Hans Herrera

It's been over a month since the first analysis on this #OffseasonTargets series. As mentioned in early October, I consider that the current roster should prioritise, in order, a RHB 3B (already addressed), a starting pitcher (I hope they get two), and a closer. I would also add a backup catcher, since it is obvious to me that Gus Ramírez cannot handle the job. Some might wonder: the rotation isn't particularly dire. Option recently picked Sandy, and Eury finished the season strong. Max Meyer should be ready by opening day. That's a pretty solid half rotation. The back end isn't so bad either: Tyler Phillips, Janson Junk, and even Ryan Gusto had solid performances in 2026. Snelling should come back by June. Then, why does the Fish need to get a Quantrill-Paddack type of arm once again? Well, for starters (LOL), if any of the top three gets injured (God forbid), then there is trouble. None of the Phillips-Junk-Gusto trio average 5 IP per start -though Junk was very close-, which is pretty weak. The youngest of them is Gusto and will start next season at 28 years old, so one should not expect massive improvements. And you keep wondering if Phillips should be used in the bullpen, given his outstanding results there (3.90 ERA as a starter, 1.96 as a reliever). Regardless of the top 3's health status, a regression from any of the "bottom three" starters is already a big concern. The names I'm about to propose will show how ambitious the FO pretends to be next season. If they decide to strengthen the "top 3" (Sandy-Eury-Max) it will be a clear message that they are ready to compete next season; if reinforcements are to the "bottom 3" (Phillips-Junk-Gusto), then the team is focused on more of the same as this past season. Following the same recipe as the last entry, let's check some trade candidates via arbitration salaries combined with a couple of free agents who won't demand a large contract; that is, none of the top 50 Free Agents this season. 1. Dean Kremer - The Minnesota Twins are the team to trade for SP this offseason. Several reasons suggest Kremer is the odd man out (age, salary, one year of control), even though his 10-start showing with his new team was encouraging. For the Marlins, Kremer represents an option for the bottom three, but he's solid enough to guarantee you 120 innings of 4-4.50 ball. 2. Reid Detmers - This one won't be cheap, but if acquired and the top 3 is healthy, the starting rotation will immediately be a top 5 in the League. Detmers pitched tremendously this year, reaching 211 K's in 185 IP. The package to be sent to Anaheim for 3 years of the lefty should include one of the White, Arquette, or Snelling. 3. Ryan Pepiot - This one is a bit counter-intuitive because the team needs dependable starters, and Pepiot did not pitch last season. However, Ryan started 26 and 31 games in the previous two seasons and projects as a legitimate #3 in any rotation. Bendix loves to trade with Tampa, and there might be room for yet another trade since the AL champs have seven starters on their depth chart, even after losing Martínez and Peralta to free agency. 4. Erick Fedde - Fedde is, simply put, another Quantrill/Paddack profile. The slight advantage Fedde has is that he's has pitched at least 141 innings over the last two seasons. That alone should demand at least $8-10M a year, and I'm not sure Sherman is ready to do that. 5. Patrick Sandoval - Another "bottom 3" option. Sandoval is coming from a down year (5.08 ERA in 79.2 IP for BOS last season), but he has much better numbers under the hood (3.77 FIP, SO/9 around 9). I don't think he'll receive a lot of attention this offseason, should he benefit from a buffer contract to re-establish himself as a reliable starter, but at the very least he offers a LH long-reliever option.

Alderman is next in line to get the Johnston/DDLS treatment. Shocking. After I finish the offseason targets (SP and a Closer are next), I'll take on the roster crunch after the World Series. This year is going to be very, very interesting. 60-day IL, no-options guys, Rule 5 bunch... Stay tuned!

