The Miami Marlins have had a quiet offseason, but they could still make a splash and sign one of the most consistent batters available in free agency.
After losing 100 games in 2024, the Marlins bounced back this season, going 79-83 and finishing third in the NL East. Miami still needs to improve this offseason, but with most of the top free agents already finding new homes, there are not many options available.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer predicted that the Marlins could reunite with one of the best pure hitters in baseball by signing San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez.
“And with the Marlins, there’s more to it than him returning to a place where he hit .343 in 180 games across 2023 and 2024,” Rymer wrote Monday. “This would be a case of the Marlins doubling down on what they already do well. They don’t have many power bats in their lineup, yet they averaged 4.4 runs per game in 2025 through the help of the fourth-lowest strikeout rate in the league.
“Arraez is, of course, the most strikeout-proof hitter in MLB. He struck out 21 times all year in 2025, two fewer times than Shohei Ohtani fanned just in the playoffs. The fit is there. Arraez is best used at first base, where the Marlins project to get just 0.9 WAR in 2026. Miami is otherwise already projected to spend as much in 2026 as it did in 2025, but it shouldn’t cost too much to throw Arraez into the mix.”
Though Arraez is one of the best pure hitters in the league, his free agency market has been cold this offseason. The 28-year-old would be a great anchor for the Marlins’ lineup, offering defensive versatility and consistency at the plate. Returning to the Marlins on a one-year contract could be a good option with how cold Arraez’s market has been.
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