Kyle Stowers Focused on 2026 Season, Not Contract Noise, as Marlins Open Camp
JUPITER, Fla. - As the Marlins kicked off their first full-squad workout of the spring at the Jupiter Academy, Kyle Stowers stepped in front of the cameras and made one thing clear: he’s not letting contract chatter define his 2026 season.
The All-Star outfielder, fresh off a breakout 2025 campaign, addressed recent rumors surrounding a potential long-term extension. According to reports, the Marlins floated an eight-year, $50 million offer, while his camp countered at $100 million over the same span. But Stowers pushed back on the narrative that negotiations ever reached that stage.
“There was some conversation,” Stowers said Monday morning. “But I didn’t ask for $100 million, and I didn’t turn down an offer. There was no offer.”
That’s not to say he isn’t open to something down the line. In fact, Stowers made it clear that he’d love to stick around in Miami long-term - just not at the expense of the present.
“I’m just so focused on this year,” he said. “We’ve got four years of control left.
They have every right to play that out, and I understand it. I was bummed we didn’t get something figured out - would love to someday.
But right now, it’s about taking care of this year.”
And what a year it could be for the 28-year-old. After bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues from 2022 to 2024 and struggling to find his footing - a 69 OPS+ over 117 games during that stretch - Stowers finally put it all together in 2025. He not only earned his first All-Star nod but also finished the year as a National League Gold Glove finalist.
His numbers told the story: a .288/.368/.544 slash line in 117 games before a season-ending oblique injury in August. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t even guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster this time last year.
“This is not the conversation I was anticipating a year ago,” Stowers said, reflecting on how quickly things have changed - both on and off the field. He also recently became a first-time dad, adding another layer of perspective to his already grounded approach.
“I can’t stress enough how much I love this organization, how much I love being in Miami, playing for this team, this group of guys,” he said. “It’s not something I want to talk too, too much about myself, because really, I want to make the playoffs. I want to get to experience meaningful baseball, and so whatever it takes to get there this year, that’s what we’re going to focus on.”
For Stowers, the focus is simple: win now, talk later. And after what he showed last season, the Marlins would be wise to keep that conversation going - even if it’s on pause for now.