The Marlins’ next big roster decision may not be a trade at all. It could be whether they start locking up part of their young core.
Joe Mack is the clearest name in that conversation. The homegrown catcher has already put together double-digit home runs, and he did it without making his debut until May.
He’s viewed internally as a Gold Glove-caliber backstop and someone the organization wants to build around. There have already been internal discussions about an extension.
Right-hander Eury Pérez belongs in that same lane. He was part of extension chatter last offseason, and now he’s showing why.
Pérez is finally matching the frontline expectations that have followed him, and the growth has been obvious. His representation is another small factor working in his favor, since he shares an agent with Sandy Alcantara, who previously signed an extension with the club, though under a different front office.
While those talks may be percolating, the Marlins are also in a spot where some veteran pieces could become more movable. Heriberto Hernández and Griffin Conine both fit that category a bit more now, especially with Brandon Compton and Cam Cannarella rising, along with Kemp Alderman and Dillon Lewis.
The Marlins feel strong about their upper-level outfield depth, and that makes Hernández, who turns 27 in December, and Conine, who turns 30 next summer, more expendable. Both are pre-arbitration-eligible, both are nearing their peak value, and neither looks like part of the long-term plan.
If the question is which outfield prospect could force his way onto the Opening Day roster next year, Cannarella stands out. He’s Marlins No. 6 prospect, and his 2026 line entering Saturday - a 1.006 combined OPS - makes the case pretty loudly.
He also brings the kind of defensive versatility teams love, with the ability to handle all three outfield spots. Jakob Marsee’s bounce-back will be worth watching too.
There’s also a possible opening on the infield, and Aiva Arquette could be the name to watch there. If he can stay healthy - which has been a problem in 2026 - he could be in line to take over at third base next spring, even though he has played only three games there this season.
The Marlins believe he’s close to big league-ready, and if they keep All-Star Otto Lopez, that path to the majors becomes even clearer. At 6-foot-5, Arquette already looks the part of a third baseman.
The system’s injury picture is mixed. Robby Snelling, the Marlins’ No. 2 prospect and No. 34 overall, is expected to be on a typical 10-12 month recovery timeline after elbow surgery, which points to next summer.
There hasn’t been much recent word on Thomas White, the Marlins’ No. 1 prospect and No. 21 overall. Dillon Lewis, the Marlins’ No. 9 prospect, and Arquette should be back with Double-A Pensacola soon, and Lewis is one of the names moving in the right direction.
On the pitching side, the Marlins may also get some help back internally. Rookie Josh Ekness is nearing the end of his rehab assignment, while Andrew Nardi, Anthony Bender and rookie William Kempner remain sidelined.
And for teams looking to do business this time of year, the bullpen market is already active. Several Marlins relievers could be available if the return is right.
In Other News...
Marlins Deadline Approach Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
The Marlins deadline picture is starting to take shape, and it is not centered on the biggest name in the room. Miami is still weighing whether to move pieces before the trade deadline, but the most active conversations appear to be around catcher Liam Hicks and first baseman-outfielder Kyle Stowers, two players who could draw interest from clubs looking for help without paying top-tier prices.
Hicks has already popped up in talks with teams such as the Rays and Red Sox, while the Yankees are not involved there. Sandy Alcantara remains the headline asset on paper, but Miami has made it clear he is not expected to be moved before the deadline, which leaves the Marlins sorting through a trickier middle ground than a simple teardown or a full stand pat. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Just Made A Catcher Move Fans Will Want Explained
The Marlins have made a notable move behind the plate, sending catcher Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal that brings back three prospects: infielder Brayden Taylor, infielder Adrian Santana and right-hander Jacob Kisting. Hicks was under team control through 2030 and had been producing a strong 2026 season, so this is the kind of trade that naturally gets attention from a fan base trying to understand where the organization is headed next.
Miami is betting on upside in the return, with all three players sitting among Tampa Bays top 30 prospects before the deal. Hicks, meanwhile, gives the Rays a catcher they view as ready to handle a bigger role, while the Marlins add more young talent to a system that keeps trying to build depth and flexibility for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Catching Need Just Put A New Marlins Trade Target In Play
The Marlins have spent plenty of the summer sorting through trade chatter around their young, controllable bats, and that conversation has only grown louder as the deadline nears. First baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers has steadied himself since June, while catcher-first baseman Liam Hicks has given Miami a productive option on both sides of the ball, the kind of player other clubs can justify chasing because of the years of control still attached.
Miami is expected to listen on a range of possibilities, and the catching market has become especially interesting with teams looking for help behind the plate. That has pushed Hicks into a more prominent spot in the rumor mill alongside Stowers, with several clubs keeping tabs on the Marlins situation and weighing whether the ask makes sense for a player who could fit a contender's roster for more than just a few months. [Read more 🡒]