The Marlins are headed into the offseason with something they haven’t always had: a little optimism. This isn’t framed like a teardown, and it doesn’t come with the kind of fog that usually hangs over a true rebuild. Instead, the focus is on getting better before 2027, when Miami should be in the mix for a Wild Card spot.
That means the roster can’t stay exactly as it is. If the Marlins want to add, they also have to clear space, and that puts a few current arms in the spotlight as possible departures before Opening Day 2027.
Janson Junk looks like one of the clearest names on that list. Miami needs to upgrade its starting rotation, and the numbers don’t make a strong case for keeping him in place.
In 2026, Junk made 25 starts and threw 123 innings, but his 4.22 ERA simply didn’t move the needle enough. The Marlins need better than that if they’re serious about building a rotation that can help in 2027.
He still has years of team control left, though, which means he could have trade value. That’s the kind of move Miami might explore, especially if it can find a partner the way it did with Ryan Weathers last offseason.
Max Meyer is another arm who could end up being moved, even if the reasoning is a little different. The Marlins want both availability and quality, and Meyer hasn’t given them the availability piece.
At the same time, his name could still carry enough weight to bring back something useful in a trade. Miami isn’t operating with the kind of financial muscle that lets it buy its way out of problems, so the front office has to think like other resourceful small-market clubs.
The Rays trading Shane Baz last offseason and still winning the division in 2026 is the kind of example that fits here. Peter Bendix has plenty to weigh, and Meyer is part of that conversation.
Bradley Blalock, meanwhile, feels like the most straightforward roster decision of the three. The Marlins need 40-man roster spots this offseason, and he’s occupying one of them.
He still has one minor-league option left, but the performance hasn’t justified much patience. Blalock posted a 5.56 ERA in 11 1/3 innings this season, and he looks like a strong non-tender candidate.
Miami likely wouldn’t lose much by moving on, especially with his track record before arriving in Miami also working against him.
In Other News...
Marlins Just Made A Hitting Change Fans Will Debate
The Marlins are making a notable change in the dugouts support system, moving on from hitting coach Pedro Guerrero while keeping the rest of their 2026 coaching staff intact. Manager Clayton McCullough will remain in place, as will assistant hitting coaches Chris Hess and Corbin Day, so the organization is clearly choosing continuity in most areas even as it looks for a different direction with the offense.
President of baseball operations Peter Bendix framed the decision as a search for a new voice in the hitting space and a stronger alignment across the department. For a Miami club that has spent plenty of time trying to build a more consistent offensive identity, the move invites the usual debate: whether a fresh perspective can unlock progress, or whether changing one piece of the staff is enough to matter at all. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Suddenly Have A Center Field Concern They Cant Ignore
Jakob Marsees first full major league season gave the Marlins a clearer look at what they have in center field, and now it comes with a medical checkup attached. Team president Peter Bendix said Marsee will visit Dr. Keith Meister after dealing with left elbow discomfort late in the 2026 season, a note that lands at an awkward time for a player who was on the field for most of the year and gave Miami steady defense in the middle of the diamond.
The Marlins do have alternatives if the issue lingers, with Esteury Ruiz, Javier Sanoja and prospect Cam Cannarella all in the mix for playing time. But center field looked like one of the few spots Miami could begin to stabilize around Marsee, so any offseason concern there adds a little more uncertainty to a roster still trying to sort out its next step. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Huttons Marlins Farewell Hits Longtime Fans Right In The Feels
Tommy Huttons farewell has become one of those rare baseball moments that reaches beyond the box score and straight into the franchises memory. The longtime Marlins broadcaster, who has been part of the clubs coverage since 1997, is finishing his retirement tour with a special pregame ceremony at loanDepot park, a fitting nod for a voice so many Miami fans grew up hearing season after season.
The Marlins also helped create one last nostalgic touch by reuniting Hutton with longtime broadcast partner Rich Waltz for a final inning during a recent game. For a team that has spent years chasing a new era, Huttons retirement closes the book on a significant stretch of Marlins broadcasting, and it leaves longtime listeners with one more reminder of how much a familiar voice can mean over time. [Read more 🡒]