Hans Herrera

The Marlins organization has been among the best in baseball at developing young pitchers, and Luke Lashutka is another stud pitcher in the Marlins farm system that you should pay attention to this season. 
Lashutka was drafted in the 19th round in 2024 out of St. Leo College, a division II school located in Florida, and signed for just $10,000. After pitching an even 100 innings in his final collegiate season, he pitched in just one game for Single-A Jupiter in his draft season. He started the 2025 season in Jupiter where he made 16 appearances and 3 starts across 40.1 innings, posting a 1.79 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, before earning a promotion to High-A Beloit in mid-June. In Beloit, Lashutka pitched in 10 games with 9 starts, and had a 2.67 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 30.1 innings. Across both levels, opponents hit just .188 against him all season, and he racked up 72 strikeouts in 70.1 innings while allowing just 45 hits. But is Lashutka a starter or destined for the bullpen? The organization monitored his workload carefully; he only completed 5 innings on 3 occasions all season, and was used mainly as a reliever in Jupiter. 
Before I dive into the numbers, it is important to note that this data is taken from Lashutka’s time in Single-A Jupiter. There is no advanced data available for High-A teams. 
Lashutka primarily throws a 5 pitch mix. Four seamer, changeup, sweeper, slider and curveball. The fastball is his bread and butter pitch and sits 93 mph with very good induced vertical break, averaging 19.2”. The changeup is a plus secondary offering, thrown in the mid 80s, with 8.5” of armside break. Batters whiffed 43.6% of the time on the pitch. These two pitches alone make Lashutka a weapon, but if he continues to develop his other secondaries, it’s his command that leads me to believe he can stick as a starter. Lashutka throws plenty of strikes. His 66 strike% shows his propensity to live in and around the zone, and attack hitters. Uncompetitive pitches are something that often plagues young starting pitchers, and Lashutka does not have that problem. Free passes are simply hard to come by when you face him; he had just a 2.5 BB/9 in his first full professional season. Even in a small sample size (70.2 IP), this is something to take note of.
I want to see the Marlins organization commit to Lashutka as a starting pitcher. The command is there. A deep pitch mix with swing and miss stuff is there. Now it’s about continuing to fine tune the secondary offerings within his arsenal, and proving he can pitch deeper into games. Lashutka should start once again at Beloit, but if he has a strong first half of the season, it would not shock me if he makes the jump to Double-A Pensacola at some point this summer.
 

This entry was not in the plans, as the Marlins entered the offseason firmly convinced they needed an established closer (i.e., no “hidden gem”) for next year. Turns out as of today that they not only still need that closer, but now they’ve lost their best bullpen arm in Ronny Henríquez. Although never truly a closer, Ronny was more a “setup” man and the best performer in high leverage situations.
Himself a waiver claim, Henríquez came out of nowhere last winter and sized his opportunity. A wild guess is that the Front Office would like to replicate that transaction, so the focus here is to find a group of pitchers that are not drawing much attention, if any, but with a few tweaks could potentially turn into Henriquez-que performances next year.
My favourite: Rafael Montero
With a long career stating as a swingman  and after 2019 a full-time average reliever, Montero peaked in 2022 as a fundamental piece of the World Series’ Astros. His stock has crashed right after that, playing for three different clubs this past season. He will probably require a major league contract given his experience, but should be in the $1,5M range.
So why sign him? Well, as in the previous “hidden gem” post, there is a lot to like under the hood. Just have a look as his Baseball Savant page. The red flag are the walks, but everything else is in the red zone. If the Marlins can build a strategy around his pitch mix usage (particularly his splitter), Montero can be a buy low, high output addition.
The Injury-prone: Jonathan Loáisiga
Yankees prospects always come with that extra fanfare when making it to the big leagues. Loáisiga was not the exception. Flashing a high 90s sinker that could blow out batters, fans in The Bronx were really excited about this guy. Unfortunately, major injuries have derailed the career of Nicaraguan-born, and has only managed to pitch in more than 50 games only twice in eight seasons.
What is to like? He can still throw gas, and his sinker can induce a decent amount of ground balls - I insist with the GB because the infield looks amazing if they play Pauley at third -. I’m not sure how team would evaluate his contract for next season, but given his injury record, shouldn’t come expensive even for Marlins’ standards.
Who?: Miguel Castro
Last time Castro had a good season was in 2023 as a member of the Dbacks. He appeared in a league-high 75 games of 4.31-ball. Over the last two seasons, however, he’s been terrible. If the coaching staff can manage to bring his changeup back in the mix, he should be a solid arm for a minor league contract. He’s been around since 2015 and somehow today is only his 31st birthday.
Old flame: Ryne Stanek
Despite David Robertson is also a strong candidate in this category, Stanek’s recent woes might bring him back to Miami at a discount. He continues to have two above-average offerings (4FB and SL) and has lots of experience, always useful in a young team.
Not a free agent, but Edgardo Henríquez
… not a joke: the Marlins could replace one Henríquez with another. In a stacked LA bullpen that just got stronger signing Edwin Díaz, there won’t be a lot of innings for him next season, barring injuries. In Miami, Henríquez might have a clearer path, and his stuff is solid with a blowout fastball which averages over 100 mph. Bruce can also save some money not having to buy new jerseys for him. The problem is, he won’t come cheap in terms of trade prospects.

It is not a secret that the Marlins have improvement opportunities for relievers, particularly left-handed, both corner infielders, and could use a glove-first OF, even though Sanoja can do the job. It is also not a secret that the ownership is, to put it mildly, reluctant to spend in free agency, for whatever reason. Having said that, allow me to propose a group of low-risk and high-upside lefty FA relievers who might settle for a minor league deal entering next season.
My favourite: LHP Cionel Pérez
The Cuban Pérez debuted in 208 as a member of the Astros, pitching only 16.1 innings in three different seasons. Traded to the Reds before the 2021 season, Pérez made 25 appearances with a 6.38 ERA. Cincinnati did not tender him and was claimed by the O's in November that year. Out of nowhere, Pérez pitched incredibly in 2022, throwing 57.2 innings of 1.40 ERA and 2.80 FIP. He regressed in both 2023 and 2024, but always maintained a respectable FIP. This past season, his production plummeted, and the O's granted him free agency a couple of weeks ago. Next year, Pérez will enter his 30-year-old season, and a minor league deal seems the best offer he will get.
Then why sign him? Looking under the hood, his sinker is still in the 71 percentile (95.6 mph), with xERA (3.93), FIP (5.77), and xBA (.214) all far from his actual 8.31 ERA in 2025; there is quite a lot of upside. Although his K% is under 20%, his GB rate was over 60% and has never been under 51% since becoming a regular in 2021. The Fish will present a great defensive infield with Pauley, López, Edwards, and Wagaman (maybe not him?), and a ground ball specialist can only be beneficial.
Injury risky: LHP Génesis Cabrera
If the Marlins don't like to have two Pérez-es, let's try two Cabreras. Early this decade, Cabrera looked like a wild but effective reliever for Saint Louis. Between increased control problems and devastating injuries, his career never took off, even though he looked much better when traded to Toronto in 2023. This season, he pitched for four teams: opened the season with NYM, then CHC, PIT, and closed the season in MIN. He was decent with the Mets, palatable with the Pirates, and horrendous with the other two.
Why sign him? Again, his Statcast chart doesn't look terrible, except for the huge amount of walks. His only good pitch is his 4-seamer, but not long ago, his cutter and curveball were above-average. Maybe some fine-tuning can unlock his potential, and he's still under 30-yo. Given his injury record and inconsistency, Cabrera probably won't get a major league deal.
Who?: LHP Sam Long
Reliever inconsistency personified. Non-tendered by the Royals in November, Long has sandwiched bad and good seasons ever since debuting back in 2021. Have a look at his ERA every year: 5.53 ('21), 3.61, 5.60, 3.16, and 5.36 this year. The same Statcast engine shows quite decent profiles in 2023, and especially 2024. He has changed his repertoire every year, so maybe a more streamlined analysis and focus can help the guy. Why sign him? If the pitching coaches can make this guy replicate his 2024, this signing would be a steal.
Old flame: LHP Colin Poche
Poche had a disastrous season this year, but before that, he was a dependable lefty out of the bullpen for Tampa the three years prior, which means Pedro Benditex should know him pretty well. Poche's 2023 Savant page is full of red, and even though his FB was only 92.5 mph, his extension has always been above the 95th percentile. If he can perform somewhere between his 2023 and 2024, you can call him a bargain.
Not exactly a Free Agent, but: LHP Tim Herrin
... wouldn't require a ton of prospects to trade for him with the Guardians. In 2024, Herrin was an extremely underrated, lights-out arm in an otherwise tremendous bullpen corps. He took a big step back this year and ended up being sent down to AAA. There are many interesting things on his Statcast page, even for this "down" year. Why? Again, anything in between his 2025 and 2024 would do just fine, but if he can approach his output to the latter, that would be the steal of the decade along with Henríquez.

