Marlins’ Bendix, McCullough dish at winter meetings: Plans for Ramirez, more
News and notes from Monday media sessions with Marlins president/baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Clayton McCullough from MLB’s Winter Meetings in Orlando:
▪ In his first season as a major league catcher, Agustin Ramirez had 19 passed balls, 10 errors and allowed 83 steals in 91 attempts.
But the Marlins reiterated Monday that they’re committed to making it work with Ramirez at catcher, even with top prospect Joe Mack awaiting at Triple A.
“Gus is going to be a catcher,” McCullough said. “Still believe in that. Saw Gus for a couple of days down in the Dominican. He was working hard. And it wasn’t just the work that he was doing. I think speaking with Gus,.. [he] had a chance to self-reflect some on the year, take a breath.
“One thing that he mentioned physically he felt OK, but mentally, it’s quite the grind. And I asked him to hit in the top of the lineup almost every day. Having to go back there and catch, probably played more than he ever has. Gus was saying all the right things. He was embracing and taking on this offseason different than he did the last season, which is fair.”
Ramirez’s bat was as advertised; he had 21 homers, 33 doubles and 67 RBI in 123 games. But the Marlins don’t want to project him as a full-time designated hitter; at this point, they believe his most value is as a catcher, though they could always change their mind if he continues to struggle defensively or if Mack becomes an All Star caliber player.
Liam Hicks is expected to share catcher duties with Ramirez to start the season.
“Gus knows the narrative,” McCullough said. “Gus is smart. He knows what’s said and he’s not backing away from it and we’re right behind him because we believe in the person, number one, and believe in the ability that Gus has a real shot to catch in the big leagues.”
According to a source, the Marlins expect Mack to begin next season at Triple A, though it’s not entirely out of the question that he could make the team.
“Much has been written about Joe Mack and should be,” McCullough said. “He’s a young catcher at a premium position that I feel like eventually can impact on both sides of the ball.”
Mack hit .250 (.320 on base) in 99 games at Triple A Jacksonville, with 18 homers and 53 RBI. He threw out 28 of 88 base-runners (32 percent) and had 10 errors and seven passed balls.
▪ Asked what other prospects he’s excited to see, McCullough said: “I think the year that [pitcher] Josh White had last year in Triple-A was spectacular. So excited to get to see Josh more this year. And certainly [pitchers] Robby Snelling, Thomas White, with the type of seasons they have, their youth, the ceiling they have.
“Excited to see.. [outfielder] Kemp Alderman, Minor League Player of the Year. Kemp had a really big year. The tenacity, the toughness, the edge he brings, which is something I value as well.”
▪ Bendix said the team is “having lots of conversations with free agents, a lot of conversations with other teams.
“We are looking at a lot of people. We’re excited about the progress we made [in 2025], but 79 wins is not the goal. There are a lot of areas we want to improve.”
According to a source, the Marlins are open to a modest payroll increase. A huge one is not expected.
“We are really happy with the amount of talent we have in the organization, but we need more,” Bendix said. “At the major league level, our minor league level, our path to being really good for a long time is our young guys... A lot of that is getting them better at the major league level and add the right pieces to complement those players.”
▪ According to a source, the Marlins will listen on Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera and most everybody, but the internal preference is to keep Alcantara unless Miami is simply overwhelmed, per sources. Eury Perez is as close to untouchable as any Marlin. Ryan Weathers, Alcantara and Cabrera all have drawn trade interest, as The Athletic reported.
“It is my job to listen,” Bendix said when asked in general about listening on everybody. “I would be doing a disservice to our fans and a disservice to [owner] Bruce [Sherman] and the organization if I didn’t listen to what was out there and the possibilities.”
▪ Last winter, McCullough predicted Edward Cabrera would have a breakout season.
This season, he said “the breakout needs to be” Weathers, who has been snake-bitten by injuries.
“For me, Ryan, it’s the talent. Ryan, unfortunately, last year wasn’t able to. He just had an interrupted season with some injuries the last couple of years. But this guy is top-shelf stuff from the left side. He’s incredibly motivated. Highly competitive. Excited for Ryan this year. And I’m predicting Ryan to have a big year.”
Forearm and lat strains limited Weathers to eight starts last season; he had a 3.99 ERA.
▪ McCullough said: “We feel we will go into 2026 with a real shot to play postseason baseball.”
▪ Bendix, asked why the Marlins are so bullish on Kyle Stowers’ longterm potential after a breakout season: “You look at the things that tend to stabilize more quickly, like strikeout rate, walk rate, swing decisions, how hard you hit the baseball those indicators are really positive.
“He struck out a lot, but he hit the ball so well and at such good angles that he can absolutely have success even with the strikeout rate. He’s the kind of person I would bet on. His work ethic, all of that is off the charts.”
The sides discussed a contract extension much earlier this year but are reportedly far apart.
Stowers hit .288 (.368 on base) with 25 homers and 173 RBI in 117 games last season.
▪ Bendix said the winter meetings actually are no longer necessary.
“There’s no need for us to be here,” he said. “It used to be more difficult to get in contact with people. Now you’re texting and calling people all the time. There isn’t the same need to gather in one place as there was 15 years ago.”
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 6:07 PM.
