MLB Player News

Faucher will head into spring training as the favorite to close for the Marlins, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 29-year-old right-hander took over the closer role in early August last season and recorded six saves in eight chances, finishing the year with a 3.19 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and solid 26.8 percent strikeout rate, but he missed most of September with a shoulder impingement. In his absence, Jesus Tinoco went 3-for-4 in save chances over the final weeks of the campaign, and Tinoco likely represents Faucher's biggest competition for ninth-inning work. Southpaw Andrew Nardi (elbow) could also be in the saves mix if he shows that he's healthy and can regain his 2023 form.

New Marlins manager Clayton McCullough believes Cabrera can take a big step forward this season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 26-year-old has never been lacking in raw arm talent and has struck out 225 batters in 196 innings over the last two seasons, but Cabrera's shaky control and command have been the main thing holding him back so far during his big-league career, along with an inability to stay healthy. Despite McCullough's enthusiasm, it's hard to get too excited about Cabrera as a fantasy asset given his 4.95 ERA, 4.68 FIP and 1.40 HR/9 in 2024, but the Marlins are in dire need of quality innings and the right-hander is locked into a rotation spot as long as he can avoid another trip to the IL.

Perez (elbow) is hoping to rejoin the Marlins' rotation by the All-Star break, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 21-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last April, so a July 2025 return would be right on schedule. Perez displayed his considerable upside over 19 starts during his big-league debut in 2023, striking out 108 batters over 91.1 innings en route to a 3.15 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. but a Marlins team that's highly unlikely to be in playoff contention in 2025 won't have much incentive to be aggressive with his recovery timeline.

Hill is expected to compete with Dane Myers for the Marlins' starting job in center field, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Both players hit from the right side, so a traditional platoon isn't on the table, but some sort of timeshare might be the most likely outcome of the spring job battle. Hill saw action for three different big-league teams in 2024, compiling a modest .241/.271/.420 slash line between the Giants, Rangers and Marlins with seven homers and six steals in 172 plate appearances, but he has more experience in center field than Myers does and might be the more reliable defender. Victor Mesa, who once had some prospect cache in the Marlins' system and showed signs of improvement at Triple-A last year, is out of minor-league options and could also push his way into the competition with a strong spring.

Myers is expected to compete with Derek Hill for the Marlins' starting job in center field, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Both players hit from the right side, so a traditional platoon isn't on the table, but some sort of timeshare might be the most likely outcome of the spring job battle. Myers has a career .265/.315/.407 slash line in the majors with four homers and five steals over 178 plate appearances and might offer more offense than Hill, but he has less experience at the position and saw more action in right field than center in 2024. Victor Mesa, 23, who once had some prospect cache in the Marlins' system and showed signs of improvement at Triple-A last year, is out of minor-league options and could also push his way into the competition with a strong spring.

Ramirez is expected to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville, but a strong performance in spring training could force the Marlins' hands, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The headliner in the Jazz Chisholm deal with the Yankees last year, Ramirez slashed .250/.351/.419 in 68 games between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Jacksonville at the Triple-A level with nine homers and nine steals, but he performed much better in the Marlins' system after the trade, posting an .829 OPS in 163 plate appearances for Jacksonville compared to a .692 mark for Scranton. Miami will be in no rush to start his service clock, but the team also has very little standing in his way at catcher, with Nick Fortes having failed to reach a .600 OPS in either of the last two seasons. If Ramirez stands out in camp, the Marlins could consider accelerating the timeline for the 23-year-old.

Bride will head into training camp at the top of the Marlins' depth chart at first base, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

However, the 29-year-old could face a serious challenge this spring from former Cub prospect Matt Mervis, who has significantly more power potential. Bride provided Miami with a solid bat after joining the big-league roster for good in late July last season, slashing .279/.365/.485 over 241 plate appearances with 11 homers in only 58 games, but his career track record suggests he could have a hard time matching that output over a full campaign. Bride and Mervis could also end up platooning at first base, with Bride on the short side, if rookie slugger Deyvison De Los Santos wins the DH job this spring.

Mervis will be given a chance to win a starting role with the Marlins in spring training, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Jonah Bride is penciled in as the starting first baseman headed into camp, but the 29-year-old doesn't profile as much of an offensive threat given his career .667 OPS and 12 homers over 565 big-league plate appearances. Mervis is coming off a brutal 2024 campaign that included a .235/.329/.434 in 81 games for Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs' system, but the 26-year-old was viewed as one of the top first-base prospects in baseball just one year before after slugging 22 home runs with a .282/.399/.533 line in 100 appearances for Iowa. If Mervis can regain that form, he should quickly seize a spot at the heart of a Marlins' batting order that is lacking in established power threats. Mervis and Bride could also end up platooning at first base, with Mervis on the strong side, if rookie Deyvison De Los Santos shows enough this spring to break camp as the team's starting DH.

De Los Santos seems likely to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the A.J. Puk trade, the 21-year-old led the minors in home runs last season with 40 over 137 games split between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could provide a power-starved Marlins lineup with a legitimate long-ball threat if he can win a starting job in spring training. De Los Santos also struck out 144 times in those 137 contests while only drawing 33 walks, however, and Miami may want him to prove his plate discipline has taken a step forward before beginning his big-league service clock. Defensively, De Los Santos will likely be limited to DH in the majors, although he did play 108 games at first base in 2024.

Alcantara (elbow) is expected to be ready to take the mound Opening Day, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 29-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery the prior October, but he was facing live hitters last September and should have no restrictions when spring training begins. Alcantara won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022 on the strength of a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 207:50 K:BB over 228.2 innings, but he'll carry plenty of risk as a fantasy asset this season until he can demonstrate he's fully recovered from the surgery and has something close to his pre-injury command and control.