Before the offseason even starts, we can all agree that the Fish are in need of reinforcements for next season, in case they want to be in the contention picture, or worse, if there is even a baseball season. I believe the three main areas of improvement are 3B, SP (probably two of them) and a closer, in that order. Don’t get me wrong, I love Javier Sanoja. But again, the hot corner is a position where you expect high SLG. Javi is still better profiled as an all-around super utility, and there is nothing wrong with that given the amount of injuries every team experience throughout a full season. Granted, we find ourselves facing the eternal Marlins conundrum: where to get what it’s needed at the price they want to “afford”. Free Agency is certainly a no-go, and we all know why. In-house options are unreliable or not MLB-ready. That leaves us with the FO’s favourite avenue to acquire players: trade. If they go this way, we need to be clear: the Fish would want young, controllable players, which probably means more than 1 year of control and a projected salary less than $5M. That said, mlbtraderumors just posted a list of projected arbitration salaries entering this offseason. That’s an attractive pool for Bendix & Co, so I dared to dig into which players could be a good fit for a trade to the Marlins. Here’s my ranking: 1. Casey Schmitt, SF Giants: He had a career year hitting 21 HRs in a tough park for righties. In fact, his splits are a lot better on the road. He can be expendable for the Giants if they expect a healthy Chapman next season. He’s under control for another three seasons and is projected to make around $2,5M. That’s the price range Sherman loves. 2. Zack Gelof, Athletics: Also hit over 20 homers this season, but this one comes with a big caveat: most of that damage was at that launchpad they call home in Sacramento. It won’t be that easy in loanDepot Park. His projected salary next season is around $3M. Still affordable. 3. Jordan Westburg, BAL: My dream trade was crushed last offseason (Coby Mayo) and now should be even more difficult to get the youngster. Instead, the Marlins can roll the dice with Westburg, who missed the entire season due to injury. He’s shown power whenever healthy - which is not that often, though. The good news is that he might not have a place with the Birds anymore, and should cost $1,5M. Other meh options: Spencer Steer (CIN), Brett Baty (NYM). And I say meh because the Fish might well stick with Javi Sanoja. One thing to think about: where is that area the Fish can trade players away? OF? Bullpen arms? Prospects? Every other area looks pretty thin to me.

He doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down. Cheap Bruce should offer him at least 5 years after 2027. Even though he probably won’t be a #2/3 after 2030, a back of the rotation guy who gives you over 170 innings every season should be worth the money (not to mention everything else Kevin already said in the article). C’mon Bruce. It’s long due.

Top 10 MoFos! 💥

Marlins win 2-1, Otto MVP.

The Cubbies take the series 2-1. PCA is the MVP.

Marlins 2-1, Sandy MVP

Marlins sweep, Mack MVP

Marlins 2-1, Pauley MVP

Fish win 2-1. Otto MVP.

They have another shot in Simeon Woods-Richardson. September is going to be brutal and the roster is thin on SP. Will uncle Bruce open his wallet?

Los Marlines 3-1, Sanoja MVP.

Same Chris Johnson who started barking at José after he hit his first home run the year before?

Boston take 2. Rutschman MVP.

Marlins sweep. Marsee MVP.

Another minor league report, another opportunity to think about how similar Starlyn Caba is to Nasim Núñez, and a friendly reminder that the Marlins gave up Nasim for free, and Caba was the “prize” for Luzardo. What a joke both transactions were.

PHI takes two. Sánchez MVP.

Marlins sweeeeeeep. Caissie MVP.

Marlins 3-0. Marsee MVP.

You are right. Not worth $6M whatsoever. Tho that swing was nothing short of AMAZING and will be FOREVER remembered in Jax (and some in Miami).

I'm going to sound a lot like Alex Ligero, but I don't agree with the "but the Marlins are at least giving themselves a chance to compete down the stretch." I would say: "The Marlins expect/hope to keep competing by leaning on Caissie/Conine to provide Hicks-level production AND stay alive for the Wild Card race with a duct-taped rotation beyond Sandy and Eury." I get the "sustainable future" process, but the prospects acquired are more quantity than quality. Sure, some of them are pretty interesting, but none of them is expected to be an impactful starter... maybe Beck and probably (hopefully) Taylor. Hicks, on the other hand, is an impactful starter and should probably had made it to the ASG. I get it, I get the reasons for trading him. In fact, the Marlins got a bag for him, but you don't see any ambition to "go for it" now, or anytime soon anyway. Maybe the Marlins make this postseason, but only to lose during the first or second round. This is not an LCS team, period. Then the offseason comes, and we'll still be waiting for the big FA signing, which never happens. We then still hope Caissie turns into a 40-HR threat, Stowers can stay healthy and knock another 30. The rotation will hopefully look like Sandy-Eury-Max-Junk-Phillips, with us can't wait to see Snelling, White, and Sandy extended. Guess what? The Padres or White Sox are going to come with a "ridiculous package" for Alcántara and then he's gone. Then the same rhetoric of "the sustainable future" crap. Then they sign Quintana for 1-Year, $2,5 M to keep us interested. Early in the season, Junk needs TJ (God forbid). Snelling and White will be ready around June. By then it is too late, and here we go again: trading Otto, X, and Stowers, which is BS; they will be traded because they hit Arb years. They'd rather "restock" the farm and "do enough to keep fans interested". Like I said, a lot like that guy Ligero. It is just really frustrating to have a legitimate chance to be good and decide not to because you hope to be better next year and for years to come. The only teams doing that lately are LAD, NYY, ATL, HOU, and MIL. (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 19th in payroll budget this year). Javel. I hope Alex and I are wrong.

Braves 2-1. Albies MVP.

Split Series, Benge MVP.

Marlins finally bears the losing streak at 13 games, but Philly takes the series 2-1. Stott MVP.