Miami Marlins expected to sign a free agent hitter

About a week ago, I wrote about the Miami Marlins being a great fit for free agent OF Alex Verdugo. We now know that the industry actually expects this to happen! Of course, The Fish should target others too, but I genuinely see Verdugo as a great bounce back candidate for Peter Bendix to add to the team this off-season.

Will we see Alex Verdugo patrol the Miami Marlins OF next season?

Alex Verdugo did not have a great season to say the least. He batted .233/.291/.356, with 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 149 games and 559 AB. This was a bad season and he was worth a below average 0.7 WAR. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone taking a look at those stats, would raise an eyebrow about the Miami Marlins signing him to a contract.

That said, Alex Verdugo is better than this. The former top prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers, batted a much more impressive .283/.338/.432 from the 2019 season to the 2023 season with the aforementioned Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox. Is it really that surprising if he actually improves and bounced back with The Fish in the 2025 season?

The best part is that he almost certainly can be had for a low-cost move. He will not cost more than at most $5-7 million on a one-year deal. There is no way that Peter Bendix can't afford that type of contract. It will also really help the struggling OF on the team. The Miami Marlins can use a left fielder or a center fielder, and Verdugo can really play both positions. He can also play in right field. In fact, he was a right fielder coming up in the Minor Leagues, but played in left for the New York Yankees in the 2024 season.

There is really no good argument against the Miami Marlins signing Alex Verdugo this off-season. It should happen and probably even will. It's not a division winning move or anything, but it can both improve the team directly and indirectly, if he's flipped for prospects at the Trade Deadline.