It has been quite a few years since the Miami Marlins have been buyers at the trade deadline, but it appears that is about to change.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Marlins intend to strategically add to their roster before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, barring a collapse. He also reported that Miami is likely to hold onto right-handed ace Sandy Alcántara, who has been the subject of trade rumors for multiple seasons.
Alcántara, 30, is in the final guaranteed year of his five-year, $56 million extension with Miami. The deal includes a $21 million club option for 2027, which, if exercised, would delay his free agency until 2028. Considering his performance, it would be a shock to see the club decline it.
Through 19 starts this season, Alcántara is 10-4 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 6.7 K/9 rate across a major league-high 123.1 innings. The two-time All-Star and former Cy Young award winner has won seven straight starts while allowing 18 runs (16 earned) over his last 48.1 innings, good for a 2.98 ERA.
The Marlins (52-42) have been the hottest team in baseball since the beginning of June, winning 26 of their last 34 games. They now hold a three-game lead for the third Wild Card spot and are only three games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East.
Rosenthal mentioned third base, back-end rotation depth and high-leverage relievers as three needs the Marlins could look to address on the trade market. He added that they could deal from the major league roster to protect their farm system, which is short on highly ranked prospects.
The Marlins rank 11th in the majors in runs per game but last in OPS at third base. Rosenthal wrote that they are unlikely to add an expensive player, such as Matt Chapman, but several lower-priced upgrades could be available. Two of the names he mentioned as possibilities were Blaze Alexander of the Baltimore Orioles and Ezequiel Duran of the Texas Rangers.
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Miami’s rotation is strong at the top, with first-time All-Star Max Meyer and Eury Pérez following Alcántara. The depth behind that trio, however, is thin. Janson Junk tossed five solid innings in his return from the injured list Thursday but has a 4.57 ERA through 12 starts. Tyler Phillips, the club’s other starter, has a 4.58 ERA in 39.1 innings since moving from the bullpen.
The Marlins’ bullpen has mostly been a strength but has been weakened by injuries to Anthony Bender, John King, Andrew Nardi and Ronny Henriquez. Closer Pete Fairbanks also has a 6.75 ERA over 28 innings this season, so another high-leverage arm may be needed for Miami to have success in the postseason.
Miami’s farm system is not strong enough to support an “all-in” push, especially with each of its top two pitching prospects — Thomas White and Robby Snelling — out with season-ending injuries. That said, Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix can still give his red-hot club a better chance to make a run by making even small upgrades at its positions of need.