Every day, I monitor Twitter (or X, as it’s now officially called—though I refuse to adopt that name) to gauge thousands of fan reactions to posts (formerly known as tweets). From what I see, the Miami Marlins fan base is divided. On one side are fans who still view the Marlins’ front office as cheap—unwilling to spend hundreds of millions on free agents who inevitably sign with one of five big-market teams. On the other side are fans intrigued by the new leadership, especially after a 79-win season—the team’s best non-playoff record since 2017.
As I follow these debates, I completely understand both perspectives.
But before I go further, let me share my credentials as a fan.
I’ve been a Marlins fan since Opening Day in 1993, when they were still the Florida Marlins. Over the past 32+ years, I’ve attended more than 600 games since Charlie Hough threw that first pitch. I was there in 1997 when Edgar Renteria hit the walk-off single in Game 7 to win the World Series. I was 12 when I endured the painful offseason that followed, watching 95% of that championship roster get sold off.
I witnessed Cliff Floyd’s home runs in a rainy Pro Player Stadium in 1998. I watched the Marlins’ Hall of Famers make highlight-reel plays at the turn of the century, and I remember the 2002 trade that sent All-Star Preston Wilson away for Juan Pierre. In 2003, I attended every home playoff game, cheering for Pudge Rodriguez and a returning Jeff Conine as they led the Fish back to the NLCS. I saw rookie Miguel Cabrera crush a monster home run off Roger Clemens in Game 4 of the World Series. And I’ll never forget sitting in my high school gym, watching Josh Beckett throw a masterful complete-game shutout in Game 6 to secure the Marlins’ second World Series title in just 10 years.
Since 2003, I haven’t attended a single MLB playoff game. When the Florida Marlins became the Miami Marlins, I started driving an extra 15 miles—adding 35 minutes to every trip from Boca Raton. I saw Giancarlo Stanton obliterate the left-field scoreboard with a monster shot in May 2012. My wife and I had our first date at Marlins Park that same year, and we’ve shared countless memories there since. In fact, I proposed to her in Boston during a Marlins two-day road trip on July 7, 2015.
The Marlins franchise and I are symbiotic. My friends and family know me not from social media, but as a die-hard Marlins fan. I get calls from high school and college friends asking, “How are your Marlins doing?” Being a fan, of course, comes with highs and lows. My lowest point wasn’t the infamous Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis trade, nor the 1997/98 sell-off, nor Project Wolverine in 2017/18. Instead, it came in September 2016 when Jose Fernandez tragically died—and then personal family losses followed. No trade or free-agent departure hit me as hard as Jose’s death. In October 2016, my grandmother passed away, and by late October 2017, my 34-year-old brother Ian lost his battle with cancer. Close to his passing, Ian joked that Giancarlo Stanton would become a Yankee. Little did I know, two months after his death, that joke would come true.
The toughest time for me as a Marlins fan was 2018–2019. I only attended a handful of games during those seasons. Between Jose’s extinguished smile, my brother’s death (the person who made me love baseball), and the outfield and catcher trades of 2018, my fandom was on the line. Then came the shortened 2020 COVID season—and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Jazz’s purple-and-blue hair, his fast-paced style, his love and joy for the game reignited my passion. He lit the fire under me to keep going as a baseball fan and pledge my allegiance to the Marlins. That’s when LoudMarlinsFan (@LoudMiamiFan) was born.
Don’t get me wrong—Chase the fan always existed. From 2003–2011, I wore face paint and my black-and-white “Chaser 22” jersey to every game. When the Miami Marlins opened their stadium, I switched to an orange morph suit for every game. I sat front row in the Clevelander, dancing near the bullpen from 2014–2017. I chased down cameras to get on the big screen. Before LMF existed on social media, “Chaser the Orange” was already a fixture. Fast forward to now—I’ve become a nationally recognized fan. Twitter helped me connect with fans of all 30 teams. LMF has appeared on FS1, MLB Network, and ESPN game coverage.
Now that you know my experience and who I am, I can fairly answer: Should we trust the new front office and Bruce Sherman’s ownership? My answer is YES.
In all my years as a Marlins fan—through multiple GMs, managers, coaches, and owners—I have never seen a true organizational structure like the one in place now. If spending money guaranteed championships, I’d say no, because Sherman isn’t the richest owner. But building a sustainable franchise from the ground up? That’s something South Florida has never seen. And we’re seeing it now.
The Marlins just finished a 79-win season—their best non-playoff record since 2017—powered by rookies. Imagine what happens when these players hit their prime. Nearly every position player on the 40-man roster is under team control for four-plus years. From All-Star Kyle Stowers to rookies Jakob Marsee, Agustin Ramirez, and Griffin Conine, this core is locked in. The pitching staff is young, controllable, and reinforced by prospects in AA and AAA who are almost ready for the big leagues. The farm system was rebuilt through Peter Bendix’s trades—dealing stars like Jesús Luzardo, Tanner Scott, Luis Arraez, Jake Burger, Trevor Rogers, and yes, my favorite player, Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Fans have no control over front-office decisions. They don’t care if we love or hate them—and I respect that, even when it hurts. I hate losing my favorite players, but as a 40-year-old fan who’s been here since day one, I see the bigger picture. Bendix’s moves have created success. From player acquisitions to coaching hires to analytics-driven decisions, the Marlins are building something real. Spending billions doesn’t guarantee titles—the Mets, Phillies, Yankees, and Blue Jays have proven that. Even the Dodgers, who cracked the code, did it with smart contracts and structure—not just money.
It’s time for the Marlins to punch back. To kick out of the three-count and show baseball there’s a new way to compete. I trust this front office to build a contender by 2028—and a team that will play in multiple playoff series, including a World Series by 2030. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but Peter Bendix and Bruce Sherman are rewriting the playbook. We, as fans, get to witness it in real time. So let’s show up. Let’s support the players wearing our team’s insignia. #LetsGETLouder at Loan Depot Park, The future is bright—and it’s ours.
 

One week ago, Ely started this fun exercise where everyone can see what the wish list looks like for the Marlins this offseason, and I promised my own version of it. Last week, I was away on holiday and didn't have the time to write it down. During the week, many roster moves happened, the most commented - and probably unpopular - was Troy Johnston claimed off waivers by the Rockies. Yesterday, I found that M.J.S. posted his own Blueprint. Now it's my turn, and once again, I do this with my wishes, but always hand in hand with what I think is realistic, both when it comes to trade proposals and budget spending.
40-man roster crunch:
For the most part, this already happened. But let's recap the roster moves:
Roster Transactions:
- The Baltimore Orioles claimed RHP George Soriano off waivers from the Miami Marlins. The Colorado Rockies claimed 1B/OF Troy Johnston off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
- RHP Zach Brzykcy was claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals.
- RHP Christian Roa, 2B Jack Winkler, RHP Tyler Zuber, RHP Jesús Tinoco, C Brian Navarreto, RHP Valente Bellozo, and RHP Freddy Tarnok were outrighted to Jacksonville. All of them elected free agency and can now sign with any club.
- Miami Marlins activated RHP Max Meyer, LHP Andrew Nardi, RHP Anthony Bender, and LHP Braxton Garrett from the 60-day injured list.
The 40-man roster as of today, Monday, 10th Nov 2025:
Pitchers:
Alcántara, Bachar, Bender, Brzykcy, Cabrera, Faucher, Fulton, Garrett, Gibson, Gusto, Henríquez, Junk, Mazur, Meyer, Nardi, Pérez, Petersen, Phillips, Simpson, Weathers.
Position Players:
Hicks, Ramírez, Acosta, De Los Santos, Edwards, López, Norby, Pauley, Sanoja, Serna, Wagaman, Conine, Hernández, Marsee, Mesa Jr., Myers, Stowers, Wiemer.
That's 38 players. The next important date for the Marlins' roster is the 21st of November, which is the Non-tender deadline. This one is tricky because of health concerns; Nardi is a non-tender candidate. On the other hand, his salary projection is barely above the minimum ($800k), and given his past success and the lack of lefties in the bullpen, it might be worth taking the shot. It all depends on his health, and the organisation is quite adamant about sharing his status. I would not tender him. The roster goes down to 37 players.
Rule-5 draft:
Select C Joe Mack, RHPs Josh White, and William Kempner to the 40-man roster. Near-obvious moves given the quality displayed in AAA last year, both Mr Sussman and DJS agreed here. The roster is full now. Here is where things get interesting.
It's Trade Season:
- LHP Braxton Garrett and INF Connor Norby for RHP Juan Mejía and LHP Michael Prosecky from Colorado. Makes sense for both sides because the Rockies need all the SPs they can get, even with the huge health concerns that come with Garrett. They also need corner infielders, and after grabbing Johnston last week, Norby would be a good complement. Mejia is a high-octane reliever with only one year of service, with a FB-SL combo, and Prosecky is an AA lefty who has starting experience, but projects as a bullpen arm and can make the big leagues as soon as next season. Given the projected heavy-lefty lineup, the roster would need a RH bat...
- LHP Ryan Weathers and Anthony Bender for 3B/1B Coby Mayo and OF Austin Overn from Baltimore. How about giving another shot to this recently successful trade partnership? It should be pretty much the same trade as the win-win Norby-and-Stowers-for-Rogers trade. Baltimore will be hesitant to part ways with Mayo, but their roster already features a solid infield, and they have to give Basallo most reps at 1B. Mayo has always projected a higher ceiling than Norby, even at the expense of more swing-and-miss, but also more plate discipline. He is a below-average defender at 3B, but has a great arm, and the glove can improve (I bet he would be better than Norby anyway). Despite Baltimore's depth chart featuring eight starters, only Dean Kremer threw more than 120 innings last year, and he is more of a 5th starter. Overn is a glove-first CF playing double AA, and is basically a throw-in. Alternative: A trade for 3B Sal Stewart from CIN.
 
