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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Paddack #40 of the Detroit Tigers plays against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park on September 17, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Adding an affordable veteran arm to the starting rotation mix has been a goal all offseason for the Miami Marlins.

In fact, given the organization’s track record, this might be an annual occurrence. The club has always been on the lookout for its next low-cost addition, particularly if the possibility exists that any addition could end up turning into a viable trade piece in the future.

The need became even more paramount this winter after the Marlins traded right-hander Edward Cabrera and left-hander Ryan Weathers away in separate deals to the Cubs and Yankees, respectively.

The Marlins addressed their desire to add a veteran arm to the rotation on Monday, agreeing to a one-year, $4 million deal with right-hander Chris Paddack.

Chris Paddack Returns to Where It Started

For Paddack, the agreement marks a return to the organization that originally selected him in the 8th-round of the 2015 Draft. The next summer, Miami would trade him to the San Diego Padres for right-hander Fernando Rodney. Rodney’s half-season with the Marlins did not go well, as the veteran posted a 5.89 ERA (67 ERA+, the worst of his 17-year career) over 36.2 IP.

Paddack needed Tommy John surgery almost immediately after the trade, but his return to the mound returned him to prospect status and landed him on several Top 100 rankings ahead of the 2019 season. A strong spring won him a spot in the Padres rotation out of camp, and he’d go 9-7 with a 3.33 ERA (126 ERA+) over 140.2 IP that first season in the big leagues.

The next two seasons were a struggle until Paddack found himself traded to the Minnesota Twins at the start of the 2022 season (for right-hander Taylor Rogers). Five starts into his tenure with the Twins, Paddack would injure his elbow and again need Tommy John surgery.

The results wouldn’t be there once he returned. The end of Paddack’s time with the Twins was marred by inconsistency and underperformance, before he was ultimately traded to the Detroit Tigers (for minor league catcher Enrique Jimenez) last summer. Overall, he was 5-12 with a 5.35 ERA (79 ERA+) in 158.0 IP (33 games, 28 starts) in 2025.

Paddack Adds to the Marlins Starting Depth

The Marlins rotation is in flux after several offseason moves. Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez return to the top of the mix, though both carry longevity concerns and injury histories. Max Meyer (a torn labrum in his hip) and Braxton Garrett (returning from his own Tommy John surgery) are also considered favorites to land a spot in the rotation after missing most, if not all, of the 2025 season.

Paddack, with his own spotty injury history, should fit in next behind that foursome (provided everyone makes it through spring training healthy).

The Marlins have several other arms on the 40-man roster — including Janson Junk, Ryan Gusto, and Adam Mazur — and notable prospects on the rise within their system — notably lefties Robby Snelling and Thomas White — but none from that group appears ready to take a significant step forward to win a rotation spot to start the season.

Aaron Somers Aaron Somers has been writing about baseball on a global scale since the early 2000’s. His content has appeared at several outlets over those years, with most of his recent words coming at his To Be Named Later newsletter. More about Aaron Somers

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