The Miami Marlins’ offseason has been anything but headline-grabbing. As fans around the league eagerly track blockbuster signings and seismic trades, South Florida has remained, by comparison, rather quiet. Aside from the under-the-radar addition of Christopher Morel, expected to slot in at first base, the Marlins have opted for patience over splash. Whether that’s strategic restraint or indecisiveness remains to be seen.
Pitching Rumors Swirl, but No Moves Yet
At the center of it all is Peter Bendix, Miami’s president of baseball operations, who inherited a franchise still balancing future promise with immediate need. Questions are swirling: What’s the budget? Who’s available on the trade block, especially on the pitching side? The Marlins’ most valuable currency right now is pitching depth, yet they’ve made no moves, despite swirling rumors involving arms like Jesús Luzardo and Edward Cabrera. It’s been all smoke, no fire.
Could a Familiar Face Return to Miami?
But the intrigue doesn’t stop there. Free agency remains a potential pivot point, and one familiar name has surfaced: Marcell Ozuna. According to reports, the veteran slugger could be a target for a possible reunion in Miami. It’s a storyline that practically writes itself: a former All-Star, a fan favorite during his 2013–2017 run, returning to mentor the next generation.
Ozuna’s 2025 season numbers, .232/.355/.400 with 21 homers and 68 RBIs, don’t leap off the page, but context matters. A nagging hip injury in April visibly hampered his performance, yet he chose to play through the discomfort. Now, the question looms: is this the beginning of a decline, or does Ozuna still have gas left in the tank?
A Braves Veteran Bat for a Youthful Lineup
At 35, he’s not the centerpiece of a rebuild, but he could be the catalyst for balance. Spotrac projects his market value at $27.4 million over two years, a reasonable gamble for teams lacking a locked-in DH. Miami fits that description, and adding Ozuna would bolster a lineup desperate for pop and postseason credibility.
There’s irony here, too. The Marlins are still benefiting from the original Ozuna trade, with Sandy Alcantara (one of the returning pieces) anchoring the rotation. Bringing Ozuna back would close a long, strange loop in franchise history. And for a young team teetering on the edge of contention, that kind of full-circle moment could carry more weight than it appears on the surface.
So while the Marlins’ winter has been muted, it might just be the calm before the storm. If Bendix chooses to lean into the narrative, and the need, signing Ozuna could be the move that reshapes the vibe in Miami without blowing the budget.