The roster sits now at 38 players.
For the love of god, can we sign a couple of free agents?
- Sign RHP Ryan Helsley at the same contract, but probably a couple more million the first year.
- Sign 1B Lewin Diaz to an incentive-loaded 2-year MLB guarantee contract ($5M the first year with up to $2M in incentives based on HRs, $7M second for the second year), with an opt-out option after the 1st year. This is basically replacing Johnston’s spot for a Gold Glove-calibre 1B, who just hit 50 HRs in Korea. If he can translate at least 20 of those against MLB pitching, the sign will be a bargain. One can dream about a Mack-Diaz-Edwards-Mayo/Pauley-López infield that would be very much appreciated by the entire pitching staff.
 
- Sign LHP José Quintana to a $5M one-year deal. This signing makes sense from many perspectives. After trading both lefties in the rotation, one veteran southpaw could be useful. Also, the contract is basically the same money as the projected arbitration salaries for Bender, Garrett, and Weathers. On top of that, Quintana can be a trade chip mid-season, pretty much the same as Quantrill was this year. Alternative: LHP Anthony Kay (Yokohama BayStars).
The roster reaches 40 players once again. I have not addressed one problem: this roster is missing a LH reliever. I think the approach here would be "finding a hidden gem" via Rule 5 claims or several minor league deals, with invitations to Spring Training. Speaking of which:
Minor League Free Agents:
Sign RHP Bellozo, LHP Nardi, and C Navarreto to minor league deals with an invitation to Spring Training. Contracts with incentives if they make the MLB roster, luring them to stay in the organisation. Other proposed minor league deals: LHP Génesis Cabrera, LHP Cionel Pérez, LHP John Rooney, LHP Matt Krook, LHP Drew Rom, LHP Ethan Small, RHP Nabil Crismatt, RHP Alexis Díaz, INF Kevin Newman, 1B/OH Nick Pratto, OF/DH Eloy Jiménez, and C Elias Díaz.
Contract Extensions:
Same as Ely, plus Marsee this mid-season, depending on how he performs before the All-Star break.
Projected 26-man to start the season:
Catchers: Hicks, Ramírez (with Mack eventually joining in late April or May, at the expense of Myers)
Infielders: Díaz, Edwards, Mayo, López, Pauley, Sanoja
Outfielders: Stowers, Marsee, Conine, Hernández, Myers
Starters: Alcántara, Cabrera, Pérez, Quintana, Junk
Relievers: Helsley (CL), Mejia (SU), Henriquez (SU), Faucher, Bachar, Phillips, Gibson, and Meyer
Rest of the 40-man: Acosta, Serna, Wagaman, Wiemer, Mesa Jr., De Los Santos, Mack, Kempner, White, Brzykcy, Mazur, Petersen, Gusto, Fulton
Opening Day Lineup (vs RHP):
Edwards 2B
Marsee CF
Stowers LF
Ramirez DH
Diaz 1B
Mayo 3B
Conine RF
Lopez SS
Hicks C
Lineup vs LHP:
Edwards 2B
Hernandez RF
Ramirez C
Stowers DH
Mayo 3B
Diaz 1B
Lopez SS
Myers CF
Sanoja LF
When Mack arrives, and if he performs as expected (around .240/.310/.400), the lineup will get a lot closer to a contender. There will be some more work still to be done, but that will depend on how the first half of the season develops. Roster pieces like Petersen, Josh White, Gusto, Wagaman, DLS, and minor league pieces like Snelling, Thomas White, and Alderman can be impactful down the stretch.
Most of the roster moves will not make the farm system, but the cost of the free agents might be a long shot, given the always-frugal ownership. As always, let me know what you think.

After Friday afternoon, the free agent list got longer. The outlet MLB trade rumours published the non-tender player lists for both the National and the American Leagues, and there are names the Marlins should seriously consider to offer a job, at least to my perspective.
Considering today’s roster and the needs this offseason: CL, LHP reliever, 1B/3B; the names are listed in these same groups from most logical fits to “nice to have”-s. Let’s get it on:
CLOSER
Best Option: RHP Jason Foley (Did not play in 2025)
You won’t find a bona fide closer non-tendered after a season. Provided, and knowing that relievers are volatile, the case with Foley is simple: he was Detroit’s closer in 2024 but got injured this year and did not pitch. Will he be healthy AND closer-worthy next season? Most probably not, but still he’s the best option available.
Interesting names: Taylor Clarke, Ian Hamilton, Taylor Rashi. Clarke had a solid 2025 and was a surprise seeing his name on the list. Hamilton had a great 2023-2024 period and might be a good comeback candidate. That guy Rashi had very interesting results in a small sample (16 IP, 22 K’s, 1.91 FIP) and even got 2 saves along the way - might be that hidden gem the FO loves to steal from other teams.
Others to consider: Colin Holderman, Dauri Moreta, Josh Sborz. Everyone here has had at least a good season in the past or one save in their careers.
LEFT-HANDED PITCHER
Best Option: John King (4.66 ERA, 48.1 IP, 28 K, 5.00 FIP in 2025)
There are several names for the best option but I’ll go with King, since he has the longest solid career, with an ERA in the  2.85-4.03 range between 2021 and 2024.
Interesting Names: Sam Hentges, Tayler Saucedo, Cam Booser. Hentges particularly, had an amazing 2022-2024 run before falling to injuries. The two seasons before this one, Saucedo was a solid, reliable arm in the Mariners’ bullpen.
Others to consider: Jose Castillo, Tommy Henry, Omar Cruz.
FIRST BASE/THIRD BASE
Best Option: 1B/DH Nathaniel Lowe
As proposed in this article some days ago, he is a professional 1B with a solid record, decent power and great OBP skills.
Others to consider: Michael Toglia, Tim Elko. The latter is quite an interesting case because of his raw power, but also there is that swing-and-miss concern. Elko would be a cheap addition and can be sent down to the minors.
OTHER NON-FITS: 
While no clear path for them on the roster, there are some players who can help the roster in some capacity. For example, Adolis García and Albert Suárez could be comeback player of the year candidates. Andy Ibáñez, Gustavo Campero, Max Kranick, and old friends Sean Reynolds and Will Banfield offer at least depth at their positions.

With the Mesa Solar Sox’s Arizona Fall League season coming to a close yesterday, I thought it’d be interesting to stack the players’ pre-AFL numbers against what they did under the desert lights, and take a moment to analyze what those performances actually mean. The AFL is, by nature, a small sample size. While it’s an important developmental checkpoint, it’s not a crystal ball. Any progress or regression we saw over the last month and a half should be taken seriously but not treated as gospel. (AFL ranks listed are based on OPS for hitters and ERA for pitchers. Players are ranked specifically amongst their teammates in the Solar Sox as opposed to the whole league.)
 
 
Starlyn Caba – 19 y/o, Dominican Republic
SS, B/T: S/R - Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads / Rank: 8/18
2025 Regular Season:
51 G, 194 AB - .222/.335/.278/.613   43 H - 35 1B / 6 2B / 1 3B / 1 HR   21 RBI, 14 SB / 6 CS, 34 BB, 34 SO 2025 AFL Season:
18 G, 74 AB - .297/.409/.419/.828 22 H - 17 1B / 3 2B / 0 3B / 2 HR 10 RBI, 2 SB / 3 CS, 14 BB, 19 SO What it means:
Starlyn Caba’s AFL performance is a sigh of relief for every Fish fan who was starting to feel like we got fleeced in the Jesús Luzardo trade. Caba’s jump from a .613 OPS in Single-A to .828 in the AFL shows impressive adaptability and an ability to handle more advanced pitching. His power ticked up without sacrificing plate discipline, suggesting real maturation in his approach. The combination of better contact quality, on-base skills, and emerging extra-base pop points toward a genuine high-contact, high-OBP middle infielder profile. If he carries this into 2026, a jump to High-A or even a quick push to Double-A looks well within reach.
 
PJ Morlando – 20 y/o, Maryland
OF, B/T: L/R - Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads / Rank: 16/18
2025 Regular Season:
58 G, 205 AB - .215/.371/.332/.703   44 H - 31 1B / 7 2B / 1 3B / 5 HR   30 RBI, 8 SB / 1 CS, 46 BB, 71 SO 2025 AFL Season:
18 G, 59 AB - .136/.261/.136/.397 8 H - 8 1B / 0 2B / 0 3B/ 0 HR 5 RBI, 4 SB / 0 CS, 9 BB, 23 SO What it means:
There’s no way to sugarcoat this one. As rough as PJ Morlando’s regular season was, his AFL stint was even rougher. A .397 OPS with zero extra-base hits makes it clear he was overmatched. He couldn’t translate his regular-season discipline into actual impact against higher-level arms. The bat-to-ball issues, swing decisions, and ability to handle velocity all look like works in progress. As a number-one pick, expectations have been sky-high, and his continued inability to produce is setting off alarms for anyone paying attention. The talent is still there, but the timeline looks longer and more uncertain than anyone hoped.
 
