5 blockbuster moves the Marlins must make this offseason ft. Extending Xavier Edwards

The Miami Marlins were among the worst teams in baseball once again last year. They have, since the beginning of last season, traded virtually everyone away. Jake Burger, Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are gone. The rebuild is fully underway, and here's what the team needs to do next to keep it rolling.

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What the Marlins must do now

5) Extend Otto Lopez

The Marlins should extend Otto Lopez (Imagn)

Otto Lopez had a slightly below-average year at the plate, but his excellent defense and baserunning made him the most valuable player Miami had last year. He's still just 26, so the offense could come later.

Lopez is one of just two players on the entire roster that exceeded 2.0 fWAR last year, and he's the sort of player the Marlins should keep around. This extension wouldn't be for very long, but they need to lock him down to try and build around him as he develops.

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4) Sign Kenley Jansen

Kenley Jansen is a free agent (Imagn)

The Marlins' bullpen needs some help this year. They don't have a lot of high-leverage relievers, and there's no distinct closer just yet. There are plenty of good options remaining on the free-agent market, though.

Kenley Jansen is someone who's not quite good enough to warrant a high salary or a bidding war, which is good news for the Marlins. He is someone who's proven that he can handle the closer's role, so Miami should be all over it.

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3) Sign Austin Hays

Austin Hays is available (Imagn)

Austin Hays is one of only a few remaining free agents who aren't 30 or older. The 29-year-old outfielder has a 2.7 fWAR over the last two years, and the Marlins need some outfield help this season.

Hays isn't likely to be a long-term solution on this team, but it can afford to take a flyer on a younger free agent and try to get better production out of him. If the Marlins can, they can either keep him to have a better team or flip him.

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2) Extend Xavier Edwards

The Marlins need to extend Xavier Edwards (Imagn)

Xavier Edwards was the Marlins' best player last year with a 2.2 fWAR in just 70 games. The team leader had 2.5 fWAR, so a full season for Edwards likely would've yielded a lot more.

He's only 25 and still in pre-arbitration, but the Marlins genuinely don't have much else going for them. They are generally a frugal franchise, so this move would likely save them money down the line. They can extend him for six years or so since a decade or more is unlikely for this team.

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1) Sign Alex Verdugo

The Marlins need Alex Verdugo (Imagn)

The Marlins need MLB-level baseball players, and Alex Verdugo, while coming off a down year, is that. They should sign him to a one-year deal with the intention of flipping him for more prospects at the deadline. If he bombs again, there's no harm.

Additionally, he might improve the team. His 0.6 fWAR was not very good, but it was better than a few players on the roster and that was a career-worst season for the left fielder.