Marlins Urged to Lock Up Young Slugger Marsee with Early Extension

MLB analyst sees 24-year-old outfielder as prime candidate for long-term deal to benefit both player and team.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Miami Marlins' young outfielder Jakob Marsee, a former sixth-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, burst onto the scene in 2025 with an impressive rookie campaign that included a .292 batting average, 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases over 55 games. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand argues the Marlins should consider signing the 24-year-old to an early contract extension, which could provide financial security for Marsee while also saving the small-market club money in the long run.

Why it matters

Extending young, cost-controlled talent is a strategy many MLB teams have employed to build sustainable rosters, and the Marlins could benefit from locking up Marsee before his value rises further. As a former sixth-round pick, Marsee represents the type of homegrown talent Miami can build around, especially given the team's limited payroll compared to larger-market clubs.

The details

Marsee was drafted by the Padres in 2022 out of Central Michigan University and spent two seasons in their minor league system before being traded to the Marlins in a 2024 deal. He made his MLB debut last August and immediately made an impact, winning National League Rookie of the Month honors. In addition to his offensive production, Marsee also graded out as an excellent defensive outfielder, recording 4 Outs Above Average.

  • Marsee was drafted by the Padres in the 6th round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
  • He spent two seasons in the Padres' minor league system before being traded to the Marlins in 2024.
  • Marsee made his MLB debut with the Marlins in August 2025 and won NL Rookie of the Month that month.

The players

Jakob Marsee

A 24-year-old outfielder for the Miami Marlins who burst onto the scene in 2025 with an impressive rookie campaign.

Mark Feinsand

An MLB.com analyst who has made the case for the Marlins to sign Marsee to an early contract extension.

San Diego Padres

The team that originally drafted Marsee in the 6th round in 2022 before trading him to the Marlins in 2024.

Miami Marlins

The small-market MLB team that acquired Marsee in a 2024 trade and is now being urged to lock him up with a long-term extension.

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What they’re saying

“Having played only 55 games in his rookie year, Marsee is under club control for six more seasons, creating no urgency to sign him to an extension anytime soon. But we've seen smaller-market teams roll the dice with early-career deals, which create financial certainty for the club and a modicum of security for the player. Marsee performed well last season, posting an 842 OPS and 1.9 bWAR in his 55-game debut, showing himself to be the type of young talent the Marlins can build around.”

— Mark Feinsand, MLB.com Analyst (MLB.com)

What’s next

The Marlins will need to weigh the potential long-term benefits of locking up Marsee early against the risk of committing significant resources to a player with limited MLB experience. If they decide to pursue an extension, negotiations would likely take place over the coming months before the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Extending young, cost-controlled talent is a proven strategy for small-market MLB teams looking to build sustainable rosters, and the Marlins could benefit greatly from signing outfielder Jakob Marsee to an early contract extension that provides financial security for the player while also saving the team money in the long run.