If the Marlins want this offseason to count, the back end of the bullpen has to be part of the plan. The closer spot is the obvious hole, and Miami has a few different ways to attack it.
Pete Fairbanks is sitting there as a free agent after arriving on a one-year deal that didn’t deliver the return the Marlins were hoping for. He’s still one of the most talented relievers in the game, and if Miami wants to bring him back on another one-year deal, it has every right to do that. But the season was injury-riddled, and the results never really matched the expectations.
That’s why the market matters. There aren’t many elite closers available, but there are relievers who could give the Marlins a mix of experience and upside, maybe even someone younger than Fairbanks.
One name that fits that idea is Seranthony Dominguez. He’s a year younger than Fairbanks and brings plenty of power to the table.
In the 2026 season with the Seattle Mariners, he went 5-3 with a 3.63 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 12 saves in 67 games. That was his best season since 2022 with the Philadelphia Phillies, when that club reached the World Series.
Dominguez has a slider, changeup and sinker in his arsenal, but he leans heavily on his four-seam fastball, which can sit anywhere between 99-101 mph. He’ll also work the sinker in certain spots. If the Marlins can line up a deal, he could be a fit for those late innings.
Another veteran who belongs in the conversation is Brad Barlow. At 33, he’s been around the block, with stops that include the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds and Athletics. He’s best known for his run with the Royals, but his path to the majors says plenty about the kind of pitcher he is.
Barlow didn’t reach the big leagues until age 25. Before that, he spent nine years in the minors and one season overseas. That kind of grind gives a player a different edge, and it also gives him repeated chances to prove himself.
For a team looking for someone who can handle pressure and keep battling in late-game spots, Barlow makes sense. In nine big-league seasons, he has gone 31-24 with a 3.79 ERA and 565 strikeouts.
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