Fenwick Trimble – 23 y/o, Virginia
OF, B/T: R/R - Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos / Rank: 10/18
2025 Regular Season:
84 G, 296 AB - .253/.372/.402/.774   75 H - 47 1B / 19 2B / 2 3B / 7 HR   41 RBI, 31 SB / 4 CS, 49 BB, 67 SO 2025 AFL Season:
21 G, 68 AB - .265/.388/.412/.800 18 H - 12 1B / 4 2B / 0 3B/ 2 HR 10 RBI, 11 SB / 1 CS, 13 BB, 14 SO What it means:
The Fenwick Trimble hype train keeps rolling. His slight OPS bump doesn’t fully reflect the real progress under the hood. He maintained his plate discipline, kept the speed impact alive, and showed that his contact skills carry over against stronger competition. Trimble feels like one of the safest, highest-floor developmental wins in the system right now - a steady table-setter type with potential to exceed that ceiling if the power keeps inching upward. At the rate he’s going, a 2027 spring training look - or even a late 2026 cameo - doesn’t feel crazy anymore.
 
Holt Jones – 26 y/o, Connecticut
RHP - High-A Beloit Sky Carp / Rank: 3/24
Pitch Mix: big slider, heavy usage sinker & sweeper, light usage curve & changeup
2025 Regular Season:
34 G, 4.78 ERA, 47.1 IP, 62 K, 1.89 WHIP, 8.03 BB9, 11.85 K9 2025 AFL Season:
8 G, 2.23 ERA, 12.1 IP, 11 K, 0.99 WHIP, 5.21 BB9, 8.18 K9 What it means:
Easily my biggest surprise of the AFL. Holt Jones didn’t just hold his own - he excelled. His ERA and WHIP both saw dramatic improvements, putting him squarely at the front of the Marlins cohort of arms out there. He executed his slider-focused arsenal with more consistency, limited baserunners, and trimmed down the walk rate. The command still isn’t pristine, but it’s enough to project him as a legitimate multi-inning relief weapon or depth starter if this sticks. Big riser in the org.
 
Karson Milbrandt – 21 y/o, Missouri
RHP – Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos / Rank: 10/24
Pitch Mix: low 90’s four-seam touching 96-99 with carry & arm-side run, good curve, developing slider and changeup
2025 Regular Season:
22 G, 3.00 ERA, 90 IP, 113 K, 1.28 WHIP, 4.80 BB9, 11.30 K9 2025 AFL Season:
5 G, 4.81 ERA, 13.1 IP, 23 K, 1.22 WHIP, 5.50 BB9, 15.80 K9 What it means:
Not a horrible showing by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely short of the breakout I predicted. Milbrandt’s ERA climbed, but the strikeout surge is impossible to ignore. The stuff clearly plays against advanced competition. What held him back was scattered command and sequencing lapses - mistakes that AFL hitters punished. Still, his ceiling didn’t change. The fastball-curve combo is legit, and with sharper command and continued development on the slider and changeup, he remains one of the more exciting starting prospects in the system.
 
Aiden May – 22 y/o, New Mexico
RHP – Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads / Rank: 4/24
Pitch Mix: heavy usage mid-90’s sinker, plus-plus sweeper, developing changeup & cutter
2025 Regular Season:
10 G, 2.66 ERA, 27.1 IP, 30 K, 1.11 WHIP, 5.31 BB9, 9.96 K9 2025 AFL Season:
5 G, 2.98 ERA, 15.1 IP, 15 K, 1.13 WHIP, 4.77 BB9, 8.94 K9 What it means:
May continues to be one of the more quietly effective arms the Marlins drafted in recent years. His AFL numbers mostly mirror his regular-season line - steady ERA, solid WHIP, and manageable walk rates. His sinker-sweeper pairing worked just fine against more advanced bats, and he showed enough polish to strongly indicate he’s outgrown Single-A. The big developmental hinge now is whether his changeup or cutter can emerge enough to round out a true starter’s mix, but either way, this AFL stint should bump him up the ladder.
 
Darwin Rodriguez – 21 y/o, Venezuela
RHP - Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads / Rank: 13/24
Pitch Mix: mid-high 90’s fastball, high-spin curve, developing changeup
2025 Regular Season:
4 G, 8.44 ERA, 3.2 IP, 4 K, 2.19 WHIP, 16.88 BB9, 11.25 K9 2025 AFL Season:
7 G, 6.59 ERA, 8.2 IP, 6 K, 2.32 WHIP, 10.98 BB9, 6.59 K9 What it means:
Rodriguez missed almost two straight seasons due to injury, so the AFL was more about evaluation than results. Unfortunately, the issues that plagued him before injury remain. The command isn’t there, the walk rate is sky-high, and advanced hitters had no problem waiting him out. The raw stuff is loud enough to dream on, but the refinement isn’t close. Without major improvement in mechanics or strike throwing, it’s hard to envision a meaningful role taking shape.
 
Jack Sellinger – 25 y/o, Nevada
LHP – Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos / Rank: 15/24
Pitch Mix: plus slider with consistent sweeper, sinker, changeup
2025 Regular Season:
40 G, 2.31 ERA, 66.2 IP, 89 K, 1.19 WHIP, 5.44 BB9, 12.10 K9 2025 AFL Season:
7 G, 7.71 ERA, 7 IP, 12 K, 1.57 WHIP, 2.57 BB9, 15.43 K9     What it means:
In what was my biggest surprise of the Fall League, Sellinger’s showing was rough - though not without silver linings. The ERA ballooned and mistakes over the plate got punished, but the strikeout rate spiking to 15.4 K/9 shows the stuff absolutely plays. The issue is consistency. When he locates, he’s flat-out nasty; when he doesn’t, the ball lands a mile south of anyone's glove. He remains a viable high-strikeout lefty with upside, but command and sequencing need to sharpen for him to succeed against upper-minors hitters.
 
 
All told, this AFL run gave us a pretty honest snapshot of where the Marlins’ next wave of talent actually stands. We saw real leaps from Caba, Trimble, Jones, and May - players who either strengthened their prospect case or outright jumped tiers. We also saw reality checks for Morlando and Rodriguez who both flashed their ceilings, but also showed just how far they still are from reliably reaching them. Meanwhile my thoughts about Sellinger and Milbrandt's respective upsides remain relatively unchanged due to just how stark the difference in performance was from regular season to the fall. The Fall League isn’t a verdict, but it exposes flaws, rewards real skill, and gives us a glimpse into which players are ready for more and which ones still need to figure it out. If nothing else, it gave us plenty to look forward to (and plenty to keep an eye on) heading into 2026.

Slightly inspired by Ely Sussman's article from last Monday, I figured I'd do an offseason blueprint myself, albeit slightly less in-depth. From being 62-100 in 2024, to 79-83 in 2025, the Marlins have made a leap that not even the most optimistic fan could've truly saw coming. In the words of Bruce Sherman, "We're going to win a lot more games than you think." Well, they've done that. Now, it's time to expand on that. As the 2026 free agency period has begun, there has mostly been marginal moves that have been made so far, as it usually always is for the MLB free agency at the beginning. The Marlins have already placed a number of players on waivers, most of them being sent outright and electing free agency. They've also recently claimed RHP Zach Brzykcy off waivers. Because of that, I'll start with the Rule-5-preventing selections to the 40 man roster.
 
Marlins select C Joe Mack, RHP Josh White, and RHP William Kempner to the 40-man roster
 
Being in agreeance with Ely, these are the 3 prospects that are Rule 5 eligible this winter that I feel will be added to the 40-man roster to prevent another team from selecting them in the aforementioned draft. Joe Mack is a surefire defensive backstop, having incredible pop time which allows him to dominate the running game, an element that is much needed for the Marlins. In addition to that, he has the power potential to hit 20+ HRs a season, something that he's done in the past two seasons. Overall, Joe Mack is a no-brainer for this selection, and should be a vital part of the Marlins' future. William Kempner & Josh White are two guys who may not be as known to many, but are both cut from the same cloth. Both have funky arm slots, William Kempner throwing at a 6° arm angle, & Josh White throwing at a 74° arm angle. These funky deliveries have led to dominance in the upper minors, each having high strikeout percentages (33.3%, Kempner, 37.3%, White) respectively in AAA. I'd protect the both of them as well from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.
 
Free Agency Signings
 
Before I get into any major league signings, I'll start with some players that I'd consider signing to a minor league contract:
 
Marlins sign OF Dylan Carlson, C Brian Navarreto, RHP Spencer Turnbull, 1B/OF Lamonte Wade Jr. to minor league contracts with invites to Spring Training
 
The Marlins have depth at a lot of positions, but it doesn't hurt to add on the margins via minor league contracts.
 
