The Miami Marlins are used to being sellers when the MLB Trade Deadline approaches. Year by year, it seems that the better teams in search of making the playoffs make calls down to southern Florida to bolster their rosters for October, although this time last year they were buyers.
The Marlins snuck into the postseason last year with an 84-78 record but got swept in the Wild Card by the division rival Philadelphia Phillies. At the trade deadline, they were 57-50, trading for first baseman Josh Bell and left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers. They also added third baseman Jake Burger and right-handed pitchers Jorge Lopez and David Robertson.
But that was then and this is now, and this is a much different Marlins team than a year ago.
Miami is currently 28-52, having one of the worst records in all of MLB. Unlike last year, when they finished third in the National League East, they're in dead last and 25 games back of the first-place Phillies. And even worse, they're next to last in the Wild Card at 13.5 games back. So, it goes without saying this team is toast in 2024, and informing some of their better players they may need to pack their bags within the next month seems reasonable.
The Marlins were actually ahead of everybody in making trades. Just as MLB was entering the second full month of the season, Miami was already sending their best offensive player, Luis Arraez, off to the San Diego Padres. The team wasn't even that bad at that point. They were right at .500 at 16-16. But the Marlins are going to Marlin', and Arraez will likely be just one of many of the team's best players to find a new home this season.
Starting pitchers should be at the top of the list of Marlins traded
Jesus Luzardo has been an early name among the league to be traded ever since the Marlins became early sellers. But that was back in May when his ERA was still a reasonable 4.18. It skyrocketed to an even 5.00 with a record of 3-6. In his last three games, he didn't even make it out of the sixth inning, surrendering a total of 13 earned runs. And then worse, he got hurt and put on the 60-day injured list, meaning he won't even be back in time before the end of the trade deadline to be available for any team to trade for him.
As for some of the other starters, there's left-hander Trevor Rogers and last year's trade Ryan Weathers, who is actually injured as well with a strained index finger. Weathers has been the best of the bunch to date, posting a 3.55 ERA in 71 innings pitched, fanning 67 batters. His return should be soon as his rehab assignments are to begin, according to CBS Sports. He's been out since being pulled from his start on June 7.
Rogers is nearing the five mark in ERA (4.90) in 75.1 innings pitched with 60 punchouts. But he's starting to turn a corner as of late. He's gone six or more innings in his last two starts, giving up a combined four earned runs, striking out eight and walking just one batter.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. should be on the move
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was thought to be the next great centerfielder in all of baseball. Now he's being forgotten playing for the lowly Marlins. Of course, injuries and clubhouse drama have played their part with Chisholm throughout his young career, but he at least seems healthy this season and is producing even on a terrible team. He's currently slashing .264/.330/.438, has hit 10 homers, and stolen 14 bases.
Tanner Scott will definitely be traded
Tanner Scott, who is set to be a free agent next season, might just be one of the best relievers in baseball, but you wouldn't know that by the team he's on. Seeing as how the Marlins aren't often in save situations, Scott has just 10 saves on the season. But his ERA is mighty impressive, currently at 1.59 in 34 innings pitched. Sure, his strikeouts aren't great (35) and his walks are high (23 — ranked third for all qualified relievers), but there's not a playoff-contending team in the league that wouldn't make him a part of their relief corps.
Josh Bell should be traded
Another free agent to be this winter is Josh Bell. The Marlins first baseman, now 31, doesn't have quite the power he used to. He has just eight homers on the year thus far. He's slashing .246/.309/.379. Last season, he finished hitting .270 with an OPS of .818, helping Miami get back into the playoffs. And like last year, he could be helpful to a contending team looking to get into the postseason. The only problem is, the Marlins would still have to eat about $16 million of his contract.
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