Marlins make trade and decisions on seven arbitration-eligible players
The Marlins kept their pitching staff together, at least for now, on Friday by tendering contracts to all seven of their arbitration-eligible starters and relievers before the 8 p.m. deadline.
The Marlins, who don’t have a single arbitration-eligible position player, tendered contracts to Edward Cabrera, Anthony Bender, Braxton Garrett, Calvin Faucher, Max Meyer, Ryan Weathers and Andrew Nardi. Barring trades, all are set either go to arbitration or agree to contracts with the Marlins before that point.
Cabrera, who has been a source of speculation in trade rumors, had a breakout season, finishing 8-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 26 starts. He had elbow discomfort in the final week of the season but it dissipated and he made his final start without an issue.
Garrett missed all of last season after undergoing revision surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The 2016 first-round pick is 16-19 with a 4.03 ERA in 65 games (including 63 starts) in his Marlins career.
Meyer underwent surgery for a labrum tear in his left hip last June, ending his season after 12 starts. The Marlins’ 2020 first-round pick finished a 3-5 record and 4.73 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 64 2⁄3 innings.
Bender had a 3-5 record with a 2.16 ERA and four saves in 51 games for the Marlins last season but missed the final six weeks with a leg injury. He’s a key part of the bullpen.
So is Faucher, who went 4-4 with 15 saves and a 3.28 ERA in 65 appearances, all out of the bullpen.
Nardi — who missed this past season with back inflammation - has a 4.51 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 121 innings in 135 games for the Marlins (2022 through 2024). Nardi, at the moment, is the Marlins’ only proven left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster.
Weathers, who had a 3.99 ERA in eight starts, missed the first six weeks of the season with a left forearm strain, then was sidelined from June 8 to Sept. 10 because of a left lat strain, before returning to make three September starts. He will compete for a rotation spot in spring training.
Here’s what MLBtraderumors.com projects each of the seven could make if they could to arbitration:
▪ Bender: $2.3 million
▪ Cabrera: $3.7 million
▪ Faucher: $1.9 million
▪ Garrett: $1.53 million
▪ Meyer: $1.3 million
▪ Nardi: $800,000
▪ Weathers: $1.5 million The Marlins have no players eligible for free agency.
Among position players, nearly every Marlins starter and key backup remains under team control and is not arbitration-eligible yet, including outfielder Jakob Marsee, catcher Agustin Ramirez, outfielder Kyle Stowers (made $768,000 this past season), shortstop Otto Lopez ($778,500), second baseman Xavier Edwards ($772,000), corner infielder Eric Wagaman ($770,000), outfielder Dane Myers ($769,000), third baseman Connor Norby ($765,000), outfielder Griffin Conine ($762,000), third baseman Graham Pauley ($761,000), backup Javier Sanoja ($761,000) and first baseman/catcher Liam Hicks ($760,000).
All are expected back on comparable salaries.
Beyond players under team control and/or arbitration-eligible, the Marlins have 2026 financial commitments to only four others:
1). Sandy Alcantara at $19 million.
2). Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who’s owed $10 million by the Marlins every year through 2028.
3). Former Marlins outfielder Avisail Garcia, who is owed $5 million on a 2026 buyout.
4). Since-released reliever Woo-Suk Go, who is owed $500,000 on a buyout.
The Marlins are expected to try to add an established first baseman, another under-the-radar outfielder and at least one proven reliever at some point this offseason. ESPN reported that a starting pitcher could be added, as well, though the Marlins currently have at least nine candidates for five rotation spots.
Meanwhile, the Marlins pushed back on a Nov. 10 USA Today report that they’re prepared to trade Alcantara. The team says it is not attempting to trade Alcantara. USA Today essentially retracted that report days later, noting that owner Bruce Sherman has told associates that he expects Alcantara to be on the team next season.
He has two years left on his contract, which includes a team-friendly $21 million club option for 2027.
News note
Outfielder Joey Wiemer, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday to create room on the 40 man roster, was traded to the Giants for cash. Wiemer hit .236 with three homers and 12 in 61 plate appearances for the Marlins last season.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM.