A former top prospect, Dylan Carlson has struggled to truly establish himself in the MLB. As one of the most forward-thinking organizations, the Marlins preach that development isn't linear, and Carlson could look to revitalize his outlook as a player, as well as provide organizational depth in the upper minors in the outfield. His ability as a switch hitter helps that as well.
Brian Navarreto did well in his cup of coffee of the major leagues at the end of the 2025 season, and contributed to the best AAA team in the league last season. No reason to not bring him back, if available.
Spencer Turnbull is a solid depth signing that can provide potential MLB innings in case of injury or overall poor team performance, which may lead to trades.
Lamonte Wade Jr. is probably my favorite of them all, providing a potential solid platoon bat against right-handed pitching, not being too far removed from a 119 WRC+ season in 2024. He's historically known for not chasing outside pitches, but struggled big time this past season with a -1.6 fWAR. Overall, a low-risk, high-reward signing if he's able to get back to doing the things that helped him succeed offensively. This could also showcase himself to other teams if the fit isn't quite there with the Marlins.

 
Now, let's do some major league contracts (Yay!).
 
RHP Michael Kopech (1 year, $5 million)

 
Ah yes, Michael Kopech, one of the most well-known flame throwers in the MLB. Having previously been a starter, Michael Kopech experienced a career power surge after being moved to the bullpen. Unable to control most of his pitches as a starter, he heavily relied on his plus-plus fastball out of the bullpen, which led to him being successful enough to get traded to the Dodgers in 2024. This past season, his walk rates were absurdly high (24.5%), and dealt with injuries. However, I have a feeling that his plus-plus four-seam fastball could become MORE elite if cuts his usage down a lot (83%!) and emphasize potential secondary offerings. When he gets hit, he gets hit hard, so emphasizing secondary offerings, which the Marlins are adamant on doing, could lead to weaker contact and increased whiff rates. Overall, a low-risk, high reward signing.
 
LHP Caleb Ferguson (1 year, $4 million)

 
Caleb Ferguson is here to do one thing: shut down left-handed hitters. With the uncertainty of Andrew Nardi who hasn't pitched since 2024, there are only the potential left-handed options of Cade Gibson and Josh Simpson. Caleb Ferguson provides much needed help against LHH, with said hitters posting a .465 OPS against him this past season. His stuff doesn't stand out too much, but he induces plenty of soft-contact, his Hard-Hit percentages being 27.7%, and AVG Exit Velocity being 84.8, respected percentiles being 100th and 99th, among the best in the league. A no-brainer signing to help balance the bullpen.
 
RHP Devin Williams (3 years, $36 million, can opt out after 2026)

 
Mr. Air Bender himself, Devin Williams is known for having an outlier changeup with downward, arm-side break, almost like a screwball. After having signed with the Yankees, Devin Williams went on to have the worst season of his career, posting a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings. The strange thing about his struggles is that his peripherals were still well above average, striking out 34.7% of batters and a 2.68 FIP. For whatever reason, his time with the Yankees as their primary closer didn't work as expected. I'm sure that most teams see that he's still in his best form stuff-wise, but the Marlins are the team that Devin Williams likens himself to: a team with not as high expectations, young, and hungry, that being the 2026 Marlins.
 
Trades
For this section, I'll do 2 trades that have both the present, and future in mind.
Marlins trade RHP Edward Cabrera and RHP Calvin Faucher to the New York Yankees for 1B Ben Rice

 
In this potential deal, the Marlins acquire their 1B of the foreseeable future in Ben Rice.
From the Yankees’ perspective, the move would be about bolstering their pitching depth with controllable arms. Edward Cabrera's struggles with command and injuries, while flashing electric stuff is well documented. This past year, the Marlins were able to get a breakout season from Cabrera, having a career low 3.53 ERA and crossing the 100 IP threshold for the first time (137.2 IP). With both Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole starting the 2026 season on the injured list, Cabrera would provide much needed depth as a middle-of-the-rotation arm. He also isn't a free agent till 2029. 
Calvin Faucher is a versatile bullpen option with closing experience (15 SV in 2025) and has posted solid ERA numbers in the past two seasons (3.19 in 2024, 3.28 in 2025). He also isn't a free agent till 2030.
For the Fish, this trade would address their ongoing need for offensive help in the infield corners. This past season, Rice broke out in a big way, hitting 26 HR and posting a .836 OPS. When you look at the expected numbers, it even suggests that he was somehow UNLUCKY during his season-long offensive surge. Rice improved in every metric hitting wise, also along with increasing his bat speed, which correlates with added power potential. Not to mention, he could play catcher in a pinch in case of emergency. He isn't arbitration eligible till 2028, and isn't a free-agent till 2031, so Rice would definitely be here for the long-term.
This trade keeps in mind that the Yankees have the resources to make splashier moves in the offseason, as far as signing the upper echelon of free agents such as Pete Alonso, a potential NPB signing of Munetaka Murakami, etc. Overall, a potential win-win for both sides.

 
Marlins trade RHP Adam Mazur and RHP Anthony Bender to the Athletics for OF Gavin Turley and 3B/1B Tommy White
Inspired from Ely's trade from his offseason blueprint, I am adding an extension to the trade with the Marlins also shipping out Adam Mazur along with Bender in exchange for Tommy White and Gavin Turley, two young prospects with a ton of potential. Tommy White has a blend of contact and power that is hard to find, and having the ability to potentially stick at 3B only increases his value. Gavin Turley, recently selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, posted a solid 105 WRC+ in 125 PA in Low A. There are contact concerns in regards to Turley, but he is renowned for his exceptional athleticism, which allows him to hit the ball hard and play solid defense. 
The Athletics get back much needed starting pitching and relief depth in Adam Mazur and Anthony Bender. Adam Mazur hasn't quite established himself yet in the major leagues, but with some of the options that the Athletics currently have, he would at the very least make well for a back-of-the-rotation option. Anthony Bender posted the best ERA of his career this past season (2.16), primarily effective against RHH (.452 OPS allowed). Overall, a fair trade given the Marlins' strength in pitching depth, and the A's strength in position player depth.
As far as extensions, I do see the Marlins making at least one, preferably for a guy like Eury Perez, as it's easy to predict that his best years are ahead of him. I'm in agreeance of that extension happening, but it would be hard for me to project any number for him, or any other extension candidate on this team, so we'll skip this section.
The 2026 Spring Training 40-man roster
 
After making concise, calculated moves to boost the major-league team, as well as the farm system, the Marlins 40-man roster would currently stand as constructed for Spring Training:
 
Pitchers (20): RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Lake Bachar, RHP Zach Brzykcy, LHP Caleb Ferguson, LHP Dax Fulton, LHP Cade Gibson, LHP Braxton Garrett, RHP Ryan Gusto, RHP Ronny Henriquez, RHP Janson Junk, RHP William Kempner, RHP Michael Kopech, LHP Andrew Nardi, RHP Max Meyer, RHP Eury Perez, RHP Michael Petersen, RHP Tyler Phillips, LHP Ryan Weathers, RHP Devin Williams, RHP Josh White
Hitters (20): INF Maximo Acosta, OF Griffin Conine, 1B/3B Deyvison De Los Santos, 2B Xavier Edwards, OF Heriberto Hernandez, C Liam Hicks, SS Otto Lopez, C Joe Mack, OF Jakob Marsee, OF Victor Mesa Jr., OF Dane Myers, 3B Connor Norby, INF Graham Pauley, C/DH Agustin Ramirez, 1B Ben Rice, UTIL Javier Sanoja, INF Jared Serna, OF Kyle Stowers, 1B Eric Wagaman, OF Joey Wiemer
 
These are just some slight projections that I made to fill out the 40-man roster, as some of the end of the roster players will probably still be waived/traded during the offseason. As far as payroll, since I left the potential of extensions up for interpretation, the Marlins' payroll still hasn't increased a huge amount, but I don't really think that it needs to, for at least another season. With the upcoming CBA expiration after the 2026 season, potential discussions regarding a salary cap could lead to a potential lockout between the players and owners, so the Marlins should proceed with caution.
You can begin to see a foundation being built here in South Florida. From establishing organizational continuity in the front office, to new infrastructure being added soon around the ballpark in the form of Miami Live! to building player development, the Marlins certainly seem to be doing the things that could lead to potential long-term success. It all comes down to ownership being able to supplement the steps of Marlins' president of baseball operations, Peter Bendix. Go Fish!

