MIAMI -- Before getting down to the business of making significant roster moves, the Marlins addressed an MLB-required formality on Friday, as the organization decided to tender contracts to all six of its arbitration-eligible players -- including All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna -- prior to the 8 p.m. ET deadline.
Along with Ozuna, tenders also were extended to catcher J.T. Realmuto, first baseman Justin Bour, right-hander Dan Straily and infielders Derek Dietrich and Miguel Rojas.
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Players who are non-tendered become free agents. By tendering all six players, it means the Marlins are committed to paying each player a salary that will be determined at a later date. Even so, there is no guarantee all six will be with the club next year, as tendered players can be traded.
The tenders come as no surprise, because all six eligible Marlins are part of the club's core.
Players eligible for arbitration generally must have between three and six seasons of MLB service time. There are exceptions for players who fall into a Super 2 category, but none of Miami's players fall into that criteria.
Of Miami's arbitration-eligible players, Ozuna is the most likely to be traded this offseason. The two-time All-Star has two years remaining before qualifying for free agency in 2020. With the organization looking to trim payroll and redirect, Ozuna promises to be highly coveted on the trade market.
Thus far, the Marlins haven't actively shopped Ozuna, as they continue to be in trade discussions regarding Giancarlo Stanton. Representatives from the Giants on Thursday night reportedly met with Stanton's representatives in Los Angeles.
If talks pick up, Stanton could possibly be traded before the Winter Meetings, set for Dec. 10-14 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Marlins could start entertaining offers for Ozuna if Stanton is traded. Even if Stanton, who has a full no-trade clause, decides to stay in Miami, Ozuna also could be dealt. He has four years, 124 days of big league service time, and he made $3.5 million in 2017. Some projections have the slugger's salary raising to almost $11 million next year.
Realmuto, Bour and Rojas will be arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Realmuto, with three years, 38 days of service time, was one of the biggest bargains in the game in 2017, making $562,500. He hit .278 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Bour (3.064 years of service time) dealt with injuries, but still belted 25 home runs and drove in 83 while batting .289. He made $552,500.
Straily enjoyed a solid first season with the Marlins, going 10-9 with a 4.26 ERA in 181 2/3 innings after making $552,100. His service time is three years, 126 days.
Dietrich enters his second year of arbitration, and he has three years, 151 days of service time. The left-handed-hitting infielder batted .249 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs, and he made $1.7 million.
Rojas enters arbitration for the first time, and he has three years, 43 days of big league time. The infielder earned $535,000 in 2017, and he appeared in 90 games while missing time with a broken left thumb. He batted .290 with an on-base percentage of .361.
Dietrich and Rojas offer versatility because they play multiple positions.