Which Marlins players are in danger as post-2025 roster crunch approaches? – Marlins

When it comes to roster construction, if you give the Miami Marlins a mile, they will take 5,279 feet.

Within five days after the World Series ends, all MLB teams must make roster moves to accommodate players who finished the season on their 60-day injured list. For teams that missed the playoffs, there is ample time to do this early! You have the entire month of October to decide. In all likelihood, the Marlins have already made their decisions internally, but being consistent with how the front office has operated since Peter Bendix’s arrival, do not expect any announcements until we’re on the doorstep of that deadline.

A year ago, the Marlins were carrying a lot of dead weight. Their 40-man roster casualties entering the 2024-25 offseason were Shaun Anderson, David Hensley, Anthony Maldonado, Darren McCaughan, John McMillon, Roddery Muñoz, Adam Oller, Michael Petersen, Sixto Sánchez and Josh Simpson. None of them substantially boosted their stock during the subsequent season.

Getting the marginal moves right was crucial to the Marlins’ 17-win improvement in 2025. Those decisions will be tougher this time around because not as many of their players are clearly expendable.

As of Wednesday morning, Miami’s roster is full, six players are waiting to be activated from the 60-day IL, and top catching prospect Joe Mack needs protection from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. It’s 47 guys for 40 spots (without even diving into several other Rule 5 eligibles who merit strong consideration for their own roster spots).

Most likely to be cut

Jack Winkler: The Marlins used Winkler as a benchwarmer—he totaled only 16 plate appearances during his 55 days on the active roster. In the middle of the season, they designated him for assignment, making it crystal clear that they don’t believe he is 40-man roster material.

Tyler Zuber: Lifetime 6.26 ERA and 6.50 xERA in 66 appearances and he’s out of minor league options.

George Soriano: Lifetime 5.95 ERA and 5.87 xERA in 72 appearances and he’s out of minor league options.

Jesús Tinoco: Tinoco is expected to miss the entire 2026 season while rehabbing from right elbow surgery. He showed intriguing upside with his performance in August/September 2024, but his overall career track record has been too inconsistent to justify a spot on the 40-man right now.

Fringy but complementary pieces

Joey Wiemer: The Marlins project to use an all-left-handed starting outfield on most days. Righty Heriberto Hernández will help balance things out. That still likely leaves room for an additional righty with center field ability. Dane Myers is a superior candidate than Wiemer for that role. The midsummer waiver claim is prone to expanding the strike zone (35.9 chase%) and whiffing on hittable pitches as well (75.9 zone contact%).

Andrew Nardi and Josh Simpson: The Marlins will keep at least one of these bullpen lefties given the dearth of internal alternatives. The decision hinges on Nardi’s health outlook. If there is conviction internally that the 27-year-old has resolved his nagging back injury, they’ll part with Simpson, who was outrighted to the minors last November after going unclaimed. But as of Tuesday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that it is “uncertain” whether Nardi will be tendered a contract.

Brian Navarreto: Squeezing Navarreto off of the roster would be a no-brainer if the Marlins genuinely believed that Agustín Ramírez could become a viable defensive catcher. Despite a lukewarm vote of confidence from Peter Bendix, it’s painfully clear that Ramírez’s future will be at a less strenuous position. Navarreto had an impressive defensive campaign in 2025, though only 36 innings of that came in the majors. He turns 31 in December.

Others on the hot seat

Christian Roa and Freddy Tarnok: These right-handers posted very solid and comparable numbers for Triple-A Jacksonville, but only combined for 10 ⅓ MLB innings. The Marlins also burned Tarnok’s final option year. With rumors swirling that they may actually spend money on an experienced, high-leverage reliever in free agency, retaining both Roa and Tarnok may be redundant.

Valente Bellozo: Bellozo limped to the finish line, allowing eight earned runs on six homers in 2 ⅔ innings pitched after experiencing right triceps tightness. That put a major dent in his otherwise-decent season stat line. Already working against Bellozo, Marlins pitching development covets velocity and swing-and-miss, particularly out of the ‘pen.

Eric Wagaman: If the Marlins were patient enough to give Wagaman 514 plate appearances in 2025, it would be surprising to see him dumped so early in the offseason. On the other hand, he was arguably the worst qualified first baseman in the league.