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The Miami Marlins were one of MLB’s more surprising teams in 2025. How do they stack up comparatively to the Fish of yesteryear?

Written By: AJ Stone (2/10/26)

2025 saw the Miami Marlins climb the ranks of baseball’s middling teams from afterthought to more of a project in the works. But the question remains: have the Marlins really improved their roster headed into 2026? And if not, how will they sustain their newfound success? 

Miami has seen the likes of starting pitchers Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, along with breakout reliever Ronny Henriquez, head for the hills in various fashions. With these two prominent arms no longer part of the picture, the Marlins needed a pivot. Pete Fairbanks from the other Florida team was signed to offset what was lost in Henriquez in the latter innings of a game. Miami has yet to add a new starter to make up for lost production, and it looks like they’ll be banking on Janson Junk and Max Meyer at the backend of their rotation. Not a poor strategy, but young arms are often volatile and can cause pitfalls in the midst of a long season. 

As for the offense, Miami has stayed relatively consistent. The returning core of Xavier Edwards, Kyle Stowers, Agustin Ramirez, Jaokb Marsee, Otto Lopez, and Griffin Conine will all run it back in 2026. A new face was added to the mix in the form of Cubs’ #1 prospect Owen Caissie via the Edward Cabrera trade. The 23-year-old profiles as the exact hitter the Marlins have been missing. Miami has a plethora of contact handy sticks that give pitchers headaches in two-strike counts, even stretching to their bench with Liam Hicks and Javier Sanoja. What they don’t have is run production. 

The game of baseball has become much more dependent on extra-base hits due to how ridiculous the arm talent on the mound has become. Miami has next to no home run potential, and if Caissie can provide an outlet to drive in runs, the Marlins might have unlocked a new gear. 

To answer the question: Yes, the Marlins have improved. Fairbanks is their first bona fide closer in years, and Caissie’s potential alone is enough to raise an eyebrow. If it all clicks, the Fish could find themselves in competition at the deadline, with plenty of wiggle room to either sell or push their chips in toward a playoff bid.