Despite missing out on the postseason, the 2025 Miami Marlins took a massive step in the right direction.
A club that had won just 62 games in 2024 was expected to once again finish in the cellar of the National League East. Instead, a group of talented young players stepped up, leading Miami to a 79-83 record. A 17-win increase from a season prior.
Over the course of the entire season, everyone expected the Marlins to move on from former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara. Returning from Tommy John surgery, Alcantara was slowly rebuilding his value. When the team opted to keep him, rather than trade him at the 2025 Trade Deadline, it was a sign the team was thinking about winning in the short and long term.
With the opportunity to take another step forward next season, the Marlins ownership group must spend money on big league talent. Whether it’s adding in free agency or acquiring players through a trade, Miami cannot head into next season without veteran talent.
If not, they run the risk of squandering a golden opportunity.
Little fish, big pond
Being in the National League East is always going to put the Marlins behind the curve. Competing with the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves in terms of payroll is an uphill battle.
This is a team, however, that should have the resources to spend this upcoming offseason. Miami’s payroll for next season is estimated to be around $59 million. They ended the 2025 season with a payroll of $70 million and finished 2024 with a payroll around $106 million.
If the Marlins even split the difference between the two, that would be a payroll of around $88 million for 2026. That could give them roughly $29 million to spend in free agency.
A combination of any of these players could strengthen the team while not breaking the bank:
Robert Suarez – Closer
Robert Suarez is an elite reliever who is hitting the open market for the first time in his career. Formerly with the San Diego Padres, Suarez has a career 2.91 earned run average across 210 innings pitched. He has combined for 76 saves over the past two seasons for San Diego.
The Marlins had one of the worst bullpens in baseball this past season. They might have found something in Tyler Phillips, who became their de facto closer in 2025. Overall, the group could use some upgrading.
Per FanGraphs, Suarez is expected to receive a deal around 2 years, $30 million. He is arguably the second-best right-handed reliever on the market, behind Edwin Diaz.
This would be deep ocean fishing for Miami. If they could land Suarez, they could start to compile a legitimate bullpen.
Other options include Devin Williams, Raisel Iglesias, and Ryan Helsley.
Rhys Hoskins – First Base
A former member of the NL East, Rhys Hoskins could be a great bounceback candidate for the Miami Marlins.
Hoskins battled injuries again in 2025 with the Milwaukee Brewers but still managed to bash 12 home runs in 90 games. An infusion of power could be beneficial for a Marlins lineup that hit the fourth fewest home runs in baseball.
The former Phillie has 186 career home runs in the big leagues over his eight seasons. A 1-year, $8 million contract is the estimated deal FanGraphs has put together. This number would not only be team-friendly but also give the veteran a chance to rebuild his value.
Other options include Ha-Seong Kim, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ty France.
Spend or fail
At the end of the day, the Miami Marlins will only go as far as ownership allows them to.
If the Marlins can dip into the free agency pool, they can build on an excellent season in 2024. Monitoring the trade market and adding key free agents could be the start of something new in Miami.
They narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024. A couple new pieces could be the difference between October baseball in the 305 in 2026.
Matt Watson Media 
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