With Sánchez and Stowers, it would be a bit redundant for all three players to be on the roster simultaneously. Pitchers Starting rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Braxton Garrett, Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer. Bullpen: Calvin Faucher, Jesús Tinoco, Anthony Bender, Anthony Veneziano, Declan Cronin, Lake Bachar, Andrew Nardi and Xzavion Curry. With the trade of Jesús Luzardo, there is an opening in the club's starting rotation. Miami will give every opportunity to former third overall pick Max Meyer to earn that spot. In 2024, Meyer threw 115 innings between Triple-A and the majors. A wild card in the competition this spring could be Adam Mazur. A trade deadline acquisition last year, Mazur already made his MLB debut with the Padres and with a strong Grapefruit League showing, he could find himself at loanDepot for Opening Day. Phenom Eury Pérez, still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is expected to be back around the All-Star break. The Triple-A rotation will likely include Meyer or Mazur, Robby Snelling, Valente Bellozo, Patrick Monteverde and minor league signing Robinson Piña. View full article

Former first-round pick Daniel Moskos will replace Mel Stottlemyre Jr. as Miami's pitching coach under new manager Clayton McCullough, the club announced on Wednesday. For the first time in six seasons, the Miami Marlins have a new pitching coach. On Thanksgiving Eve’s Marlins Hot Stove Show, Kyle Sielaff announced the hiring of former first-round pick Daniel Moskos, who will take over for Mel Stottlemyre Jr. Moskos, 38, spent the last three seasons as the Chicago Cubs’ assistant pitching coach. Before joining the Cubs, Moskos spent two seasons in the New York Yankees organization as a minor league pitching coach with Single-A Charleston and Double-A Somerset. While there, he crossed paths with Joe Migliaccio, who the Marlins just tabbed as their director of hitting. His first stop following his playing career was as a throwing trainer for Driveline Baseball. Moskos is the third prominent Marlins hire this offseason to have had a stint with Driveline, joining director of pitching Bill Hezel and director of catching Maxx Garrett. The South Carolina native had a promising start to his professional career as the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with the fourth overall pick of the 2007 MLB draft. That July, he signed for $2.475 million. After three full seasons in the minors, Moskos made his Major League debut on April 30, 2011, against the Colorado Rockies. That season, he pitched to a 2.96 ERA in 31 games. Moskos went on to have stints with several organizations over the years but never made it back to the Majors. His most recent professional baseball assignment was with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League in 2018. Bench coach Carson Vitale and hitting coach Pedro Guerrero are joining Moskos as members of first-year manager Clayton McCullough’s coaching staff. View full article

The Marlins president of baseball operations addressed the media at loanDepot park on Monday moments after formally introducing the club's new manager, Clayton McCullough. View full video

The first base coach of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers has become the 17th manager in Marlins history. The Miami Marlins have hired Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough as their next manager, as first reported by ESPN's Alden González. McCullough replaces 2023 NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker, with whom the Marlins agreed to part ways on September 29. On Monday afternoon, the Marlins officially announced McCullough as the 17th manager in franchise history. McCullough, who turns 45 in December, has an impressive player development background. The son of a scout, he began coaching after a four-year playing career (2002-2005) as a minor league catcher in the Cleveland Guardians organization. He spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater, East Carolina University, then managed for seven seasons (2007-2013) with the Rookie and Class-A affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was a minor league coordinator for Toronto in 2014. Next, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired McCullough as their minor league field coordinator in 2015. He joined their major league coaching staff as first base coach entering the 2021 season. During Miami’s managerial search two years ago, McCullough was interviewed for the position before the team ultimately hired Schumaker. Following their postseason appearance in 2023, the Marlins and then-general manager Kim Ng, who hired Schumaker, mutually decided to go in different directions. After that, it became highly unlikely that Schumaker would remain with the team beyond 2024. In addition to the Marlins, the White Sox, Mets, Brewers, Guardians and Royals all had McCullough under consideration for managerial jobs over the last couple offseasons. The Marlins interviewed several candidates for their open managerial spot after the regular season. Sources told Fish On First that Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz and former Marlins bench coach Luis Urueta were each interviewed