The Marlins didn’t make the playoffs in 2025 however are getting into the winter with a bit extra optimism in comparison with a yr in the past. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald took a take a look at the Miami place participant combine and offered some particulars on the membership’s aspirations for the winter.
Jackson had beforehand reported that the membership was doubtless going to be focusing on a veteran bat this winter. In at this time’s reporting, he provides that first base is the most certainly place for them to make that addition, although third base and the outfield corners are talked about as different potentialities.
First base is a wise spot to focus on, because the Fish don’t actually have anybody locked in there. Seven completely different gamers spent a while at that spot in 2025, although Eric Wagaman received the majority of the motion. Wagaman hit simply .237/.281/.375 for a wRC+ of 79. That signifies he was 21% under league common on the plate. Groups typically hope to get above-average offense out of the primary base spot, in order that’s a pure spot to search for extra manufacturing.
The free agent class is headlined by guys like Pete Alonso, Josh Naylor and Ryan O’Hearn. The Marlins have sometimes thrown out notable multi-year offers however president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has largely stored his pockets in his pocket since getting his job. Two offseasons in the past, his massive signing was one yr and $5MM for Tim Anderson. Final winter, it was $3.5MM for Cal Quantrill.
Maybe he’ll get extra aggressive with the Marlins coming off a good 2025 season, although it could be extra doubtless he goes for guys who may be had on short-term offers corresponding to Rhys Hoskins or Paul Goldschmidt. The non-tender deadline will shake free just a few extra guys, with Nathaniel Lowe and Ryan Mountcastle a few of the potentialities there. Christian Walker and Alec Burleson are speculative commerce candidates.
Signing a 3rd baseman can also be a risk however Jackson reviews that the most certainly state of affairs is Connor Norby and Graham Pauley battling for the job, or maybe even forming a platoon. Pauley appears to have an honest flooring as a robust defender. In 390 innings on the sizzling nook this yr, he was credited with three Defensive Runs Saved and 6 Outs Above Common. Offensively, he slashed .224/.311/.366 for a wRC+ of 90. Maybe there’s extra to come back with the bat. His 11.4% stroll charge and 19.6% strikeout charge have been each above common and he could have been held again by an unlucky .262 batting common on balls in play. However even with offense near common, he could possibly be a worthwhile participant because of the glove.
Norby, however, acquired grades of -5 DRS and -4 OAA at third this yr. He didn’t make up for that with the bat, as he slashed .251/.300/.389 for a wRC+ of 90. Nevertheless, he has slashed .293/.369/.493 on the Triple-A stage going again to the beginning of 2023, which interprets to a 123 wRC+. Bringing that type of manufacturing to the majors could be nice however he’ll be a little bit of a query mark till that occurs.
As for the platoon risk Jackson mentions, Norby is right-handed and Pauley left-handed. Each gamers have reverse splits of their massive league careers to date however the pattern dimension continues to be fairly small for each. Neither had big splits within the minors however main league pitching is likely to be a unique story in the long term.
Within the outfield, Jackson suggests the funding is more likely to be small, suggesting it could possibly be just like the membership signing Heriberto Hernández to a minor league deal final winter. They need to have Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee in two spots, with room for guys like Hernández, Griffin Conine, Dane Myers, Joey Wiemer and others.
Behind the plate, Bendix already gave a public vote of confidence to Agustín Ramírez, regardless of his poor defensive metrics. If he’s going to get one other shot behind the plate subsequent yr, that might go away Joe Mack in Triple-A. Jackson reviews that the membership would like Mack to start out the yr in Jacksonville, however he could have an opportunity to earn a job in spring coaching.
Mack is likely one of the prime catching prospects within the league. He’s not but on the 40-man roster however could be eligible for this winter’s Rule 5 draft if not added, so the Fish will certainly give him a spot to be able to shield him from being chosen. He’s thought-about a robust defender and he slashed .250/.320/.459 for a 108 wRC+ in 99 Triple-A video games this yr.
Selling him to the majors appears justified at this level, but when Ramírez goes to get the majority of the enjoying time because the Marlins proceed to offer him a shot to enhance defensively, then maybe Mack could be higher served staying in Triple-A to get common enjoying time.
It looks as if there’s even much less probability of a transfer up the center, as Jackson reviews the membership is proud of the Otto López and Xavier Edwards tandem. López has produced subpar offense however the transfer to shortstop has labored effectively. He was credited with 7 DRS and 4 OAA at that spot this yr. He also can steal 15-20 bases a yr, including to his worth. Edwards received poor grades at brief however has been nice since kicking over to the opposite aspect of the bag. He tallied 12 DRS and 9 OAA on the keystone this yr, with 27 steals and roughly common offense.
Photograph courtesy of Eric Hartline, Imagn Pictures
