This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK – On Saturday, I conducted an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit. You can read the full transcript here. Here are some highlights, edited lightly for clarity and brevity:
(1) Any rumblings on whether the Marlins are looking to strengthen their bullpen for a potential wild card run this year? (2) Any updates on Thomas White or Robby Snelling and how they’re coming along with their recovery?
This is certainly the time of year for clubs to acquire and/or sell relievers for a decent haul. Several Marlins relievers could be on the move if the price is right. On the other hand, the Marlins should get back internal reinforcements. Rookie Josh Ekness is nearing an end to his rehab assignment, while veterans Andrew Nardi and Anthony Bender as well as rookie William Kempner are still sidelined.
Since Robby Snelling (Marlins’ No. 2 prospect, No. 34 overall) underwent elbow surgery, his timeline falls within the typical 10-12 months of recovery (likely next summer). I haven't heard much about Thomas White (Marlins’ No. 1 prospect, No. 21 overall), but expect to see Dillon Lewis (Marlins’ No. 9 prospect) and Aiva Arquette (Marlins’ No. 3 prospect, No. 37 overall) healthy and back with Double-A Pensacola soon.
Where are the Marlins on extensions? Are there any rumblings on them trying to lock down this young core? And if so, who do you see as the most likely to sign?
This one is easy: Joe Mack! He's a homegrown Gold Glove-caliber catcher that has double-digit home runs despite not debuting until May. Mack is someone to build around, and the Marlins will try to do so. There already have been internal discussions about it.
Right-hander Eury Pérez, who was involved in extension rumors last offseason, is another candidate. Pérez is finally living up to his frontline potential and is maturing before our eyes. It doesn't hurt that he shares the same representation as mentor Sandy Alcantara, who previously signed an extension with the organization -- albeit with a different front office.
With the rise of Brandon Compton and Cam Cannarella (along with Kemp Alderman and Lewis) are Heriberto Hernández and/or Griffin Conine a bit more expendable? If you had to choose one outfield prospect currently in the Minors to be on the Opening Day roster next year, who would it be? Lastly, do the Marlins expect Arquette to fill in the void at third base next season?
This relates a bit to what I answered in another question. The Marlins feel very good about their upper-level outfield prospects, which does make Hernández (27 in December) and Conine (30 next summer) a bit more expendable. Both are pre-arbitration-eligible, are trending toward their highest value and don't appear to be part of the organization's long-term future.
Cannarella (Marlins’ No. 6 prospect) seems like the obvious answer for the one outfield prospect to make the Opening Day roster based on his 2026 production (1.006 combined OPS entering Saturday) and his ability to play all three outfield positions. How he continues to develop and whether Jakob Marsee can bounce back will be interesting to monitor.
If Arquette can stay healthy -- something that has proven to be difficult in 2026 -- he could be a frontrunner for the third-base job next spring despite only three games there this season. The Marlins think Arquette is close to being big league-ready, and assuming the club holds onto All-Star Otto Lopez, that would be his way to the big leagues. It doesn't hurt that his 6-foot-5 stature looks like a third baseman's build.