On Thursday, Marlins club reporter Christina De Nicola 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:
What is the general feeling around the team towards starting pitching regarding the trade candidates (Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera) and Minor League guys who might be viewed as ready?
Let's start with this: The Marlins aren't actively trying to trade Alcantara or Cabrera. As is the case with any front office, you answer every call and listen. In the words of Justin Bieber, however, "Never Say Never." That's why president of baseball operations Peter Bendix used a carefully worded response in late September when asked whether Alcantara would be with the team in Spring Training.
Minor Leaguers who are ready or nearing the big leagues can be divided into two categories: 40-man roster and not. Miami acquired right-hander Ryan Gusto for Jesús Sánchez at the Trade Deadline, but only got to see him pitch three times before going down with a right shoulder impingement. Lefty Dax Fulton (No. 13 prospect) is on the 40-man roster and reached the Triple-A level in 2025 in his first year back from a second Tommy John surgery, but he's behind fellow southpaw Robby Snelling (No. 3 prospect) in terms of development. Snelling will get a second consecutive non-roster invitation to big league camp this spring on the heels of being named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He could force the issue.
Do you envision the Marlins adding a high-leverage arm? If not, is there a top candidate for the closer role to begin the season?
I keep going back and forth on this.
Bullpens are volatile, it's no secret. A reliever could be good one year and bad the next. Even future Hall of Famers and perennial All-Stars scuffle at some point.
The modus operandi of the Rays and the Marlins, now that Bendix is in charge, is finding those diamonds in the rough. Right-hander Ronny Henriquez is a perfect example. A metric might stand out that draws the Marlins in. Sometimes it's as simple as tweaking pitch usage to unearth the best version of that pitcher.
At the same time, this is what Bendix said at the GM Meetings when asked whether a proven backend reliever held some value: "It's all about what they're going to do to help us next year. It's easier to see that if they've already done it, right?"
If you're pursuing a proven commodity, you do so when you feel you have a legitimate shot at contending. It just so happens that Pete Fairbanks, who overlapped with Bendix in Tampa Bay, is on the free-agent market. But the relief market gets pricey both in terms of years and salary. That would go against what appears to be the Marlins' philosophy when it comes to a bullpen.
If the Marlins don't bring in an external candidate, Henriquez would be the top internal candidate for closer. But as we saw around the league and with the Marlins, pockets and matchups are starting to be more of the norm than the exception. Sometimes the biggest outs needed in a game are in the eighth and not in the ninth.
Which of the recent coaches that were hired away by other teams will be most missed by the team (in terms of impact not likeability), and which of the newest coaches joining the team should fans be excited for?
I know you asked in terms of impact over likability, but I have to begin by saying that all three of the coaches headed elsewhere are great human beings.
If memory serves me correctly, assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon played an important role in the club's pinch-hitting success. Infield coach Tyler Smarslok helped Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards swap positions midseason -- and look how that turned out!
Catching coach Joe Singley had his work cut out for him with two rookies behind the dish. Regardless of what the stats and metrics say, Agustín Ramírez and Liam Hicks never took a day off getting extra reps in with Singley. If they didn't trust Singley, they wouldn't have put in that type of effort. I know this was a non-answer, but consider this: A non-postseason club had three members of its staff take promotions elsewhere. It shows the Marlins are hiring good coaches.
In regards to the incoming coaches, I'm intrigued by what sort of impact Craig Driver can have on the young catchers. I found a story from 2019 in which former manager and now Marlins general manager Gabe Kapler credited Driver for being instrumental in J.T. Realmuto's pitch framing improvement in his Gold Glove Award-winning season.