Teams inquired about Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez and second baseman Xavier Edwards before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but the double-play tandem stayed put. Edwards and Lopez could continue their partnership in 2027, though the Marlins are willing to listen offers for both players if teams offer “a lot” in exchange, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Edwards and Lopez are each on track to make the first of three potential trips through arbitration this winter, meaning they are controllable through 2029. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $5.4MM salary for Lopez and a $3.5MM payday for Edwards.
Lopez, whom the Marlins stole off waivers from the Giants in 2024, has combined for 10.7 fWAR since he landed in Miami. The 28-year-old was a below-average offensive player from 2024-25, but he slashed a career-best .305/.349/.437 with a 122 wRC+ in 687 plate appearances this season. Although Lopez didn’t hit for much power (11 home runs, .132 ISO) or draw many walks (5.8%), he fanned just 13% of the time. Consistently putting the ball in play helped the speedster to the majors’ fifth-highest batting average and seventh-most stolen bases (34).
Adding in Lopez’s well-regarded work at short, where he accounted for 14 Outs Above Average, 12 Fielding Run Value and 6 Defensive Runs Saved, he was among the majors’ most valuable players this year. Lopez tied Brewers second baseman Brice Turang for fifth in fWAR (5.9) and finished seventh in bWAR (6.1).
With Lopez in the midst of an excellent season, Boston was among the teams that came calling ahead of the deadline. Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix understandably wanted “elite” prospect(s) back, though, and it’s doubtful his asking price has come down just a few months later.
While Edwards presumably wouldn’t command as much in return as his middle infield cohort, he still brings significant value at his salary. Over 1,601 plate appearances since a brief debut in 2023, Edwards has offered almost no power (nine homers, .080 ISO). Nevertheless, while going down on strikes at a meager 14.7% clip, Edwards managed to hit a respectable .282/.351/.361 (106 wRC+) and combine for 7.1 fWAR from 2024-26. The 27-year-old drew walks at a personal-best 11.4% rate this year and stole 21 bases (his third season in a row with 20-plus), though his defensive grades went backward.
After he and Lopez flipped positions early in 2025, Edwards was credited with 7 FRV, 9 OAA and 12 DRS in 97 appearances at second base. He dropped to minus-1 in FRV and minus-2 apiece in OAA and DRS in 138 games at the keystone this season, but that shouldn’t be enough to deter interested teams. The Yankees, who are expected to lose second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to free agency, could be among Edwards’ suitors. They have “greatly liked” Edwards for years, Joel Sherman of the New York Post revealed on a recent episode of his “Pinstripe Post” podcast. Despite that, Sherman expects the Yankees to turn second over to ex-starting shortstop Anthony Volpe next season. If that’s the case, Edwards won’t follow Chisholm in going from the Marlins to the Yankees in a trade.
Thanks in part to the contributions of Lopez and Edwards, the Marlins stayed in the playoff hunt for a decent portion of 2026. The Fish went into the All-Star break at 52-45, but little did anyone know they were three losses into a franchise-record 12-game skid at that point. That stretch doomed Miami’s season and helped lead to a subpar 80-82 record. The Marlins haven’t finished .500 or better or made the postseason since 2023, but if the goal is to vie for a playoff berth next year, it could be a steeper climb without Lopez and/or Edwards.
Photo courtesy of Eric Hartline, Imagn Images