virtually over the past couple of weeks. The Miami Herald then reported that Albernaz and Rangers associate manager Will Venable were the finalists for the Marlins position. Venable took the White Sox gig instead, and a few days later, Albernaz decided to remain with Cleveland. Fish On First learned of the Marlins' intent to interview McCullough on October 23. He later met with team officials in person during the first couple days of November in advance of the GM Meetings, according to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson. Sources told Fish On First that Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Fetters and Red Sox coach Andrew Bailey both declined to interview for the Marlins managerial position. Once McCullough arrives in Miami, he’ll find a familiar face in assistant GM Gabe Kapler. Kapler was the director of player development for the Dodgers from November 2014 until October 2017, overlapping with McCullough. After managing the Phillies and Giants, Kapler was hired by Miami a year ago. McCullough will look to lead a 100-loss Miami team back into contention and hopefully bring about continuity at the Marlins manager position. Previous to this hire, during the club's 32-year history, Miami's 16 managers have averaged roughly two seasons at the helm. The New York Yankees, for example, have had just four managers in the same time frame (Showalter, Torre, Girardi and Boone). View full article

2024 was a season to forget in Miami, but there is internal optimism regarding 2025. TORONTO -- On Sunday afternoon, the Marlins concluded what was, by all accounts, an objectively rough season. Just one year removed from participating in the MLB postseason, Miami lost 100 games for just the fourth time in franchise history. However, the season ended positively as Miami swept the Blue Jays in Toronto to finish the regular season 62-100. It is the first time since 2013 that the Marlins swept the season's final series. Ironically, the team also finished 62-100 that year. For some veterans from the magical 2023 campaign, including Jake Burger and Jesús Luzardo, enduring a 100-loss season was mentally and emotionally challenging. That said, current players who figure to be on next year's roster remain optimistic about themselves and the culture in place. "There's not a day in this clubhouse that we think we're a 100-loss team," said clubhouse leader Jake Burger before Sunday's season finale. "The way the culture is in this clubhouse, the way everyone acts with each other given that we had 70 new guys play for us this year, shows it was never about bad culture." Burger credited the coaching staff and the maturity of the younger guys inside that clubhouse for not allowing anything to break them apart. "It's a young, talented group of players that have a bright future and just have to keep working," acting manager Luis Urueta said postgame. "I think our coaching staff did a great job in knowing what they had and what we had to keep teaching." Following the trade deadline on July 30 when Miami dealt nine of their established big leaguers, opportunity presented itself for a lot of the younger players in the organization, including some that returned to Miami in trades. Xavier Edwards, who has established himself as one of the team's core players, touched on why he believes the team will improve in 2025. "We had a lot of missing pieces this year, pretty much our entire starting rotation to begin the year," Edwards mentioned. "We have a really good group of young guys that really started to click in the second half and I feel that as teammates and friends, this group learned how to win." Miami finished the second half 22-31, a vast improvement from their first half record of 40-68. They also ranked 10th in runs since the All-Star break. While it remains unclear what direction President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix wants to go, the players remain confident that 2024 will not repeat itself. "We feel like it was a one-off," Burger said. "We have our arms coming back and we got growth from the young guys offensively. More than anything, we just on't want this to happen again, and I think we all understand that, so we're gong to do everything we can to ensure it doesn't." Luzardo, who pitched Game 1 of the 2023 Wild Card Series, is enthusiastic to help this team get back to where he wants to be. "I think we're going to get a lot of help in that rotation back. You're going to get Eury [Pérez] back, Sandy [Alcantara] back, I hope to be back and then add all the experience our young guys have gained in August in September, it's exciting." Luzardo is expected to go through a normal off-season routine and be 100% for spring training. Perez, 21, is not expected to return from his elbow reconstruction surgery until half-way through 2025 while Alcantara is on pace to be Miami's Opening Day starter. The consensus inside the Marlins clubhouse is that with some fine-tuning on defense, a healthy pitching staff and a steady culture, the Marlins can get back to where they want to be. "Getting the arms back to help keep us in games and clean up little things on defense over the off-season, there's no reason why we couldn't be the best team in our division," said Edwards. View full article