One week ago, Ely started this fun exercise where everyone can see what the wish list looks like for the Marlins this offseason, and I promised my own version of it. Last week, I was away on holiday and didn't have the time to write it down. During the week, many roster moves happened, the most commented - and probably unpopular - was Troy Johnston claimed off waivers by the Rockies. Yesterday, I found that M.J.S. posted his own Blueprint. Now it's my turn, and once again, I do this with my wishes, but always hand in hand with what I think is realistic, both when it comes to trade proposals and budget spending.
40-man roster crunch:
For the most part, this already happened. But let's recap the roster moves:
Roster Transactions:
- The Baltimore Orioles claimed RHP George Soriano off waivers from the Miami Marlins. The Colorado Rockies claimed 1B/OF Troy Johnston off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
- RHP Zach Brzykcy was claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals.
- RHP Christian Roa, 2B Jack Winkler, RHP Tyler Zuber, RHP Jesús Tinoco, C Brian Navarreto, RHP Valente Bellozo, and RHP Freddy Tarnok were outrighted to Jacksonville. All of them elected free agency and can now sign with any club.
- Miami Marlins activated RHP Max Meyer, LHP Andrew Nardi, RHP Anthony Bender, and LHP Braxton Garrett from the 60-day injured list.
The 40-man roster as of today, Monday, 10th Nov 2025:
Pitchers:
Alcántara, Bachar, Bender, Brzykcy, Cabrera, Faucher, Fulton, Garrett, Gibson, Gusto, Henríquez, Junk, Mazur, Meyer, Nardi, Pérez, Petersen, Phillips, Simpson, Weathers.
Position Players:
Hicks, Ramírez, Acosta, De Los Santos, Edwards, López, Norby, Pauley, Sanoja, Serna, Wagaman, Conine, Hernández, Marsee, Mesa Jr., Myers, Stowers, Wiemer.
That's 38 players. The next important date for the Marlins' roster is the 21st of November, which is the Non-tender deadline. This one is tricky because of health concerns; Nardi is a non-tender candidate. On the other hand, his salary projection is barely above the minimum ($800k), and given his past success and the lack of lefties in the bullpen, it might be worth taking the shot. It all depends on his health, and the organisation is quite adamant about sharing his status. I would not tender him. The roster goes down to 37 players.
Rule-5 draft:
Select C Joe Mack, RHPs Josh White, and William Kempner to the 40-man roster. Near-obvious moves given the quality displayed in AAA last year, both Mr Sussman and DJS agreed here. The roster is full now. Here is where things get interesting.
It's Trade Season:
- LHP Braxton Garrett and INF Connor Norby for RHP Juan Mejía and LHP Michael Prosecky from Colorado. Makes sense for both sides because the Rockies need all the SPs they can get, even with the huge health concerns that come with Garrett. They also need corner infielders, and after grabbing Johnston last week, Norby would be a good complement. Mejia is a high-octane reliever with only one year of service, with a FB-SL combo, and Prosecky is an AA lefty who has starting experience, but projects as a bullpen arm and can make the big leagues as soon as next season. Given the projected heavy-lefty lineup, the roster would need a RH bat...
- LHP Ryan Weathers and Anthony Bender for 3B/1B Coby Mayo and OF Austin Overn from Baltimore. How about giving another shot to this recently successful trade partnership? It should be pretty much the same trade as the win-win Norby-and-Stowers-for-Rogers trade. Baltimore will be hesitant to part ways with Mayo, but their roster already features a solid infield, and they have to give Basallo most reps at 1B. Mayo has always projected a higher ceiling than Norby, even at the expense of more swing-and-miss, but also more plate discipline. He is a below-average defender at 3B, but has a great arm, and the glove can improve (I bet he would be better than Norby anyway). Despite Baltimore's depth chart featuring eight starters, only Dean Kremer threw more than 120 innings last year, and he is more of a 5th starter. Overn is a glove-first CF playing double AA, and is basically a throw-in. Alternative: A trade for 3B Sal Stewart from CIN.
 
The roster sits now at 38 players.
For the love of god, can we sign a couple of free agents?
- Sign RHP Ryan Helsley at the same contract, but probably a couple more million the first year.
- Sign 1B Lewin Diaz to an incentive-loaded 2-year MLB guarantee contract ($5M the first year with up to $2M in incentives based on HRs, $7M second for the second year), with an opt-out option after the 1st year. This is basically replacing Johnston’s spot for a Gold Glove-calibre 1B, who just hit 50 HRs in Korea. If he can translate at least 20 of those against MLB pitching, the sign will be a bargain. One can dream about a Mack-Diaz-Edwards-Mayo/Pauley-López infield that would be very much appreciated by the entire pitching staff.
 
- Sign LHP José Quintana to a $5M one-year deal. This signing makes sense from many perspectives. After trading both lefties in the rotation, one veteran southpaw could be useful. Also, the contract is basically the same money as the projected arbitration salaries for Bender, Garrett, and Weathers. On top of that, Quintana can be a trade chip mid-season, pretty much the same as Quantrill was this year. Alternative: LHP Anthony Kay (Yokohama BayStars).
The roster reaches 40 players once again. I have not addressed one problem: this roster is missing a LH reliever. I think the approach here would be "finding a hidden gem" via Rule 5 claims or several minor league deals, with invitations to Spring Training. Speaking of which:
Minor League Free Agents:
Sign RHP Bellozo, LHP Nardi, and C Navarreto to minor league deals with an invitation to Spring Training. Contracts with incentives if they make the MLB roster, luring them to stay in the organisation. Other proposed minor league deals: LHP Génesis Cabrera, LHP Cionel Pérez, LHP John Rooney, LHP Matt Krook, LHP Drew Rom, LHP Ethan Small, RHP Nabil Crismatt, RHP Alexis Díaz, INF Kevin Newman, 1B/OH Nick Pratto, OF/DH Eloy Jiménez, and C Elias Díaz.
Contract Extensions:
Same as Ely, plus Marsee this mid-season, depending on how he performs before the All-Star break.
Projected 26-man to start the season:
Catchers: Hicks, Ramírez (with Mack eventually joining in late April or May, at the expense of Myers)
Infielders: Díaz, Edwards, Mayo, López, Pauley, Sanoja
Outfielders: Stowers, Marsee, Conine, Hernández, Myers
Starters: Alcántara, Cabrera, Pérez, Quintana, Junk
Relievers: Helsley (CL), Mejia (SU), Henriquez (SU), Faucher, Bachar, Phillips, Gibson, and Meyer
Rest of the 40-man: Acosta, Serna, Wagaman, Wiemer, Mesa Jr., De Los Santos, Mack, Kempner, White, Brzykcy, Mazur, Petersen, Gusto, Fulton
Opening Day Lineup (vs RHP):
Edwards 2B
Marsee CF
Stowers LF
Ramirez DH
Diaz 1B
Mayo 3B
Conine RF
Lopez SS
Hicks C
Lineup vs LHP:
Edwards 2B
Hernandez RF
Ramirez C
Stowers DH
Mayo 3B
Diaz 1B
Lopez SS
Myers CF
Sanoja LF
When Mack arrives, and if he performs as expected (around .240/.310/.400), the lineup will get a lot closer to a contender. There will be some more work still to be done, but that will depend on how the first half of the season develops. Roster pieces like Petersen, Josh White, Gusto, Wagaman, DLS, and minor league pieces like Snelling, Thomas White, and Alderman can be impactful down the stretch.
Most of the roster moves will not make the farm system, but the cost of the free agents might be a long shot, given the always-frugal ownership. As always, let me know what you think.

Everything you are about to read represents my gut feeling and nothing more.
1. Yes, the Marlines overachieved, but many losses were plain stubbornness (and some wins were pure luck, honestly)
Why did they bother with the Edwards to SS for SO LONG, when it was obvious Otto López was the man to handle the position? How many times, we the fans, witnessed excruciating bullpen decisions? Is there any way to convince these people that Agustín Ramírez is not an MLB catcher? I just don't love McCullough. I do acknowledge he has an AMAZING team around him, but sometimes they were forcing things when there was absolutely no need to.
2. We all loved the Gus Bus, but...
And I'm not even talking about the catching part. Yes, he hit 21 HRs. Yes, he is definitely a threat when in the batter's box. He for sure will get some ROY votes. My concern is about the quality of many, many ABs. Often, he looked overmatched. High chase rate, low BB%. He did not show those flaws in AAA... a lot to work with him this offseason.
3. All eyes are on getting a 1B, but can we do something about 3B?
Pete Alonso, Josh Naylor, Ryan O'Hearn... they are not happening (#BringBackLewinDiaz). The solution is so simple that I won't even mention it. Late in the season, it looked like Wags finally found it. Johnston should give decent numbers if an extended opportunity opens for him. So, can we talk about yet ANOTHER experiment? Norby can play the position once or twice a week, but no more than that, and his bat is not helping his cause anyway. Pauley is an outstanding glove, but his best-case scenario is a 105 OPS+ bat.
4. Bullpen, bullpen, and more bullpen arms
Henriquez, amazing. Bachar, Gibson, Faucher, and Phillips, solid but unspectacular. Bender got injured when most needed (not his fault, obviously). This bullpen needs a 99+ mph-Ryan Helsley-type of guy. The aforementioned six people, plus Nardi, plus Meyer (I think he will take the long-reliever role next year, barring injuries and/or multiple trades), plus a bona fide closer, and you got a pretty solid bullpen. José Alvarado? David Robertson at least? Anyone? Are you going to be THAT cheap, Bruce?
5. Offseason besties for trades
There is a 90% probability that the Front Office is going to trade away a Starter. However, given the roster crunch the team is facing when the Rule 5 deadline approaches, there are some teams the Marlins should contact in order to strike a deal. For example, I liked what I saw from Halvorsen, Vodnik, and Mejía in Colorado. Or maybe the White Sox, having Taylor and Leasure as strikeout guys in the bullpen. Those are two out of three teams that were WORSE than the Marlins in OPS from their first basemen, and Troy Johnston is a potential trade candidate, as much as I hate to admit it. At least ONE of those names should be available via trade, right?

