Miami Marlins lose Troy Johnston, add pressure to improve at first base in 2026

Just like that, one of the most popular stories for the 2025 Miami Marlins is a Miami Marlin no longer.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Colorado Rockies announced they had claimed Troy Johnston off of waivers. It's a head scratcher of a move, coming this early in the offseason with nothing having been done yet to supplant a player that had finally gotten the chance to prove he just might belong in the big leagues after all. Especially when you consider the reality, as MLB Trade Rumors was quick to note in their write up, that Johnston had all three of minor league options left remaining to him.

Much has been done to improve Miami's depth the last couple seasons to be sure, but first base remains thin, and Johnston had proven himself capable of manning the outfield as well. Thinking there might be a place for him on the eventual Opening Day 2026 Marlins roster is one thing. Thinking he'd never have value to the Marlins again? That's something else entirely, although it is admittedly nothing new for how Johnston has been approached by Miami's front office going back to the 2023 season. This time of year does necessitate some roster trimming in advance of the Rule 5 Draft, an event Miami left Johnson unprotected from in recent years, but there a few names on the 40-man roster that I would have sooner seen Miami run the risk of losing than Johnston.

If nothing else, Josh Simpson remains with the Marlins organization today, while Troy Johnston does not. Close followers of the team will understand the lunacy. It's a certainly a move that is raising eyebrows amidst the Marlins fanbase, seeing a young, popular, and affordable player given his walking papers.

However...

There is every possibility that the Marlins can make fans forget this move ever happened, and that they can do so very quickly. All they have to do is make a splash in free agency or on the trade market to improve the one position in the lineup that was in most dire need of offensive improvement heading into 2026.

For make no mistake about it, first base was that position. Johnston was a great story, but he was also a 0.3 WAR player. That kind of production stood out far more on account of fellow first baseman Eric Wagaman being a full point worse in that respect with a -0.4 WAR finish to his season. Miami's revolving door of Liam Hicks, Johnston, Matt Mervis, and Wagaman needs upgrading if the club is going to seriously threaten to finish above .500 next year.

First base is traditionally a reliable source of power in a team's lineup. Barring a trade for an elite MLB ready rookie at the position, I think we can all agree that it would be in the best interests of the Miami Marlins to not start a season with Otto Lopez having had a more prolific HR season under his belt than the Opening Day first baseman.

Bottom-line, the timing of this move is far more puzzling than the fact that it happened this offseason at all. Unless, of course, a transaction is imminent.

Otherwise? It would appear that Troy Johnston was ultimately let go for the same reason so many others have been let go before him the past couple years by the Marlins.

He committed the sin of not being a Peter Bendix guy.

Which is all well and good, so long as Marlins put the resources in to improving on Johnston, and not just selling fans on the notion that better options existed in house.