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Miami Marlins Morning Catch: Marcell Ozuna to Cleveland Indians Has Smoke

By Ehsan Kassim

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Good morning, Marlin Maniac readers and welcome to Morning Catch, the daily morning news and notes column from MarlinManiac.com about your Miami Marlins.

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Where there’s smoke, there’s you usually fire. The old cliche makes sense for the Miami Marlins, in terms of their demoted center fielder Marcell Ozuna. He’s been down in the minors for 29 days now and there is no sign of an imminent call up. 

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Is it to delay his arbitration? That’s something his agent Scott Boras declined to answer when asked by the Miami Herald.

"Agent Scott Boras declined to give an opinion on that arbitration issue but told me that when the Marlins demoted Ozuna on July 5 (with his average at .249), Ozuna “was told by [president/baseball operations] Michael Hill that as soon as he gets his rhythm back, he will be right back. And the manager [Dan Jennings] reported to me he was hitting the ball well at Triple A.”"

Ozuna has as many home runs in Triple-A as he had in the majors (4) and is hitting the ball real well. So why is he not up yet? Has to be the arbitration clock, right?

And then there were the rumors of the Indians interest in Ozuna, with the Marlins even going as far as scouting Cleveland pitching.

This Ozuna situation is weird and its hard to get a feel of what’s going on. It’s speculated the team is punishing Ozuna for not signing an extension, like Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich.

Either way, these Ozuna trade rumors have smoke, they have legs, and we’re just waiting on the fire now. The speculation on this won’t end until Ozuna is either recalled or we get a definitive answer from someone.

July 31st and August 8th, two dates to keep an eye on.

More Miami Marlins News Around the Web:

Cleveland Indians Trade Rumors: Tribe Asks Miami Marlins About CF Marcell Ozuna – Nick Dudukovich, Factory of Sadness

The latest Cleveland Indians trade rumors have the Tribe asking the Miami Marlins about minor league outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

Ozuna has made it to the big leagues, but struggled out of the game early on and got demoted. To start the 2015 campaign, the 24-year-old center fielder hit.249/.301/.337. In 2014, Ozuna posted a .772 OPS with 23 home runs that left the Marlins high on their young prospect. (Read More Here)

Search for center fielder leads to Marcell Ozuna: Cleveland Indians notes – Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians need a center fielder and have reportedly talked to Miami about Marcell Ozuna, who hit 23 home runs for the Marlins last year, but is now in the minors.

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins aren’t shopping Ozuna, but the Indians and several other clubs have called the Marlins about him. (Read More Here)

Trade Rumors: Atlanta Braves Outfield Trade Talk – Fred Owens, Tomahawk Take

The trade train is roaring towards the non-waiver deadline. How the Braves outfield is affected – if at all – is a subject of much conjecture so why not add more?

Evaluating the Braves Outfield

This won’t take long, the Braves outfield is in flux. The only guaranteed piece in Nick Markakis although recent stories say Cameron Maybin is fairly set as well. The known hole is a corner outfielder with at least 20 home run power. Alan’s piece generated – and is still generating – a lot of chatter about that. There are other possibilities however and this morning one popped up worthy of a look when it was reported that the Marlins are listening on Marcell Ozuna. (Read More Here)

Miami Marlins Trade Deadline Primer: Mike Dunn, Bryan Morris – Michael Jong, Fishstripes

The Miami Marlins have a pair of relievers who could be dealt by the trade deadline.

The Miami Marlins have already kick-started their trade deadline by dealing Steve Cishek for nothing. The team may have a few more relief options to deal in the days to come, as two more relievers on the roster figure to make some unnecessary sums of money next season. Both Mike Dunn and Bryan Morris are slated to earn paydays above $1 million, and the Marlins are already looking to shed any salary possible. It may not be worth it for the team to hold two mediocre relievers on the roster, so the team should consider dealing those two players while they have any value remaining. (Read More Here)

Marlins activate Dee Gordon from disabled list – Christy Cabrera Chirinos, Sun-Sentinel

At least one of the Miami Marlins’ injured All-Stars is rejoining the team.

Second baseman Dee Gordon, who dislocated his thumb on July 11th and was placed on the disabled list a week later, was activated Tuesday ahead of the Marlins’ series-opener against the Washington Nationals, the team announced.

In his first at-bat back, Gordon hit the first pitch he saw from pitcher Jordan Zimmermann for a single. He, though, was caught trying to steal second base in the first inning. (Read More Here)

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