In what feels like the toughest blow of the season, Edward Cabrera is now dealing with an elbow strain- often the first warning sign of Tommy John surgery. Injuries are always unfortunate, but for Cabrera, this news stings even more. Just as he finally found consistency with his electric stuff, the story may be taking a turn none of us wanted.
Most Marlins fans already know Cabrera’s winding history, but it’s worth revisiting just how long and difficult this road has been.
Signed as an international free agent in 2015 at age 17, Cabrera has spent a full decade in the Marlins system, making him the organization’s current longest-tenured player. Having spent the first four years of his professional playing career playing for now-defunct minor league Marlins associates, his contract was selected from the then Class A-Advanced Jupiter for the first time in the 2019 offseason, but was optioned to then Double-A Jacksonville during spring training of 2020 and would proceed to float around different Marlins-affiliates during the minor league restructuring until finally getting his first shot at the bigs on August 25th, 2021 with a gutsy quality start against the Nationals- holding a young Juan Soto hitless. His fastball brushed 99, his changeup touched 94, and the raw stuff was undeniable. The command, however, was another story: only 41 of his 78 pitches landed in the strike zone, with little chase outside of it.
After a total of 7 games spanning over about a month- none of which matched the success of his first, he would get placed on the injured list for a finger blister.  
In his mid-season debut the following year, things looked promising as he would post two back-to-back quality starts with 6 innings pitched and, between both games, a total of 3 hits, 1 earned run, and 13 strikeouts. In his next start, he would be pulled after 3.2 innings  with 7 hits and 5 earned runs.
That pattern defined his early career: jaw-dropping velocity, devastating movement, but shaky command and too many walks. Add in recurring injuries- from blisters to arm issues- and Cabrera often struggled to string together consistent stretches. For every dominant start with double-digit strikeouts, there seemed to be a meltdown waiting around the corner. Marlins fans developed a cautious “fool me once” mentality.
But the front office never gave up. They saw what Cabrera could be if he ever put it all together and, in 2025, he finally did.
Yes, April was rough- 15 runs allowed in his first four starts. But something clicked. By early August, Cabrera had carved his ERA down from 7.23 to 3.08. His WHIP shrank, his command sharpened, and the flashes of greatness became the expectation. With Sandy Alcantara struggling, Cabrera looked like the staff ace-in-waiting. The numbers back it up: a 3.34 ERA, 3.68 FIP, and 106 Stuff+. He racked up 140 strikeouts in 128.2 innings, good for 15th in the National League. His 9.16 K/9 proved his swing-and-miss arsenal had finally matured. He notched two 10-strikeout games- one in 5.2 innings.
A big part of the leap was his evolving pitch mix. The four-seam, long his least effective offering, dropped from 27.2% usage in 2024 to just 12.9% in 2025. Meanwhile, his sinker and slider jumped 11.5% and 9.3% respectively, making hitters' heads spin. His changeup- absurdly fast at 7.6 mph above MLB average- baffled batters all year. His curveball, with 50.1 inches of vertical drop and a 44.8% whiff rate, ranked as the third-most effective in the NL in Baseball America’s league-wide survey. His slider wasn’t far behind, posting a 42.9% whiff rate- after never topping 39.9% on any pitch in prior seasons. Add in a sharper arm slot and a sinker that jumped to a 66.4% in-zone rate (up more than 20 points from 2024), and suddenly Cabrera looked like a different pitcher entirely.
After 10 years of grinding, four seasons of uneven MLB results, and countless setbacks, Cabrera’s 2025 finally gave fans what they had been waiting for: proof that he could not only dominate, but do so consistently.
No matter what comes next- whether this is just a temporary setback or the beginning of a long recovery- Cabrera’s breakthrough deserves celebration. God willing that he doesn't need surgery, but if he does, not every pitcher returns from Tommy John; estimates suggest 20–30% never fully bounce back. Regardless of how fate plays out, we were lucky to see Cabrera at his best in a year when the Marlins needed him most.
Thank you, Eddy. Get well soon.

Ceaseless curiosity pulls me forward. Whether I’m wondering how Stonehenge was built or why good people suffer, there is but one question that stands out most right now: Why is Eric Wagaman still one of the Marlins’ most-used players despite consistently failing at the plate?
Maybe that doesn’t seem existential, but for us Fish fans, it’s uncomfortably baffling. Baseball is full of mysteries- why hitters slump right after looking locked in, why certain bullpen arms always seem to melt down in the 8th inning- but this one feels personal. Just recently, during the now infamous massacre at Truist Park, a mild uproar on Marlins X occurred when McCullough pinch-hit Jakob Marsee- who has been lighting up since arriving to the show- for Wagaman. Meanwhile, data tells us Wagaman is roughly 40% more likely to ground into a double play than hit a home run, making the move feel painfully tone-deaf. For fans who live and die with each lineup card, it was insult layered on top of the countless injuries sustained at the hands of the Braves.

Watching Wagaman’s name in the lineup again and again makes his walk-up song, Kid Cudi’s “Alive (Nightmare)” feel incredibly appropriate and not just in title: you’re waiting for it to end, but it just drones on, hypnotic and surreal. There’s this strange tension where you half expect it to fade out… but it never does and, in this purgatory, I know that I'm not alone is constantly asking the question:
Does Wagaman have blackmail on the front office?
What do Bendix and McCullough see that we don’t?
We constantly see it thrown around that there are some vague statistical reasons why, despite his numerous shortcomings, Bendix views Wagaman as serviceable, but for those of us who haven't wanted to spend any more time than we're forced to paying attention to Eric Wagaman, digging deeper feels like a large undertaking. So I decided to take one for the team and spend 48 hours psychotically combing through his Baseball Reference, Savant, and FanGraphs pages to get to the bottom of it so that you don't have to! If you'd rather skip all the math and get straight to the moral of the story, just scroll down to where it says TL;DR.

It’s not hard to understand what Wagaman offers: a low-cost, theoretically versatile corner bat. Hypothetically, this is the kind of player you keep around because he’s replaceable without being urgent to replace, but the results? Not so much. Over his last 30 games, he slashed .157/.255/.241- a steep fall from his overall .230/.281/.345 line this season. At some point, the theoretical value has to meet reality, and right now they’re on different planets.
The hard numbers:
He’s seen 1,544 pitches, 996 of which were strikes (~64.5%). Yet he swings at just 45.3% of pitches — a rate near MLB average.
His BB/K ratio stands at .30, meaning he strikes out over three times as often as he walks.
His called strike rate (cStr%) is 19.2%, higher than the MLB average (~16–17%), suggesting pitchers routinely freeze him in the zone.
Taken together, Wagaman isn’t passive in a strategic way- he’s just not taking advantage of hittable pitches. This often puts him behind in counts, which is one of the fastest ways to tank your offensive value. It’s the kind of “swing decision” problem player development departments talk about constantly, because you can’t fully unlock a hitter’s raw power if they’re giving away at-bats before they ever take a real hack.
But here’s why Bendix still keeps him around- and why it might make sense.
Statcast shows Wagaman’s average exit velocity is 90.6 mph, Hard-Hit% at 45%, and Barrel% around 6%- all indicators of quality contact. Plus, his xwOBA (.316) exceeds his actual wOBA (.272), implying poor results may be more about bad luck or sequencing than bad skill. To a front office built on analytics, that’s catnip. Those numbers whisper “hidden value” in the same way a promising stock chart does to an investor who thinks they’ve spotted an overlooked gem.
There’s also the platoon split: his wRC+ vs LHP is 94, but only 63 vs RHP. That screams “platoon option.” Add in his ability to cover 1B, 3B, and the corner outfield in an emergency, and he fits a certain archetype the Marlins have leaned on for years: inexpensive utility with upside. A bench bat who can give the regulars a breather, handle lefty starters, and maybe, just maybe, run into a ball for an extra-base hit. The big question is whether coaching tweaks can bridge the gap between his quality-of-contact metrics and his actual production. Better swing decisions could turn that 6% Barrel rate and 45% Hard-Hit into more consistent offensive value. If it happens, Bendix looks smart. If it doesn’t, Wagaman is easy to replace. There are many, many other statistics that can paint a fuller picture, but for brevity's sake, these feel the most pertinent to me.
TL;DR
Bendix probably views Wagaman as a cheap, multi-position bat with undeniable hard-contact ability. His underlying numbers (average exit velocity, barrel rate, xwOBA) suggest upside, even if results lag. Strategically, he’s a platoon/bench piece whose true value depends on whether he can refine plate discipline and convert quality contact into real production.
How about that? Did that make you feel better?

Me neither. After all, Wagaman’s sample size is large enough that continued struggles hint at a limited ceiling- or reflect coaching shortcomings of which either option could sufficiently indicate that this situation is beyond saving.
The way I see it is that Eric Wagaman is 27 and on a one-year deal. He’s a low-risk depth play that buys time as younger prospects develop. As frustrating as it is, keeping him around until a Jacob Berry-type replacement is ripened might be the rational move for a rebuilding club, but adopting that mentality requires accepting that this team is not playoffs ready and, after all the excitement we’ve seen this year, that may be a tough pill for all of us to swallow.
Still, in the heart of baseball’s unpredictability? Well, he walked 3 times yesterday and that just might be what we need out of him. Stranger redemptions have happened.

