Marlins hit Winter Meetings focused on building for '26 and beyond

ORLANDO -- The Marlins will enter 2026 in a unique situation.

After falling just shy of a surprise postseason berth during a developmental year, there is expectation both externally and internally that the club will add in some capacity to push Miami over the top.

One thing to consider is that the entire 40-man roster is under control for multiple years, with most of the players still in the early stages of their big league careers. The Marlins also boast an intriguing mix of upper-level pitching and position-player prospects.

“We're looking at a lot of different things,” president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said on Monday during the first day of the Winter Meetings. “I think we were really excited about the progress we made last year, but 79 wins is not the goal. And so there's a lot of different areas that we want to improve, and a lot of young players that we think can offer that improvement for those different areas. So it's how do we make the team better with also making sure we keep pathways for opportunities for those others players?”

Sources have told MLB.com that the Marlins have primarily been offering just one-year deals to free agents, though multiyear contracts could be on the table depending on the player.

Not wanting to commit beyond 2026 would play into the idea of Miami not wanting to block prospects and its other young talent. This upcoming season would be another year to see which players develop into meaningful contributors and pieces to build a sustainable future around.

Slugging corner infielder Deyvison De Los Santos (the Marlins' No. 22 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), for example, could wind up being the answer at first base at some point in 2026. After a disappointing season with Triple-A Jacksonville (.674 OPS), he is raking in the Dominican Winter League (.890 OPS). The right-handed-hitting Kemp Alderman (Miami's No. 10 prospect), who was named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year, could eventually balance out a left-handed-heavy outfield.

In order to cover all of their bases, the Marlins have told corner outfielder Griffin Conine he could get work at first base this spring. Third baseman Connor Norby might see time in the outfield. These possibilities would help the players maximize their value to the team.

“I know this: Peter will continue to look for every avenue, whether that's any type of external avenue to potentially help our team, and I think that's what we'll do,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “And if we have some players that come in from our system that are new, that augment, great. And, certainly, a big focus is going to be continuing with the clarity which we'll have from last year to this year with some of the players that established themselves. A big task is going to be trying to not just repeat that, but help them take steps further.”

For McCullough and his coaching staff, it’s about improving the players already in the organization. For Bendix and the front office, it’s about complementing them with outside help. It’s not just about the flexibility of money, but also of playing time.

“We're really happy with the amount of talent we have in the organization, but we need to add more at the Major League level, at the Minor League level,” Bendix said. “Our path to being really good for a long period of time are those young guys and getting them better. And so a lot of that is opportunity. A lot of that is getting them better at the Major League level, like we did this past year, and then supplementing, adding the right pieces to complement those players.”

It's known within the industry that the Marlins are targeting starting pitching, relievers and offense. All of that is interconnected.

If Miami was to trade away a starter -- everyone from Sandy Alcantara to Edward Cabrera to Ryan Weathers has been the subject of rumors -- the return would need to help out the lineup. By subtracting a starter, the Marlins would likely sign a free agent to patch things in 2026.

Whatever Miami decides to do, it will be with an eye toward next season and the long term. The goal is to reach the postseason in 2026 without blocking players.

“My message would be two things: First of all, it is my job to listen,” Bendix said. “I would be doing a disservice to our fans, a disservice to [principal owner] Bruce [Sherman], the organization, if I didn't listen to what is out there and understand our possibilities. And the second thing is that not everything that you read is true.”