Otto Lopez gave the Marlins exactly what they needed in 2026, and now he’s finally getting the recognition that comes with a true breakout.
Miami spent another season under manager Clayton McCullough battling deep into September in the National League wild-card chase, only to come up short again. That made the finish familiar, but the path there was still a little unexpected after the offseason moves that saw president of baseball operations Peter Bendix deal starting pitchers Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers to the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, respectively.
Even with the late fade, the Marlins ended up just two games under .500, and a handful of younger players helped carry the load. Lopez was at the front of that group. The shortstop didn’t just hold his own - he made a clear case that he’s part of Miami’s core, not a chip to be moved.
That mattered at the trade deadline, when Lopez’s name was floating around in rumors. He stayed put, and Bendix’s steep asking price turned out to be the right call. Lopez backed it up with the best offensive season of his career.
In 157 games in 2026, the 28-year-old hit .305/.349/.437 with 11 home runs and 71 RBIs. He also set personal bests with 191 hits, 32 doubles and nine triples. The season earned him his first NL All-Star nod, and it sure looks like there will be more.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report named each MLB team’s biggest surprise and disappointment, and Lopez was the obvious choice for Miami’s biggest surprise. As Reuter put it: "A breakout offensive season alongside his usual standout defense made Lopez one of the most valuable shortstops in baseball, with his 6.1 WAR behind only Kevin McGonigle (7.1) and Bobby Witt Jr.
(6.7) at the position. After hitting .246/.305/.368 a year ago, he was the NL hits leader (191) and a contender for the NL batting title into the final month,''
That 6.1 WAR put Lopez right behind McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals at shortstop, which is pretty rare company.
And the story may not be finished yet. Bendix had every reason to set the price high because there’s still more room for Lopez to grow.
If he takes another step in 2027, Miami could be looking at one of the best shortstops in the National League. For a Marlins team trying to build fast, players like Lopez are the ones you keep.
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Marlins Face Two Tough Arbitration Calls That Could Trim 2027 Payroll
The Marlins are heading into another winter where arbitration decisions could shape more than just the next seasons roster. With 11 players eligible for salary arbitration next year, the club is expected to lean toward continuity on most of the group, according to MLB Trade Rumors projections, even as the bills start to climb for a team still trying to keep its payroll flexible.
Two names stand apart from the rest of the list: Andrew Nardi and Tyler Zuber. Miami is projected to non-tender both because of injury and performance concerns, a move that would cut into the total cost of the arbitration class, which is estimated at roughly $27 million for the nine players the Marlins are expected to keep in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins May Be Better Than Their Record Lets On
The Marlins record has not always reflected it, but there were signs in 2026 that the club was doing a few important things better than it had a year earlier. The biggest jump came on the mound, where Miami trimmed its team ERA from 4.60 to 4.09, a meaningful step for a staff that needed more consistency. Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer and Eury Prez all finished with ERAs below 4.00, and Meyers turn into a 2.68 mark gave the rotation a real lift.
Miami also got more from the lineup, enough to suggest this was not just a pitching-only story. The Marlins finished ninth in team OPS and third in triples, with Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards among the players helping drive that progress. Put together, the improved run prevention and a more productive offense hint at a club that may have been better than its record suggested, even if the standings did not fully show it. [Read more 🡒]