It is that time of the year when we all want to play being Peter Bendix (or whatever he can do with cheap Uncle Bruce behind him). Last year, my offseason blueprint would have had some good results: At catcher, Grandal was injured for a while but still had a very decent season; Perdomo at SS also visited the IL but still had a solid bat and a very good glove; Jake Fraley was a below-average corner OF, more adequate as a 4th OF but still would have preferred him over DLC; Sam Moll had an excellent season in Cincy. Bad calls: Jake Odorizzi,  Kyle Farmer, and some 40-man roster pieces like retaining Jacob Amaya. All in all, I think I would have assembled a competent team, even knowing that 2024 went terribly after only 9 games.
Let me try again this year. First, I am going to start with what matters the most for constructing a roster: Payroll. Last year, the Marlins had a $97,5M payroll and as today's roster, are projecting $68M for 2025, data taken from Spotrac. Given the always-frugal approach of this team, and the latest FA experiences (García, Anderson, Cueto), I think Sherman will open around $10-12M for FAs this offseason. Let's be "optimistic" and say we have 12.
Before starting, I think the current status of both the 40-man roster AND the farm system are not particularly strong, that said, there aren't many pieces to trade from nor is the team realistically interested in further weakening their minor leagues, in opposition to last offseason, when the team was focused on reaching the playoffs for consecutive seasons rather than the current rebuilding process. However, I believe this team might be closer to contention fundamentally due to the projected rotation and bullpen, if fully healthy.
Making Space
After the Rule 5 protection deadline, the current 40-man roster is full. If the Fish wants to improve last season's results they will need to add some key pieces, particularly on position players. Some placeholders had fair chances to succeed and didn't size their opportunities, so allow me to start the roster crunch.
Transaction: Mike Baumann, Vidal Brujan, and Johnny Pereda are Designated for Assignment. MLB roster has now 37 players.
Why? Baumann wasn't good for any of the 5 teams he pitched last season. Pereda had a 33 OPS+, and the only thing Bruján provided was defense versatility and this team needs a lot more than that. None of them will bring any return in a trade, although Bruján can net a low prospect from a non-contender.
What is Needed
Capable bats, especially if any of them can play 3B, SS, or OF, especially CF. Burger should move permanently to 1B/DH, Norby didn't look good at the hot corner, and we still don't know if we can trust Bride a full season at 3B, which he wasn't a magician in any case. Also, Edwards can fake it at SS but needs to improve a whole lot if he wants to stick in that position. The OF is more or less in the air for any player not named Jesús Sánchez. Despite terrific seasons from Faucher, Cronin, and some other bullpen arms, there is no shutdown stuff in the relieving corps.
What is Available
After the non-tender deadline, the Free Agent list for this offseason was finally complete. As mentioned above, I will assume $12M as a spending budget this offseason, to sit down in the $80M payroll zone. For reference, only the A's had a payroll below that figure during 2024.
The top free agent at 3B is Alex Bregman, who is safe to say won't play for Miami next season. After him, there is no slam-dunk regular player on the list: Patrick Wisdom, Luis Urias, Gio Urshela, Yoan Moncada, Brandon Drury, and old friends Kiké Hernández and Donovan Solano follow Bregman, but none of them offer an attractive solution for handling the position.
Since this team is planning to play Edwards at SS, the backup catcher is a bit more pressing right now. Luckily, there are a bunch of interesting names that can complement Fortes very well: Higashioka, Díaz, Grandal once again, Kelly, Knizner, Gary Sánchez, and Danny Jansen among others. If by any chance the Marlins look into the SS position - meaning, moving Edwards back to 2B and López down to a bench role -, Willy Adames highlights the free agent list, with Ha-Seong Kim behind him. None of that duo will come to South Florida.
Moves
Transaction: Sign C Danny Jansen for a two-year $7M contract ($3M in 2025 and $4M in 2026) with a $6M third-year club option or $500k buyout. Plan B: Sign C Carson Kelly to a one-year contract with a 2nd-year player option. Jansen had a subpar 2024, but he was well above-average offensive catcher for the three years prior.
Transaction: Sign RHP José Leclerc to a 2-year $6M contract with a club option for a 3rd year. Also coming from a down year in 2024, Leclerc has closing experience and would almost immediately reclaim the role for the Fish.
Transaction: Miami Marlins trade LHP Ryan Weathers to the Texas Rangers for 3B/SS Josh Smith and prospects RHP Skylar Hales and LHP Mitch Bratt. It is difficult to find a team with any kind of excess in either 3B or SS. Luckily, the Rangers have more or less settled the diamond with Lowe, Semien, Seager. and a fully recovered Josh Jung. That leaves the bench to Duran, Ornellas, and Smith, the latter having a terrific season replacing Jung. Mostly played 3B with mixed reviews defensively, but also played 49 games at SS. Feels a bit like an overpay, but I do like Smith's OBP, durability, and flexibility. The other two prospects won't have to be added to the 40-man roster, further strengthening the farm system.
Transaction: Sign OF Austin Hays to a one-year $6M contract with a mutual option for a second year, $8M option. Plan B: Sign OF Dylan Carlson on a one-year $1.5M contract with incentives based on performance. Hays mashes lefties and offers a good corner OF glove. With so much uncertainty in the OF beyond Sánchez, Hays will provide some stability in LF and platoon with Jesús vs. LHP.
These transactions will move the roster back to 40 players. There is still plenty of depth when it comes to Starters, even after parting ways with Weathers. All said and done, the active roster for next season would look like:
Starters (5): Alcántara, Luzardo, Garrett, Cabrera, and Bellozo/Meyer (Spring Training - to be replaced by Eury Pérez when ready from TJS)
Relievers (8): Leclerc (CL), Faucher, Cronin, Nardi, Tinoco, Bender, Meyer/Bellozo, and Veneziano/Bachar (ST)
Catchers (2): Jansen and Fortes
Infielders (6): Burger, Norby, Smith, Edwards, López, and Bride
Outfielders (5): Hays, Hill, and Sánchez, for sure plus two from the Conine/Stowers/Myers/Sanoja group (ST). Today, Conine, Sanoja, and Myers have the edge.
A regular lineup would look like (vs. RHP):
Edwards SS
Smith 3B
Norby 2B
Sánchez RF
Burger 1B
Hays LF
Bride DH
Jansen C
Hill CF
This is probably not a .500-team but it is competitive enough to make a positive impact. I am aware that the toughest part is to get those FAs at the suggested price, but all of them can be lured by a non-contender team which might trade them off to a contender mid-season if they perform well. Also, and more importantly, the farm system wasn't touched.
Let me know what you think!

Hola a todos los hispanohablantes!
A partir de hoy estaremos comentando las noticias más importantes del equipo. Cada semana haremos un resumen de lo que pasó y lo que viene para el equipo. Empezaremos esta temporada 2024 con el roster actual, los juegos de entrenamiento primaveral y las expectativas de cada uno de los integrantes de la página en inglés de Fish on First.
Por ahora, las noticias más importantes son la llegada de Tim Anderson a jugar el campocorto, la primera sesión de bullpen de Sixto Sánchez, el primer juego de la Liga Toronja será para Ryan Weathers y algunos nombres interesantes que se encuentran en el equipo con invitados non-roster.
Los mantendremos informados!

Fish On First Tips & Tricks, Part One: Tables! With this series of blog entries, I'm going to try to cover some of the features of the new site in a few paragraphs. Using the old site, as I'm sure many of you are aware, tables were basically unusable. That has changed! I'll tackle B-Ref tables quickly in this post but you can do similar things with FanGraphs or other sites that use table data (which is how almost all stat sites display their content).
First, pop on over to Corbin Burnes's B-Ref page: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burneco01.shtml
I'm going to grab his 2020-2021 season stats. Just above his stat table, you'll see Share & Export. Click and then select Modify, Share, & Export Table. Boom, you can then select what stats you want to display and which you want to remove. I've removed all seasons except the last two. I also removed team and league because "duh". Then click the big X in the top right of the yellow square and you have your filtered table. Grab that table by moving your cursor to the top left of the table (just to the left of Year in this case) and while holding down the button of your mouse/trackpad, drag toward the bottom right of the table. The table will begin to highlight in yellow as you select the cells. Grab them all and let go of the mouse/trackpad. Then copy what has been selected (control+c on Windows, command+c on macOS). Pop over to Fish On First, start typing a comment, and paste your content (control+v on Windows, command+v on macOS).
Standard Pitching Year Age W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ FIP WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W Awards 2020 25 4 1 .800 2.11 12 9 2 0 0 0 59.2 37 15 14 2 24 0 88 3 0 5 240 216 2.03 1.022 5.6 0.3 3.6 13.3 3.67 CYA-6 2021 26 11 5 .688 2.43 28 28 0 0 0 0 167.0 123 47 45 7 34 0 234 6 0 5 657 176 1.63 0.940 6.6 0.4 1.8 12.6 6.88 AS,CYA-1,MVP-15 4 Yr 4 Yr 23 11 .676 3.39 102 41 16 0 0 2 313.2 257 125 118 30 89 2 427 12 1 14 1284 128 2.67 1.103 7.4 0.9 2.6 12.3 4.80   162 162 11 5 .676 3.39 49 19 8 0 0 1 149 122 59 56 14 42 1 203 6 0 7 611 128 2.67 1.103 7.4 0.9 2.6 12.3 4.80     Note: you can use this method for most websites and spreadsheet data so whatever table data you have available you need to copy and paste, this method will likely suit your needs.