The Marlins have a real offseason choice to make, and it starts with Xavier Edwards.
Edwards has turned in a breakout year, hitting .280 with six home runs and a .731 OPS. He has leaned more on getting on base than on driving the ball, reaching at a .360 clip. For a Miami team that is going to need more slug next season - especially in the outfield, where most clubs are built around power - that creates an interesting question about whether the Marlins should turn some of that contact skill into a bigger bat elsewhere.
That’s part of why Edwards stands out as one of the biggest decisions facing the front office. The Marlins have built one of the better young lineups in the sport this season, and there is value in the way the order can create pressure in different ways. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix and his staff may like that variety because it gives them multiple ways to attack a game.
But the reality is that the best teams usually do their damage with power, and Edwards occupies a spot on the diamond where that matters. Miami also has another contact-oriented piece in the lineup in Heriberto Hernandez, which only sharpens the conversation about balance versus impact.
Money is part of this too. The Marlins do not have a ton of payroll flexibility, so if Edwards is good enough to help them win, he is also good enough to draw serious interest. That could make him the kind of player who brings back a meaningful return, possibly in the form of bullpen help or a starting pitcher.
That sort of move fits the kind of “challenge trade” low-payroll teams often have to consider when they want to address a major need. The Marlins are targeting 2027 as a year they should compete, and with a weak free-agent market projected along with possible changes to the financial rules this offseason with a lockout coming, the trade market could become even more appealing.
None of that means Edwards is gone. Miami does not have to trade him, and that leverage gives the club room to negotiate. But it does put Bendix and his group in a position where they have to decide whether Edwards is more valuable as part of the current lineup or as the centerpiece of a deal that helps shape what comes next.
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Marlins Just Highlighted Prospects Fans Need To Start Watching
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Among the names that stood out, outfielder Cam Cannarella earned Player of the Year and right-hander Eliazar Dishmey took Pitcher of the Year, giving fans a clearer look at two prospects worth tracking closely. The affiliate MVPs added even more depth to the list of performers the Marlins are asking people to remember, and the awards offered another snapshot of how much talent is starting to percolate through the system. [Read more 🡒]
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For now, the decision can be framed as practical, even if it feels unsatisfying to a fan base looking for a clearer push. The pressure only grows from here, though, because the Marlins still need real depth and a stronger offseason plan to make the current foundation matter. If they want to turn this into more than another stopgap year, the next round of roster-building has to be much more aggressive. [Read more 🡒]
One Of The Most Emotional Nights In Marlins History Still Hits Hard
The night after Jos Fernndezs death in 2016 remains one of the most haunting in Marlins history, a game that carried far more weight than anything on the scoreboard. Miami took the field against the Mets still stunned by the loss of its young ace, wearing his initials and jersey number on its caps as the clubhouse tried to process the unthinkable through a baseball game it never wanted to play.
Dee Strange-Gordon gave the evening its most unforgettable moment, leading off with an emotional home run while wearing Fernndezs jersey. The Marlins went on to win 7-3 behind contributions from several players, then closed the night with a powerful tribute by placing their hats on the mound, a simple gesture that still captures how deeply that game struck the franchise. [Read more 🡒]