For the second straight year under manager Clayton McCullough, the Miami Marlins were a team that fought into September to hang around in the National League wild-card race, only to fall short when the dust settled.
One of those players was shortstop Otto Lopez, who proved that he is a foundation piece for Miami to build around rather than trading.
Otto Lopez Named Marlins' Biggest Surprise in 2026 Rumors were flying around at the trade deadline surrounding Lopez, but in the end, he wasn't traded after Bendix put a high asking price on his rising star.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report listed each MLB team's biggest surprise and disappointment and it shouldn't be surprising that Lopez was Miami's biggest surprise.
Miami fans might not want to hear it, but players like Lopez are ones to build around and build quickly.