Marlins Offseason: Cabrera, Alcantara and King Updates

The Miami Marlins are heading into the 2025–26 offseason at a crossroads. They just wrapped up a 79-win campaign that showed off rising talent but also exposed some old problems.

The NL East looks stacked, and Miami’s payroll almost never pushes the upper limits. The front office has to walk a tightrope: get better now, don’t mortgage the future, and make tough calls on cornerstone arms like Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera.

Marlins Enter Critical Offseason After 79-Win Campaign

The 79-win 2025 season wasn’t a breakthrough. But it wasn’t a disaster, either.

The Marlins stayed competitive deep into the year and found some real building blocks. Still, in a division ruled by the Mets, Phillies, and Braves, “good” just isn’t enough.

The front office faces a clear mandate as winter kicks off: upgrade the roster, but don’t overextend in trades or free agency. That’s never easy, especially for a franchise that runs on a tight budget and prefers controllable talent over splashy moves.

The NL East Arms Race

The NL East is one of baseball’s toughest neighborhoods. The Mets spend big, the Phillies are built to win right now, and the Braves seem to have mastered long-term roster building.

For the Marlins, every offseason is about trying to close a gap that feels stubbornly wide. They can’t just tear down or go all-in; threading the needle is the only way.

Any misstep in asset management could set them back years in a division that punishes hesitation and rewards sustained excellence.

Emergence of Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee Changes the Equation

One of the brightest spots in 2025 was the emergence of Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee. Their breakouts didn’t just pad the win column—they shifted how Miami can approach the offseason.

With those two stepping up, the Marlins have a bit more flexibility in how they spend and structure trades, especially on the pitching side.

Position Player Core Gaining Traction

Stowers brought the kind of power bat Miami’s been missing for years. Marsee gave them on-base skills and legit defensive value.

Together, they’re part of a young, cost-controlled core that gives the organization some breathing room. The Marlins don’t have to desperately chase bats in free agency now—they can focus on targeted upgrades and maybe leverage their pitching depth to fill the final holes.

Sandy Alcantara Likely to Stay Put Despite Rough 2025

Sandy Alcantara is at the center of a lot of winter speculation. Once a possible trade chip, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner looks set to stay in Miami despite a rough 2025.

Alcantara’s 5.36 ERA last year was a long way from his best. Still, the Marlins believe in his upside and value his presence at the top of the rotation.

Performance, Payroll, and MLBPA Optics

There’s a bigger business and labor angle here, too. Trading Alcantara just to save money could bring unwanted heat, especially with the MLBPA watching low-spending clubs.

Keeping him on Opening Day helps show Miami’s at least trying to compete, not just cut payroll. From a baseball angle, betting on a rebound from a guy with his track record makes sense. Even after a rough stretch, his ceiling is still frontline-ace territory.

Edward Cabrera Becomes the Prime Trade Chip

While Alcantara looks likely to stay, Edward Cabrera is right in the middle of trade rumors. The 27-year-old had a breakout 2025, posting a 3.53 ERA and dialing his fastball up to 97 mph.

That mix of performance, age, and raw stuff has made him one of the most intriguing arms available.

Mets and Cubs Among the Suitors

The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs have both shown interest in Cabrera as they look to strengthen their rotations again this offseason. For teams willing to pay up, he’s the best of both worlds: immediate help and years of team control.

But the Marlins aren’t planning a discount sale. Any deal would take an overwhelming return—probably multiple top prospects or young, MLB-ready players.

Trading Cabrera only makes sense if it clearly moves the organization forward in the long run.

Rotation Depth Is a Strength—With Caveats

If Miami keeps both Alcantara and Cabrera, they could open 2026 with a rotation that stacks up pretty well, even in the NL East. The group blends upside, experience, and youth.

That depth creates room for creative moves, whether through trades, innings management, or timely call-ups.

Projected Rotation and Depth Options

Right now, Miami’s rotation could feature:

Behind them, there’s Max Meyer and Robby Snelling, giving the team backup in case of injuries or underperformance.

Still, with health concerns lingering, the Marlins might look for a lower-cost veteran starter or swingman to add some stability. Betting everything on perfect health and prospect leaps feels risky.

Big Spending on Michael King Unlikely

There’s been some chatter about a reunion with right-hander Michael King, but honestly, that’s not happening. King’s expected to land something like a four-year, $80 million deal in free agency.

For a team with Miami’s financial limits, that’s a massive commitment. It just doesn’t fit their usual spending habits.

Why a Splashy Signing Doesn’t Fit the Marlins’ Model

Signing King would mean a dramatic shift in philosophy—one that, right now, feels like wishful thinking. Miami’s always leaned on internal development and smart trades over big long-term deals for pitchers.

Instead, expect the Marlins to chase value: shorter-term deals, pitchers coming off down years, or arms they can grab via trade without gutting the farm system. That’s just how they roll.

Balancing Present and Future in a Defining Winter

The Marlins’ offseason hinges on how they handle their pitching surplus. They also need to figure out Sandy Alcantara’s rebound and decide if Edward Cabrera is a long-term piece or just the key to a big trade.

The NL East is brutal. There’s really no obvious path forward.

Miami’s got some exciting young position players and a rotation that could be dangerous. The front office seems well aware of both the risks and the opportunities here.

If they nail their decisions this winter, maybe—just maybe—they’ll finally take a real step forward.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Marlins Notes: Cabrera, Alcantara, King