After 11 years, Chris Paddack will finally pitch for the Miami Marlins. Paddack, 30, has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Marlins, according to MLB reporter Jon Heyman. The contract includes $500,000 in incentives.
The veteran right-hander was Miami’s eighth-round draft pick (No. 236 overall) in 2015 out of Cedar Park High School in Texas. But he was traded the following year to the San Diego Padres in exchange for reliever Fernando Rodney. He debuted with the Padres in 2019 and was traded to the Twins in 2022.
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Last year, Paddack pitched for the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. He made 21 starts for the Twins before being traded to Detroit. After seven ineffective starts with the Tigers, he was moved to the bullpen for the remainder of the season. Overall, he compiled a 5.35 ERA and 5-12 record in 32 appearances (28 starts).
Since his rookie season, Paddack has never been a high strikeout pitcher. In 2025, his rate of 6.4 per nine innings was the lowest of his seven-year MLB career. However, he also doesn’t walk many batters, averaging 2.1 last season.
The Marlins were in need of a starting pitcher after trading Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs and Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees this offseason.
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Paddack is expected to join a starting rotation that includes Sandy Alcántara, Eury Pérez, Janson Junk, Ryan Gusto and Adam Mazur. Braxton Garrett and Dax Fulton, in addition to top prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling, will also likely be part of the staff during the 2026 season.
Across his seven MLB seasons, Paddack has registered a 4.64 ERA and 32-36 record with a strikeout rate of 8.2 per nine innings in 118 appearances (110 starts). His best season was his rookie campaign, in which he went 9-7 with a 3.33 ERA and 153 Ks in 140 2/3 innings.