The Miami Marlins were one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball in 2025. Although they didn’t make the playoffs, they ended up becoming one of the biggest spoilers for a team hoping to make it.

In the final three games of the regular season, the Marlins took two of three from the New York Mets. Officially eliminating them from playoff contention, subsequently giving the Cincinnati Reds the last spot in the National League playoff bracket.

The Marlins finished the year with a 79-83 record. 17 games back of the NL East division title, but most importantly, four games back of the playoffs.

The Marlins have been looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. With talent like Kyle Stowers, Agustín Ramírez, and Connor Norby on the roster, the Marlins are a few free-agent signings away from becoming a legitimate playoff team.

Luckily for them, there are some pretty good free agents out there that won’t break the bank. Starting with an outfielder who revived his career in 2025.

*THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT*

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Marlins Signing Austin Hays

When you look at this Marlins roster heading into 2026, there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Outfielder Kyle Stowers became an All-Star in his first year once he was given a true chance to play regularly.

Stowers slashed .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, 25 homers, and 73 RBIs. Stowers was stuck on a loaded Orioles team before being traded. The same can be said for their new everyday third baseman.

Connor Norby put up a productive 2025 campaign and will be the future for the Marlins at the hot corner for a while. Norby finished with a .251 batting average and hit eight homers while driving in 34 RBIs.

Rookie catcher Agustín Ramírez had a great rookie season and finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Posting a .231/.287/.413 slash line, .701 OPS, 21 homers, and 67 RBIs.

Xavier Edwards is a speedy, reliable contact hitter who will provide a nice bit of stability for the Marlins at the top of the order. When you look at this team and its lineup, two big holes stand out.

First base and the outfield. Not that the outfield needs a complete revamp. Instead, they need a power right-handed bat. Austin Hays fits the bill for what the Marlins need.

Why Austin Hays Makes Sense in Miami

Hays was once thought to be a future star in the Orioles outfield; however, injuries played a huge part in his regression.

In 2023, Hays was named an All-Star for the first and only time of his career. In that season, he blasted 16 homers, drove in 67 RBIs, and posted a .275 average with a .769 OPS.

Hays would face a multitude of injuries. With the Orioles, he would suffer an ankle injury that required surgery in 2018 and a rib fracture in 2020. Hays would be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2024 trade deadline. The following offseason, he would sign a one-year prove-it deal with the Cincinnati Reds for $5 million.

In 103 games, Hays slashed .266/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 15 homers, and 64 RBIs. Hays was always one of the best outfielders for the Reds when he was healthy.

For his career, Hays has a career batting average of .262.

The Marlins have Stowers and Jakob Marsee projected to start in the outfield. Both are lefties. In right field, the nod is currently given to 29-year-old Dane Myers. While Myers isn’t a terrible player, he is the weakest link in the outfield.

Hays went to Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, and attended Jacksonville University in Jacksonville. Bringing Hays back to the Sunshine State would not only give the 30-year-old a nice homecoming, but it would give the Marlins a much-needed power upgrade from the right side of the batter’s box.

Potential Austin Hays Contract

As previously mentioned, Hays signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Reds in the 2024 offseason. Spotrac currently projects Hays’ calculated market value at $5.1 million per year.

Hays has never made more than $5 million a year and has always been a solid outfield option with a cheap price tag. We know the Marlins aren’t going to be heavy spenders in the offseason. Meaning that Hays fits the mold perfectly for what the Marlins would be looking for.