The Miami Marlins are sitting just outside the top 20 in MLB.com’s way-too-early power rankings, landing at No. 21 as the offseason begins to take shape.
That placement fits the bigger picture around this club: the Marlins keep flashing enough to stay relevant, but not enough to climb into the league’s upper tier. They’ve been one of baseball’s clear underdogs, and the National League’s strength makes the climb even steeper. Miami has also had the kind of roster churn that keeps it bouncing around these rankings instead of settling into a stable spot.
One move that did help their outlook was keeping Sandy Alcantara for 2027. The Marlins exercised his club option, and he’ll make $21 million next season. That decision gives Miami its franchise ace back for another year, and it matters in a ranking exercise like this.
The next step, though, has to be more than just holding onto one arm. The front office needs to add around him, especially in free agency, if the Marlins want to give themselves a real shot at being buyers at the MLB Trade Deadline next season. Reinforcing the bullpen is a clear need.
On offense, the group to build around includes Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards, Owen Caisse, Joe Mack and Kyle Stowers. Those are the names giving the lineup some shape moving forward, but the pitching staff will need support for that side of the roster to matter.
Eury Perez is another important piece in the mix. He’s emerging as a potential ace, and his development could eventually raise Miami’s standing across the league. For now, though, the Marlins still need to improve the team around him before they can fully lean into that future.
President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix pointed to the progress the organization made in his end-of-season press conference, saying, "I'm very proud of our team, our organization. I think there was tremendous progress shown on the field, off the field... We continue to really build on this foundation, taking meaningful steps forward in a lot of ways and at the same time we're angry, disappointed, not satisfied with where we are,"
There was growth in 2026, but Miami needs 2027 to be a leap, not just another small step.
In Other News...
These 4 Marlins Prospects Could Define The Rebuild By 2030
The Marlins rebuild is increasingly being judged not by what happens at the big league level this season, but by how quickly the next wave of talent turns into everyday contributors. Among the names drawing the most attention are Compton, Cannarella, Lombard and Arquette, a quartet that has already given the organization reason to believe the farm system can produce more than just depth pieces. Each has flashed enough in the minors to keep the long-term conversation alive, with recent performances and scouting looks pointing to different paths toward Miami.
What makes this group so interesting is how varied the upside is. Some of the appeal is tied to power, some to on-base ability and some to the kind of all-around skill set that can fit into a lineup in multiple ways, which is exactly what a rebuilding club wants to see as it tries to map out the next several seasons. None of it is guaranteed, of course, and the projections are still just that, but if Miami is going to turn the corner by 2030, it may be because a few of these prospects keep forcing their way into the picture. [Read more 🡒]