The Miami Marlins have spent the last two seasons hanging around the National League wild-card picture, only to fade when September arrived. Again, the issue was depth.
Again, injuries got in the way. And again, the talent level wasn’t enough down the stretch to keep the club in the race.
That’s what makes this winter so significant for president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who is heading into his fourth offseason since being hired in November of 2023. The Marlins have been close enough to feel the postseason in reach, but not close enough to finish the job. Now comes the part where Miami has to turn that near-miss into something more permanent.
The challenge is obvious in the National League East. Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York all spend far more than Miami does.
But the answer isn’t simply to spend more. It’s about spending smarter, and the Marlins have to prove they can make those dollars count.
There’s also the larger backdrop hanging over the league: a pending lockout looming over the offseason. Whatever happens there, Miami still has a roster to shape and a gap to close. Bendix needs this winter to move the Marlins from “almost” to “in.”
A major early decision sits with Sandy Alcantara. The club’s first move should be picking up his $21 million team option for 2027 instead of buying him out for $2 million.
Alcantara finished 2026 at 13-11 with a 3.87 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 214 innings across 36 appearances. It was his best statistical season in three years and a strong sign that he is fully healthy after surgery.
The bullpen is another obvious area that needs work. The Pete Fairbanks experiment didn’t go the way Miami wanted, which leaves the Marlins searching for a new closer. They’ll need more help there too, whether the answer comes from betting on young arms already in the organization or going into free agency.
There are encouraging pieces already in place. Javier Sanoja, a Gold Glove finalist at third base, is one of them.
So is shortstop Otto Lopez, who was also named a Gold Glove finalist. Eury Perez gives Miami a solid No. 2 starter behind Alcantara.
So the foundation exists. What the Marlins still need is the finishing touch - and that’s why this offseason feels different. With Bendix now deep into his tenure and the organization still searching for the next step, the decisions made over the next few months could shape Miami well beyond 2027.