Miami Marlins make first offseason move by extending Miguel Rojas. What’s in store next?

They sat together Thursday on a stage at the brew hall on the concourse level of loanDepot park, the general manager and the team captain celebrating the first move of the Miami Marlins’ offseason.

If taken at their word, it won’t be the last.

The Marlins formally announced Miguel Rojas signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2023 season. He will make $5 million each year.

But Kim Ng, heading into her second offseason as the Marlins’ general manager, has made it clear multiple times the Marlins plan to be aggressive this offseason as they try to rebound from a 67-95 season.

“This season did not go the way that we wanted,” Ng said. “Obviously it was a disappointment. The staff has been very hard at work from the very first day really trying to put together what we think is a good plan.”

Here’s a guide to the offseason, which will begin shortly after the World Series.

Key dates to know

▪ Five days after the World Series: Free agency begins; this is also the deadline for teams to make decision on options in players’ contracts and to make decisions whether to give a player a qualifying offer.

▪ Nov. 19: This is the deadline to protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft by adding them to the 40-man roster. Outfielder Griffin Conine is the only player among the Marlins’ top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline who is eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft who is not already on the 40-man roster.

▪ Dec. 1: Teams have until this date to nontender arbitration-eligible players, who would then become free agents. For players who are tendered contracts, money isn’t agreed to at this point, though. The deadline for arbitration salaries to be exchanged is normally mid-January with arbitration hearings set for mid-February if teams and players can’t agree to terms. However, the pending expiration of the the collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 2 will have an impact on this.

The following 12 Marlins players are eligible for arbitration (numbers in parenthesis are projected salary estimates for each according to MLB Trade Rumors): First baseman Jesus Aguilar ($7.4 million), right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara: ($4.5 million), catcher Jorge Alfaro ($2.7 million), third baseman Brian Anderson ($4.5 million), utility infielder Jon Berti ($1.2 million), left-handed pitcher Richard Bleier ($2.5 million), outfielder Lewis Brinson ($1.3 million), first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper: ($3 million), right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro ($2.4 million), right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernandez ($1.4 million), right-handed pitcher Pablo Lopez ($2.5 million) and outfielder Magneuris Sierra ($700,000).

▪ Dec. 2: The day the collective bargaining agreement expires barring an agreement between MLB and the players association. How things go from here if no deal is in place are to be determined. League activity goes into a freeze at this point until a new CBA is in place.

The Marlins’ financial situation

The Marlins have about $35 million in new revenue this offseason based on the new TV contract with Bally Sports Florida and the stadium naming rights deal with loanDepot.

The Marlins’ payroll at the end of the 2021 season was just over $58 million.

Only two contracts are fully on the books right now — Rojas’ $5 million and reliever Anthony Bass at $3 million for the second and final year of his contract signed prior to the 2021 season.

If they tendered contracts to all 12 arbitration-eligible players — far from a guarantee — at their estimated value, that would bring the payroll to $39.8 million for 14 players with all other players inside the organization at or slightly above the MLB minimum salary.

The Marlins’ needs

In simplest terms, the Marlins need to improve their offense. Miami scored the second-fewest runs in baseball this year (623), had the third-fewest home runs (158) and ranked in the bottom three in batting average (28th, .233), on-base percentage (29th, .298) and slugging (.372).

That means in addition to hoping top prospects take the next step, adding position players either through free agency or trade takes top priority.

“Multiple bats,” Ng said. “Very plural.”

Coaching staff update

Third-base coach and infield coordinator Trey Hillman as well as assistant hitting coach Robert Rodriguez are gone. Both informed the club last week they opted to pursue opportunities outside the organization.

Ng said she anticipates the rest of the coaching staff — bench coach James Rowson, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., hitting coach Eric Duncan, first base coach Keith Johnson, catching coach Eddy Rodriguez, bullpen coach Wellington Cepeda and bullpen coordinator Rob Flippo — to return for next season.

The Marlins are exploring internal and external candidates for the two coaching vacancies.