The Miami Marlins are heading into another offseason with the same old question hanging over everything: how much are they actually willing to spend?
That issue has defined the last few winters in South Florida, where Miami’s payroll has sat near the very bottom of baseball. And after last season’s big swing on former Tampa Bay Rays closer Peter Fairbanks, the front office may be even more cautious this time around.
Peter Bendix did make a notable move by giving Fairbanks a one-year, $13 million deal, but it backfired badly. The signing turned into a disaster, and with the Marlins’ long track record of spending lightly, it could make them think twice about chasing another closer in free agency for 2027.
Still, the market is going to include some interesting names, and one of them is Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias. He’s a free agent, and while Miami is not expected to be anywhere near the top of his list, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report argued that Bendix should at least take a hard look.
Miller’s Top 5 landing spots for Iglesias did not include the Marlins, but he still laid out the case for Miami. His point was simple: what if the Marlins had spent on the right closer instead of missing on Fairbanks?
"Just to play devil’s advocate, though, what if they had invested in the correct closer? One who had stayed healthy and didn’t post an ERA north of 6.00 while blowing four saves and suffering three other losses? That could have been a season-changer for a team that didn’t miss the playoffs by all that much,'' wrote Miller.
That’s the kind of what-if that sticks with Miami. For the second straight year under Clayton McCullough, the Marlins hung around the National League wild-card race before fading in September. A dependable closer can change the shape of a season, and McCullough knows that as well as anyone.
Miami has plenty to sort through this winter, and Bendix also has the broader uncertainty around a potential lockout and the salary cap to deal with, whether one happens or not. Iglesias landing in Miami still feels unlikely, but Miller’s argument gives the Marlins something to think about as they weigh their next move.
In Other News...
Marlins Have A Real Bullpen Target Worth Watching Closely
A familiar bullpen name is suddenly back on Miamis radar, and it makes plenty of sense. Alex Vesia, the left-handed reliever who has been a steady piece for the Dodgers since 2021, is a free agent after another effective season and has the kind of swing-and-miss profile teams tend to covet late in the winter. With a 2.64 ERA last year and strong strikeout numbers, he fits the sort of arm the Marlins have often needed in the back end of the bullpen.
What makes the situation worth watching is the connection to Miamis own past. Vesia was originally drafted by the Marlins and has already carved out a solid major league track record, which gives the pursuit a little extra intrigue beyond the usual free-agent chatter. A third-party source says Miami is interested, and with his market taking shape around a modest multi-year deal, the question now is whether the Marlins decide to turn that interest into a real push. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Prospect Zion Rose Is Giving Fans A New Reason To Watch
The Arizona Fall League handed out its Week 5 honors with a familiar kind of buzz for prospect-watchers, as Zion Rose and Alex Williams were recognized as the leagues Hitter and Pitcher of the Week. Roses week stood out at the plate, where he led the league with a .857 slugging percentage and drove in seven runs, the kind of production that tends to get attention fast in a setting built for young players trying to make noise.
Williams also made his mark with a dominant outing that put him in the conversation for one of the more notable pitching performances of the fall. His strikeout total was enough to earn the weekly honor, and the combination of his work and Roses surge gave fans another reminder that the Arizona Fall League is often where a prospects name starts carrying a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Still Have One Big Question About Their Young Offense
The Dodgers have made a familiar move for anyone who has followed the Marlins recent search for offensive stability, adding Pedro Guerrero as their new hitting coach after Aaron Bates departed despite being offered a multi-year deal. Guerrero, who has also coached in the Giants and Phillies organizations, spent the past two seasons in Miami before taking the job in Los Angeles, where manager Dave Roberts is otherwise expected to keep his staff largely intact.
For the Marlins, the departure only sharpens the same lingering question around a young lineup that has shown promise but still needs direction. The organization has spent the offseason trying to define what comes next for its hitters, and losing a coach who already knows the roster adds another layer to that process. Miami now has to decide not just who will fill the role, but what kind of voice will best guide a group that is still very much in development. [Read more 🡒]