With their top targets off the board, the Miami Marlins eye other veterans for an upgrade at first base.
The Miami Marlins could use an upgrade at first base.
Yes, it’s possible Graham Pauley could turn into a good player.
But right now, Pauley only has 62 major-league games under his belt, and in those appearances, he produced a pedestrian .224/.311/.366 slash line.
The Marlins would be wise to find and sign a veteran free agent.
Some of the best first basemen on the market are off the board.
Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Josh Naylor resigned with the Seattle Mariners, and Ryan O'Hearn signed with, of all teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
So, who are Miami's top options?
Cody Bellinger
Let's get the pipe dream out of the way first. The Marlins, who have the lowest projected payroll in baseball, according to FanGraph, are probably not going to sign Bellinger, who is projected to make more than $180 million in a long-term deal.
But Bellinger has experience at first base, so he's worth a mention.
Now, let's return to planet Earth.
Paul Goldschmidt
Once upon a time, Goldschmidt would have commanded even more than Bellinger on the open market. Goldschmidt was once one of the best players in baseball at any position, not just first base. Now, Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball projects Goldschmidt to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks -- the team he started his career with more than a decade ago -- on a one-year, $5 million deal.
Goldschmidt, at 38, isn't the player he used to be. Last season, it showed, as he finished with 10 homers and 45 RBI. (He hit 35 homers and drove in 115 runs in 2022.)
But Goldschmidt might be a future Hall of Famer, and for a roster that was the youngest in baseball last season, a guy like that would be good to have for his experience, if nothing else.
Rhys Hoskins
Hoskins hasn't been at his best for the past few seasons. He missed the entire 2023 campaign with an injury, had a negative Wins Above Replacement in 2024, and played just 91 games last season, ending with 12 homers and 43 RBI.
Hoskins turns 33 in March, so he's getting up there. Still, he's a capable offensive force when healthy.
In seven of his eight seasons, he's had an OPS+ above 100, and the one year he didn't (2024), he finished with one of 99.
Despite his struggles that year, Hoskins finished with 26 home runs, which would have led the Marlins in 2025.
Hoskins has also been to the postseason in each of his last three years, and the Marlins don't have many players with playoff experience.
Nathanial Lowe
Lowe will turn 31 in July, which means he's old enough to provide veteran leadership and young enough to still be in his prime. Lowe wasn't at his best last season, putting up a WAR of .1, according to Baseball Reference. But like Hoskins, he's been a consistent offensive presence for years, with an OPS+ above 100 in six of his seven seasons. Lowe also has a World Series ring with the Texas Rangers, hitting 17 homers and driving in 82 runs during that 2023 season. For a Marlins team still learning how to win, players with championship credentials are welcome.
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