Miami Marlins reach agreement with former draft pick Paddack to strengthen pitching depth

As reported by MLB.com today, the Miami Marlins are reconnecting with a former draft pick to enhance their pitching depth, securing a one-year deal with experienced right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack. The organization has not formally announced the transaction. Insider Jon Heyman of MLB Network revealed the contract is worth $4 million, with an additional $500,000 in incentives.

Paddack was selected by the Marlins in the eighth round of the 2015 draft but was traded a year later to the San Diego Padres in exchange for All-Star closer Fernando Rodney. In 2025, while playing for the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, he pitched a career-high 158 innings with a 5.35 ERA and recorded 112 strikeouts. Having just turned 30 last month, Paddack began his career as a highly regarded top prospect, impressing during his 2019 rookie season with a 3.33 ERA and 153 strikeouts, and has since developed into a dependable back-end starter.

Throughout this time, Paddack has maintained many of his technical strengths. He still boasts an exceptionally low walk rate (career total only 5.2%) and generates a high percentage of swings on pitches outside the strike zone (30.4%).

However, a notable change is the decline in his strikeout rate, which peaked at 26.9% during his rookie season but dropped to a low of 16.7% last year. Encouragingly, before 2025, Paddack’s seasonal strikeout rate never fell below 20%, leaving room for improvement in this area for the upcoming season.

With growing experience, Paddack has expanded his repertoire. While he initially relied on a four-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball during his rookie year, by 2025 he was throwing six different pitches, including a slider, cutter, and sinker. Based on his development trajectory, he appears to be in a phase of experimentation, aiming to bring his ERA back toward his career average of 4.64.

After trading Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers earlier in the offseason to adjust rotation depth, the Marlins’ agreement with Paddack adds further security. At this time last year, the Marlins signed veteran righty Cal Quantrill in a similar manner. In 2025, the Marlins used 15 different starting pitchers, four of whom served as spot starters.

The spring training 40-man roster starting pitcher options will include right-handers Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Max Meyer, Janson Junk, Bradley Blalock, Ryan Gusto, and Adam Mazur, as well as left-handers Braxton Garrett and Dax Fulton.

Barring injuries, Alcantara and Pérez have secured rotation spots, while Meyer and Garrett are expected to fully participate in spring training following their respective surgeries. Top prospects Thomas White (ranked 17th in MLB Pipeline’s top 100) and Robby Snelling (ranked 39th) will also compete as non-roster invitees.

Paddack will be the Marlins’ third major league free agent signing this winter. The team previously added late-inning relievers Pete Fairbanks and Christopher Morel, the latter of whom will be trained to play first base.

Once the trade is officially completed, the Marlins will need to make corresponding roster moves due to the 40-man roster being full.