Marlins Claim Garrett Acton, DFA Victor Mesa Jr. in Roster Shuffle
The Marlins made a notable move on Tuesday, claiming right-hander Garrett Acton off waivers from the Rockies and designating outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for assignment. With the 40-man roster already at capacity, the swap clears space for Acton while signaling a shift in Miami’s outfield depth chart.
A Fresh Arm for the Bullpen Battle
Acton, 27, is a righty reliever trying to re-establish himself at the big-league level after a winding path that’s included Tommy John surgery and stints with three organizations in as many years. His MLB résumé is still light-just 6 2/3 innings across seven appearances split between the A’s (2023) and Rays (2025)-but he’s shown flashes that caught the Marlins’ attention.
In his 2025 return from surgery, Acton posted a 3.68 ERA, a 1.125 WHIP, and an eye-catching 10.9 K/9 over 45 appearances (four of them starts) with Triple-A Durham. That strikeout rate, paired with a solid walk rate post-rehab, suggests there’s still upside here. He features a three-pitch mix-four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup-with the heater averaging 94.2 mph and topping out at 95.4 in his lone big-league outing last year.
It’s not hard to see why Miami took a flier. The bullpen picture is still coming into focus, and Acton will be in the thick of the competition this spring.
With Pete Fairbanks penciled in as the closer and setup roles likely going to Calvin Faucher, Anthony Bender, and Tyler Phillips, the remaining bullpen spots are wide open. Acton joins a crowded group of contenders, including Michael Petersen, Josh White, William Kempner, and swingman options like Janson Junk, Ryan Gusto, and Bradley Blalock.
Southpaws Andrew Nardi and Josh Simpson are also in the mix.
Mesa Jr.’s Run Comes to a Halt
To make room for Acton, the Marlins designated Victor Mesa Jr., a once-promising outfield prospect whose time in Miami has been a rollercoaster. Mesa, 24, signed with the Marlins back in 2018 alongside his older brother, Victor Victor Mesa, in a high-profile international signing class. While Victor Victor never reached the majors, Victor Jr. did get his shot, debuting on May 26, 2025.
In his brief MLB stint, Mesa Jr. appeared in 16 games and slashed .188/.297/.344 with two doubles, a homer, and six RBIs in 38 plate appearances. Injuries have been a recurring issue for the younger Mesa, with ankle and back problems in 2024 followed by hamstring trouble in 2025. Still, when healthy, he showed signs of his offensive potential-batting .301 with a .510 slugging percentage and 17 extra-base hits in 42 games at Triple-A Jacksonville last season.
Mesa’s ability to play all three outfield spots gave him added value, and he was once ranked as high as No. 4 on Miami’s Top 30 prospect list. But with the Marlins’ outfield depth chart evolving, Mesa found himself on the outside looking in.
Outfield Picture Taking Shape
The Marlins’ 40-man roster still features a deep and intriguing outfield group. All-Star Kyle Stowers leads the way, joined by Jakob Marsee, Owen Caissie (MLB Pipeline’s No. 42 overall prospect), Heriberto Hernández, Griffin Conine, and Esteury Ruiz. There’s also some positional flexibility in play-Gold Glove utilityman Javier Sanoja and third baseman Connor Norby are both expected to get outfield reps this spring.
With that level of competition and the need for bullpen depth, the front office made a calculated decision: take a shot on a potentially valuable reliever and move on from a once-hyped outfielder who hasn’t quite broken through.
What's Next?
Acton will head into spring training with a legitimate shot to earn a bullpen spot, especially if he continues to build on his post-Tommy John progress. For Mesa Jr., the DFA puts him in limbo-he could be claimed by another team looking for outfield depth, or he may remain in the Marlins’ system if he clears waivers.
Either way, this move reflects a broader theme in Miami’s offseason: competition is wide open, and the front office isn’t afraid to shake things up in search of depth and upside.