There were a fair share of ex-Marlins—or "Flipped Fish," if you will—who performed well in the Majors this season. Let's build a team of them. In a year without many strong performances from active Miami Marlins, plenty of former Fish produced at a high level for their current clubs. Here is a position-by-position breakdown. To be eligible, these players must have had previous MLB regular season experience as a Marlin. Catcher: Jacob Tyler Realmuto Marlins tenure: 2014-2018 (11.6 fWAR) Acquired: Draft Traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on February 7, 2019 in exchange for Sixto Sánchez, Jorge Alfaro and Will Stewart. Arguably the best catcher in franchise history, J.T. Realmuto has now spent more seasons with the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies than he ever did in Miami. He has cemented his place as one of the elite catchers in baseball. In an injury-shortened 2024 that fell slightly below his usual standards, he slashed .266/.322/.429 with a 109 wRC+ in only 99 games. Realmuto went hitless in the NLDS as the Phils were upset by the New York Mets. The three-time All-Star has recorded an OPS+ of at least 100 every single season since 2016. He is about to enter the final season of his five-year/$115.5M contract extension. First Base: Luis Arraez Marlins tenure: 2023-2024 (3.2 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the San Diego Padres on May 4, 2024 in exchange for Dillon Head, Nathan Martorella, Jakob Marsee and Woo-Suk Go. One of the most popular Marlins in recent memory, Luis Arraez earned his third consecutive batting title in 2024, each with different teams. While his production this past season was a step down from his brilliant 2023 campaign, he still hit .314 and led the league with 200 hits. After scuffling a bit with Miami over the first month of the season, a change of scenery seemed to do him well as his OPS with the Padres increased by 25 points. Since the start of 2022, the three-time All-Star has slashed .328/.371/.426 in 441 games and 576 hits in those three seasons. The Venezuelan native has just one more year of club control. Second Base: Enrique "Kiké" Hernández Marlins tenure: 2014 (18 games) Acquired: Trade Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes and Andrew Heaney on December 10, 2014 in exchange for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon and Miguel Rojas. Enrique Hernández continues to be a postseason hero for the consistently competitive Los Angeles Dodgers. While he's been a below-average hitter the last three seasons (76 wRC+), he provides tremendous defensive versatility. Then in October, his bat comes alive. Including his solid start to the 2024 playoffs, he has a 139 wRC+ in 79 career postseason games. He's slugged .546 in those crucial games. After a 2024 season that saw him slash .229/.281/.373, he set to become a free agent in 2025. Third Base: Jazz Chisholm Jr. Marlins tenure: 2020-2024 (7.7 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the New York Yankees on July 27, 2024 in exchange for Agustín Ramírez, Jared Serna and Abrahan Ramírez. One of the most dynamic talents acquired during the Bruce Sherman era, Jazz Chisholm Jr. put together a 24 HR/40 SB season in 2024. Traded to the New York Yankees at this year's trade deadline, the 26-year-old is now the everyday third baseman for the best team in the American League, currently contributing to their deep playoff push. In 46 regular season games as a Yankee, Chisholm slashed .273/.325/.500 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases. He played a career-high 147 games in 2024, easily the most available he's been in season in his Major League career. He won't be a free agent until 2027. Shortstop: Miguel Rojas Marlins tenure: 2015-2022 (9.5 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 11, 2023 in exchange for Jacob Amaya. Aside from his incredible COVID-shortened 2020 season, Miguel Rojas just put together the best season of his Major League career as a 35-year-old. The eight-year Marlin veteran slashed .263/.337/.410 with a 111 wRC+ in 103 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While continuing to provide Gold Glove-caliber defense at short, Rojas was the sixth-most valuable player (3.4 bWAR) on a star-studded Dodgers team that features three future Hall of Famers. The Dodgers have a team option on Rojas for 2025. Left Field: Christian Yelich Marlins tenure: 2013-2017 (17.6 fWAR) Acquired: Draft Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on January 25, 2018 in exchange for Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, Isan Díaz and Jordan Yamamoto. Christian Yelich finally looked like himself again in 2024. After winning the MVP Award in 2018 and finishing second in '19, Yelich scuffled—by his standards—over the next four seasons. He averaged a .768 OPS during that span and struck out a career-high 162 times in 2022. Prior to undergo season-ending back surgery in mid-August, Yelich was thriving in 2024, slashing an absurd .315/.406/.504 with a 153 wRC+. He is expected to be fully healthy by spring training. Center Field: JJ Bleday Marlins tenure: 2022 (-0.3 fWAR) Acquired: Draft Traded to the Oakland Athletics on February 