Marlins Face Uphill Climb Replacing Breakout Reliever Ronny Henriquez
The Miami Marlins took a tough hit this offseason, and it’s not the kind that gets better with time. Ronny Henriquez, who quietly became one of the most effective arms in their bullpen in 2025, is now out for the entire 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. It’s the kind of news that reshapes a bullpen and forces a front office to get creative-especially with most of the top-tier free agent relievers already off the board.
Henriquez’s rise was one of the more encouraging storylines for a Marlins team that’s been trying to piece together a reliable relief corps. And while it’s a major blow to lose him, it’s worth remembering that Miami originally picked him up off waivers. That kind of savvy move is exactly what they’ll need to replicate now.
Let’s take a look at three under-the-radar arms around the league who could offer a similar blend of upside and affordability-players who, like Henriquez, might not be household names but have the tools to become impact relievers in the right situation.
RHP Colin Selby - Baltimore Orioles
Colin Selby’s 2025 season was a rollercoaster, and not just because of his pitching. The Orioles pushed the limits of the option rules with him, sending him back and forth between Triple-A and the majors five times before the All-Star break. A hamstring injury kept him off the mound for most of the second half, but when he was healthy, he showed flashes that are hard to ignore.
Selby’s pitch mix includes a sinker, four-seamer, slider, and a curveball that really jumps off the page. That curve is his calling card-coming in with serious vertical drop thanks to a high arm slot and spinning at an average of 2,840 rpm. That’s elite-level spin, and it gives him a legitimate swing-and-miss weapon.
He landed 64.5% of his pitches for strikes in limited big-league action last season, and he’s still under team control for six more years. That kind of control is valuable, so it’s unlikely Baltimore would just give him away.
But then again, Henriquez was in a similar situation last year when Minnesota let him go. Sometimes, all it takes is the right team seeing the right fit.
RHP Chase Silseth - Los Angeles Angels
Chase Silseth is a name that’s bounced around in different roles, but last year he made the full transition to the bullpen-and the early returns were promising. From 2022 to 2024, the long ball was his Achilles’ heel, giving up 19 home runs over 89 innings.
But in 10 relief appearances to close out 2025, only one batter took him deep. And that was Nick Kurtz, who’s not exactly a pushover.
Silseth has trimmed down his pitch mix significantly. Once known for throwing just about everything, he’s now simplified his approach: four-seamers and splitters to lefties, with sinkers and sweepers to righties. That kind of focus has helped him find more consistency, and it could be the key to unlocking his potential as a late-inning option.
There are a couple of red flags, though. He missed a big chunk of 2024 with right elbow inflammation, and he’s only pitched on back-to-back days once in his pro career.
That’s something any team would need to manage carefully. But if he’s healthy, the raw stuff is there.
RHP Carlos Vargas - Seattle Mariners
Carlos Vargas is a different case altogether. He didn’t bounce between levels in 2025-he couldn’t.
Out of minor league options, the Mariners kept him on the active roster all season, and he logged 77 innings with a 3.97 ERA. Not lights-out numbers, but solid, and he was trusted enough to stick around during Seattle’s postseason run.
Vargas leans heavily on a high-90s sinker that generates ground balls at an elite rate. In fact, he ranked in the 95th percentile in ground ball percentage and was part of 12 double plays-tied for the second-most among relievers. That kind of profile plays, especially in late-inning spots with runners on.
What’s interesting about Vargas is his reverse platoon splits. Lefties hit just .205/.248/.341 against him, while righties teed off to the tune of .327/.404/.485. That’s a pretty stark difference, and it points to a need for a pitch that can neutralize right-handers-maybe a sweeper, similar to the one Henriquez developed after joining the Marlins.
Final Thoughts
Replacing a breakout bullpen arm like Henriquez isn’t easy, especially this late in the offseason. But the Marlins have shown they’re capable of finding value where others might not be looking. Whether it’s a high-spin curveball like Selby’s, the simplified power approach of Silseth, or Vargas’ ground-ball wizardry, there are potential fits out there.
The challenge now is identifying the right guy, convincing another team to part with him, and then doing what Miami did so well with Henriquez-helping him take the next step. With the bullpen suddenly in flux, that kind of move could make all the difference in 2026.