Can Miami finally fill those rotation and bullpen holes? A Miami Herald report by Barry Jackson says the Marlins are scouting upgrades across the rotation, bullpen and at least one corner spot. Kevin Barral of Fish On First adds the club prefers a right‑handed bat and left‑handed arms, a logical fit given the team’s surplus of lefty hitters and right‑handed pitchers. Cade Gibson and prospect Dax Fulton are the only healthy southpaws on the 40‑man roster, while Robby Snelling and Andrew Nardi (a non‑tender candidate) recover from internal brace surgeries.
Barral flags three left‑handed bullpen candidates: Adrian Morejon, Alex Vesia and Sean Newcomb. The trio spans a range of price tags and roles, but Morejon stands apart, with Vesia edging out Newcomb in the scouting hierarchy.
Snatching Morejon would be a shock, likely forcing owner Bruce Sherman to break his free‑agent spending record set nine years ago. Avisail Garcia‘s four‑year, $53 MM pact remains the biggest deal of the Sherman era, while Pete Fairbanks’ one‑year, $13 MM contract from last winter tops the Bendix era spending.
MLB Trade Rumors project Morejon on a five‑year, $80 MM contract, ranking him eighth among the top 50 free agents. Both Morejon and David Bednar are hailed as the class’s premier relievers; Morejon lacks Bednar’s closing résumé, but he’s four years younger and has excelled as a setup man for the Padres. For my money, Morejon would instantly upgrade the bullpen.
Even if the Marlins treat Morejon as a scouting exercise, his presence on the radar hints they might stretch the payroll. Miami’s $83.2 MM budget in 2026 was the league’s second‑lowest, and roughly $79.25 MM is slated for 2027. No contracts extend beyond that season, leaving ample space for a blockbuster if Sherman opens the checkbook.
Collective‑bargaining talks could tip the scales. Should owners secure a salary cap and floor, Miami would need to double its payroll to meet the proposed floor. Sherman and Bendix may be eyeing Morejon now as a pre‑emptive move, contingent on the MLBPA easing its long‑standing opposition to a ceiling.
On the field, the Marlins appear poised to contend for a postseason berth. Despite a lean rebuild, they posted 79 wins in 2025 and nudged up to 80 in 2026, suggesting a roster ready to break out.
By contrast, Barral says Vesia and Newcomb fit more comfortably within Miami’s budget. Vesia, ranked 27th on the top‑50 list, is projected to land a two‑year, $26 MM deal after six solid seasons as a Dodgers setup man. Even that amount would be a sizable splurge for the club.
Vesia isn’t a complete stranger to Miami. Drafted in the 17th round in 2018, he debuted with the Marlins, throwing 4 1/3 innings across five games in 2020 before being dealt with Kyle Hurt to Los Angeles for reliever Dylan Floro. Manager Clayton McCullough will recognize him from his Dodgers coaching stint.
Newcomb’s performance has oscillated over ten seasons, yet his 2025 stint with Boston and Oakland earned a one‑year, $4.5 MM White Sox deal. In 2026 he posted a 3.09 ERA, 22.6% strikeout rate, 44.4% grounder rate and 9.1% walk rate over 90 1/3 innings, plus a 2.57 ERA in seven postseason frames. He often served as a multi‑inning reliever, logging six pseudo‑starts as an opener or front‑end piggyback.
The closer role remains wide open. Candidates like Michael Petersen, Calvin Faucher, Ronny Henriquez and Anthony Bender could battle for the job in spring training. Adding a veteran closer is an option, and Miami would likely slot Morejon into that slot despite his modest eight career saves. Vesia might get a look but appears more a setup man, while Newcomb would probably continue as a swingman or multi‑inning arm.
Regarding starters, Barral notes the Marlins have cast a wide net, mentioning Dustin May and Patrick Sandoval as names to watch. No concrete talks have surfaced, but the interest suggests the club is hunting short‑term arms. Will Miami land one of those arms before spring?