11, 2023 in exchange for A.J. Puk. The fourth overall pick of the ultra-talented 2019 MLB Draft, JJ Bleday finally blossomed in 2024. After a couple of rough MLB seasons with sub-.200 batting averages, Bleday broke out in a big way for the Athletics during their final season in Oakland. He finished sixth in MLB with 43 doubles and had a 120 wRC+. He was available all season long as he played in 159 games with 153 of them coming in center field. Additionally, he was able to cut his strikeout rate from 28% as a rookie all the way down to 18%. He figures to be one of the Athletics' cornerstone position players going forward. Right Field: Giancarlo Stanton Marlins tenure: 2010-2017 (33.7 fWAR) Acquired: Draft Traded to the New York Yankees on December 11, 2017 in exchange for Starlin Castro, Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers. Arguably the greatest Marlin of all-time, Giancarlo's seventh season in pinstripes was solid. He played in 114 games (third-healthiest season as a Yankee) and had a wRC+ of 116. Exclusively a DH, Stanton his 27 home runs and drove in 72 runs. More importantly, the Bronx Bombers are two wins away from their first World Series berth since 2009 thanks to Stanton's otherworldly postseason performance. During his Yankee tenure, he's averaged just 8.7 at-bats per home run in October—second only to Babe Ruth (min. 100 AB). He still has three guaranteed years of his massive $325M contract remaining Designated Hitter: Marcell Ozuna Marlins tenure: 2013-2017 (15.6 fWAR) Acquired: International FA Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on December 14, 2017 in exchange for Sandy Alcantara, Magneuris Sierra, Zac Gallen and Daniel Castano. Ozuna from the Braves just continues to mash. In his second full season as a primary DH, Ozuna put together one of the best offensive seasons of his career. While playing in all 162 games, the hard-hitting Dominican slashed .302/.378/.546 with a 154 wRC+. He still produced 4.7 fWAR despite not playing a single inning of defense. He hit 39 home runs and drove in 102 while earning his third career All-Star nod. I predict he will earn his third career Silver Slugger award as well. Starting Pitcher 1: Zac Gallen Marlins tenure: 2019 (0.8 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 31, 2019 in exchange for Jazz Chisholm Jr. Since going to Arizona in one of the most unique one-for-one trades in Marlins history, Zac Gallen has become a true ace. In his five full seasons in the desert, Gallen is 50-31 with a 3.34 ERA in 735 IP. He's struck out over a batter per inning and has an ERA+ of 127. The New Jersey native didn't quite replicate his 2023 season that led him to finish third in Cy Young voting after throwing 210 innings, but his 3.65 ERA in 2024 was still lowest among all D-backs starters. There was a time where I thought this trade could wind up a win-win for both sides, but I believe Arizona came out well on top here. Starting Pitcher 2: Pablo López Marlins tenure: 2018-2022 (8.9 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the Minnesota Twins along with José Salas and Byron Chourio on January 20, 2023 in exchange for Luis Arraez. A year after agreeing to a four-year, $73.5M contract extension, 2024 was a tale of two seasons for Pablo López. He finished the first half with an 8-7 record and 5.11 ERA in 19 starts. Following the All-Star break, López's luck turned around and he was back to being himself. He pitched to a 2.77 ERA the rest of the way, finishing as the sixth-most valuable player on the Twins and is under club control through 2027. This is another trade that I would hand Miami the loss. Relief Pitcher 1: A.J. Puk Marlins tenure: 2023-2024 (1.7 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 25, 2024 in exchange for Deyvison De Los Santos and Andrew Pintar. What a wild season A.J. Puk had in 2024. In spring training, the Marlins announced they would experiment with Puk in the starting rotation. Once that failed miserably (9.22 ERA in four starts), Puk returned to a high-leverage bullpen role and then put together arguably the best stretch of any reliever in the National League. From May 13 til the end of the season, Puk pitched to a minuscule 1.72 ERA in 57 ⅔ innings pitched and held opponents to a .157 batting average, striking out 11 batters per nine innings. 27 ⅓ of those innings came with the Diamondbacks where he was even more lethal (1.32 ERA). He is under club control through 2027. Relief Pitcher 2: Tanner Scott Marlins tenure: 2022-2024 (4.2 fWAR) Acquired: Trade Traded to the San Diego Padres along with Bryan Hoeing in exchange for Robby Snelling, Adam Mazur, Graham Pauley and Jay Beshears. Arguably the best reliever in franchise history, Tanner Scott will always be remembered fondly by Marlins fans. After an incredible 2023 season (2.8 fWAR), Scott was somehow even better in 2024. After allowing a game-winning home run to Marcell Ozuna on April 15, Scott would only allow two more home runs the rest of the year (65 games!). In those 64 ⅓ innings, he had a 1.40 ERA while converting 21/22 save opportunities. He was elected to his first career All-Star Game in 2024 and will be a free agent this offseason. He is expected to receive a massive payday. View full article