Miami Marlins fans are excited to see what the team does in free agency this offseason, but keep in mind that it’s possible to add quality depth without getting big names on guaranteed contracts. Last year, for example, the Marlins signed Janson Junk and Heriberto Hernández to minor league deals. They both went on to spend the majority of the 2025 season in the big leagues and produced well enough to put themselves in strong position to crack the 2026 Opening Day roster.
The minor league free agent market is once again filled with hundreds of names. Fish On First has identified 10 of them who should be particularly attractive to the Marlins as either bounce-back candidates or diamonds in the rough. If signed, they would report to spring training as non-roster invitees.
The first three players highlighted below actually have some MLB experience, while the rest are career-long minor leaguers looking for their opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level.
RHP Matt Manning
2025 organizations: Detroit Tigers (AAA) and Philadelphia Phillies (AA)
Once a top prospect in the Tigers organization, Manning got called up multiple times, but never really found any consistency and hasn’t surpassed 100 innings pitched in any individual MLB season. The former starter mainly worked out of the bullpen in the minors in 2025 and control was a huge issue for him (44 BB in 55.2 IP).
Manning’s sweeper continues to be a plus pitch for him, generating a lot of whiffs. His fastball velocity peaks at 98 mph. The Marlins like to tinker with pitch arsenals and that could benefit Manning moving forward.
The former first-round draft pick is entering his age-28 season.
RHP Elvis Peguero
2025 organizations: Milwaukee Brewers (AAA/MLB) and Chicago White Sox (AAA/MLB)
Peguero is not far removed from having an important bullpen role for a postseason-bound team. In 2024, he posted a 2.98 ERA through 51 ⅓ innings pitched, but did have a 4.04 FIP, showing some signs of being lucky.
The following season, Peguero struggled to stay up with the big league team and also finished 2025 with a right elbow strain.
Peguero is an uncomfortable pitcher to face because of how his sinker moves and how much extension there is in his delivery. If healthy, the Marlins should bring him in during spring training and see what he’s got.
RHP Shawn Dubin
2025 organizations: Houston Astros (AAA/MLB) and Baltimore Orioles (MLB)
More potential bullpen help for the Fish. Dubin has had MLB stints with the Astros and Orioles since making his debut in 2023. In 2025, he posted a 5.08 ERA and 4.95 FIP through 33 ⅔ innings in the majors. Most of the damage inflicted on him this season came during a rough patch in mid-August.
Dubin throws six pitches with good command, limits barrels, and generates ground balls.
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Dubin’s past as a starter and deep pitch mix give him a shot to contribute in a variety of roles moving forward.
1B/3B Malcom Nuñez
2025 organization: Pittsburgh Pirates (AAA)
Once lauded as a top prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Nuñez is the youngest player we’ll be covering (he turns 25 in March). Splitting time between first base and third base in AAA, he slashed .283/.335/.428/.763 with two home runs and 22 RBI. Injuries kept him out for the whole second half of the season.
His age, physical build and right-handed bat give Nuñez some things in common with Heriberto Hernández. His path to joining the Marlins active roster is clear considering the club’s mediocre production at the corner infield spots.
1B Jake Holton
2025 organizations: Detroit Tigers (AA) and Gigantes del Cibao (LIDOM)
Holton just got through with his third consecutive season at the Double-A level. He slashed .257/.349/.479/.828 with 19 home runs, 66 RBI and a 142 wRC+. He also struck out 25.4% of the time, but walked 11.6% of the time, proving to be someone with nice plate discipline. Defensively, he has spent the majority of his career at first base, but does have some limited experience in the outfield.
An added plus: Holton is currently tearing it up in the Dominican Winter League, slashing .419/.510/.674/1.184 with two home runs and eight RBI through 13 games thus far.
Bringing both Nuñez and Holton to camp would suggest that the Marlins couldn’t find the right match with a veteran first baseman and decided to spend their real money to address other positions.
LHP Mitchell Tyranski
2025 organization: Chicago Cubs (AA)
Tyranski is on the older side of this MiLB FA list at 28 years old. During the 2025 season, he posted a 2.37 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 9.32 K/9 and 5.53 BB/9 in 47 relief appearances.
The Marlins need more lefty bullpen depth. Tyranski’s low-90s fastball won’t overpower anybody, but he may still be able to generate enough soft contact to be effective.
OF Nick Schnell
2025 organization: Washington Nationals (AA/AAA)
Schnell was also a free agent last winter when he made the move from the Rays to the Nationals. In 2025 with the Rochester Red Wings, he slashed .244/.322/.490 in 92 games.
The 25-year-old has shown legitimate MLB power—a 14.1% barrel%, 41.8% hard-hit%, and 113.2 max exit velocity. Schnell’s poor contact rates and plate approach have culminated in a strikeout rate over 30% and held him back from cracking the major leagues.
The former first-rounder may be attractive to the Marlins because there is so much to gain if they can find a way to enhance his swing decisions.
RHP Justin Yeager
2025 organization: Milwaukee Brewers (AA/AAA)
A 2019 33rd-round draft pick, Justin Yeager began his minor league journey with the Atlanta Braves org. Three years ago, Yeager was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves and William Contreras to the Brewers.
Now 27 years old, Yeager has seen a sharp decrease in strikeouts since entering the Brewers org with a slight decrease in walks. In his 21 ⅔ innings pitched with Triple-A Nashville in 2025, he put up a 0.84 ERA, heavily aided by a low batting average on balls in play (his xFIP was 5.47).
Yeager throws a fastball, cutter, and slider, each of which had a sub-.300 xSLG. Good individual pitch characteristics may make him an interesting pickup regardless of his lackluster advanced metrics.
RHP Houston Roth
2025 organization: Baltimore Orioles (AA/AAA)
Another 2019 draft pick, Roth was selected in the 29th round by the Orioles.
Across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, he posted a 2.96 ERA, 4.25 FIP, and 13.5 K-BB%. Those stats are skewed somewhat by Roth’s very last appearance of the season in which he set season-highs with five earned runs and three walks allowed.
Roth throws a four-seamer, sweeper, cutter, and splitter. His four-seam has 19 inches of induced vertical break, but it’s thrown at a below-average velo of 92.3 mph. During his 40 ⅔ innings in Triple-A, Roth’s sweeper recorded a 36.7 whiff%, .210 xwOBA, and .154 xBA. That was outdone by his dominant splitter, which got hitters to whiff 63.2% of the time, with a .085 xwOBA, and .050 xBA.
Video game numbers from Roth, with breaking pitches like that, any team that can unlock more velo out of Roth could lead him to being a mainstay in any MLB bullpen.
OF Yonathan Perlaza
2025 organizations: San Diego Padres (AAA) and Águilas del Zulia (LVBP)
After a 2024 season in the KBO, Perlaza came back stateside to play for the Padres, spending the whole season in Triple-A. He slashed .307/.391/.510 with a .397 wOBA and 115 wRC+ and won the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year award.
Perlaza is continuing to get everyday reps in the Venezuelan Winter League. As was the case during the regular season, right field is his primary position.
A switch-hitter, Perlaza brings loud pop to the plate with a max exit velo of 113.7 mph and a 46.1 hard-hit%. What has held Perlaza back is iffy contact rates, trouble with offspeed, and lackluster outfield defense.
Perlaza has enjoyed success everywhere he’s been over the last two years. Why not give him a shot to translate that to MLB competition?