While much of the focus for the Marlins this offseason has been on their intention to spend more aggressively (relatively speaking) and bolster their roster, the Fish still have a pair of notable trade candidates in the rotation. right-handed Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara Both are on the wish lists of pitching-hungry clubs around the league, although neither has been moved.
Fish On First’s Kevin Barral and Isaac Azout reported last week that the organization “expects” Alcantara to be with the club come Opening Day. MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola echoed a similar sentiment today, saying Cabrera is the more likely of the two to be traded this offseason — if either one is traded. She wrote that Miami is not currently actively shopping either pitcher, although inquiries will increase at next week’s Winter Meetings. DeNicola also listed left-handers Ryan Weathers as a potential trade candidate, while rightly pointing out that the Fish will be on the hook for the talented left-hander after back-to-back injury-plagued seasons.
Obtained in 2023 Trade Send Garrett Cooper For the Padres, a healthy Weathers is a hot commodity in Miami. Unfortunately, this comes with a major caveat. A lat strain, flexor strain and finger strain limited the former No. 7 overall pick to just 24 starts starting on Opening Day in 2024. Weathers pitched a total of 125 innings during that span, posting a 3.74 ERA, a 22% strikeout rate, and a 6.8% walk rate. The league average strikeout rate is supported by a swing batting average of approximately 11.7%. Since ’24, Weathers has maintained a heater velocity of 96.2 mph and maintained a 45.6 percent batting average. Like Cabrera, he was a clear injury risk but had some recent success and was at the club’s disposal for another three seasons.
Cabrera is a prize among potential trade candidates in the Marlins rotation, but his asking price is also certainly at the top due to his age (27 years old), affordable salary ($3.7MM projection, via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz), former top prospect status and 2025 production (3.53 ERA, 25.8 K%, 8.3 BB%, 46.6 GB% in 137 2/3 innings).
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kelly McDaniel wrote this morning that the Miami Heat have made requests for “quality prospects” from any club interested in Cabrera, and that the right-hander’s lengthy injury history has interested parties wary of making such a commitment. The 2025 season marked Cabrera’s first 100-inning season in the majors, and he’s been on the injured list since 2021 with elbow sprains, blisters, shoulder impingement (three times) and elbow tendonitis.
Of course, the Marlins could use their abundant starting pitching to bring in some bats to help the lineup, but free agency is still a viable path. So far, they’ve focused primarily on first base, but Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and his staff have begun broadening their search. Miami is also looking at potential outfielder and third base acquisitions, believing in the versatility of players like this Connor Norby and Griffin Corning Allows them to target bats in other locations.
It’s no secret that the Marlins have been considering Nobby at first base. Jackson added that the Fish plan to get Koenen to do some work first next spring and trust the outfielder Heriberto Hernandez There might be an option there.
The bullpen has been another focus for Bendix, with reports linking Miami to deals like Devin Williams (has since signed with the Mets), Raisel Iglesias (re-signed in Atlanta) and Pete Fairbanks (Bendix knew him well from his time as Rays general manager). Jackson adds veteran relievers Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Rogers and twin brothers Tyler Rogers as three more bullpen arms drawing interest from the Marlins.
Finnegan, 34, has shut down games for the division rival Nationals for years, but took his production to new heights after being traded to the Tigers over the summer. Detroit forced Finnegan to use his reliever more and adjust his release point, and the right-hander dominated in the Motor City, becoming one of head coach AJ Hinch’s go-to relievers. After the trade, he pitched 18 innings with a 1.50 ERA, and his strikeout rate jumped from a jaw-dropping 19.6 percent in Washington, D.C., to a jaw-dropping 34.8 percent in Detroit.
The Rogers brothers themselves have a long track record. Taylor, a lefty, was a high-end playmaker and All-Star closer for the Twins in his prime from 2017-22. He has played more of a reliever role up the middle since signing with the Giants (where he played alongside his brother) and subsequently being traded to the Reds and Cubs.
While Taylor was a well-known figure early in the brothers’ careers, Taylor is now the more visible reliever. He has thrown 378 1/3 innings of ball with a 2.71 ERA since 2021, including a raw 1.98 ERA in 77 1/3 innings between the Giants and Mets in 2025. Taylor doesn’t miss a lot of at-bats, as one would expect from a soft-pitching right-handed diver with an average velocity of 83.5 mph, but he has impeccable command (2.2% walk rate since 2024) and is nearly impossible to square off due to the deception in his delivery. Taylor has the slowest “fastball” and lowest pitch rate in the majors, but he also ranks in the 95th percentile (or better) of major league pitchers in terms of opponent exit velocity, pitch rate, and slugging rate.
According to RosterResource, Miami’s current salary projection for 2026 is only $59MM. Their luxury tax liability is just under $70MM. The common thought is that, like the A’s last offseason, the Marlins want to push the CBT number closer to $105MM to avoid any MLBPA displeasure that could jeopardize their revenue-sharing status. This can be accomplished by bringing in free agents, trading veterans for guaranteed salaries or extending players already on the roster. Marlins have reportedly spoken with both men Kyle Stowers and Yuri Perez Regarding long-term deals; negotiations with either player could resume later in the offseason.
