The Miami Marlins do not need to chase every answer on the market this offseason. Some of the help they want is already in-house, and the club’s next step may come from giving the right young players a bigger lane.
That starts on the mound, where the Marlins still need a dependable left-handed starter. The current rotation leans heavily to the right side, and that balance is part of the issue.
One internal name to watch is Snelling, who will be 23 next season after turning 22 this year. He has the kind of upside that can change the shape of a staff if the command comes with it.
His fastball and curveball give him strikeout-machine potential, and the Marlins are looking for a lefty with the kind of impact associated with Chris Sale. Snelling will have to bring that talent to the group next season.
Behind the plate, Mack’s rookie year already made him look like a long-term piece. The next leap, though, is the big one.
After a sensational debut season, he needs to take five or ten steps forward in 2027. He is already emerging as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, and his batting average and on-base percentage have been solid.
There is still more in there offensively, and the Marlins may have found a trustworthy catcher for years to come after Bender and the front office promoted him midseason. The message is simple: let the young guys eat.
Sanoja also earned a bigger look. His second half turned plenty of heads thanks to his hustle and contact hitting, and he became one of the most reliable bats on the roster over the final months.
At 24, he is still getting better, and his role should grow next season. The Marlins should stick with Sanoja at third base.
Over his last seven games, he hit .357/.379/.607 with 10 hits. For the season, he finished with 11 home runs, 60 RBIs, and a .791 OPS.
There is another name in the system who could force his way into the conversation. Arquette, a 22-year-old shortstop, brings contact and power, along with good size and strength.
In the minors this season, he hit 10 home runs, collected 73 hits, and batted .272. Otto Lopez is already the man at shortstop, and Lopez finished the season as the best hitter on the team.
Even so, Arquette could get some reps next season if the bat keeps playing. If he stays healthy and produces, he might see regular-season action, and the Marlins could even move him around to other positions to see how he handles them.
That kind of flexibility may matter more than ever for a team trying to squeeze more out of its roster. The Marlins have room to be creative, and they may need to be.
His batting approach could be another reason they are better next season. Remember Miguel Cabrera in 2003?
Anything can happen in baseball. It is about taking risks and not overthinking.
In Other News...
Sandy Alcantara Is Reaching A Marlins Crossroads Fans Feared
Sandy Alcantara has spent the last several seasons as one of the defining arms in Marlins history, the kind of pitcher who gives the franchise a standard to measure everything else against. He still carries the weight of that 2022 National League Cy Young Award and the records he has piled up in Miami, but the organization around him has changed, and so has the way it views pitching. Under president Peter Bendix, the Marlins have pushed a different approach, and Alcantara has already adapted to it, even taking on a late-inning closer role during the 2026 season.
Now the bigger question is whether Miami wants to keep building with him at the center of things. Alcantara has a club option for 2027, and after that he would be on track for free agency, which puts the Marlins at a familiar crossroads with a franchise icon. For a team that has rarely been able to hold onto its best players, the decision on Alcantara is more than just another roster call, it is a test of how far this new front office is willing to go to anchor its pitching future around a familiar face. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Unlocked A New October Weapon With Chris Sale
The Marlins took a notable October-style gamble with Sandy Alcantara, turning their ace into a closer in a game and handing him his first save in nine years. It was also his first relief appearance of the season, a move born out of bullpen injuries but one that could have a longer shelf life if Miami decides the look works down the stretch.
Atlanta has been exploring a similar lane, using Chris Sale out of the bullpen in a playoff game as both clubs search for ways to squeeze value out of their best arms when every inning matters most. For the Marlins, it adds another layer to how they manage Alcantara moving forward, and it fits a broader late-season trend of starters being asked to handle leverage spots usually reserved for relievers. [Read more 🡒]