MLB Trade Rumors: Orioles Willing to Trade Matt Wieters; Marlins Should Show Interest

Sep 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) hits a one-run rbi single in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins have identified catcher as a position that they would like to improve on for the 2014 season and beyond. The Marlins have been scouring the free agent and trade market to find a viable solution.

One player that the Marlins should have significant interest in has popped onto the trade market. Sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that the Orioles are willing to trade catcher Matt Wieters:

Weiters is just 27 years old and still have two years of team control left. Unfortunately, he is a Scott Boras client, meaning he will likely hit the open market after the 2015 season.

In 2013, Wieters owned a .235/.287/.417 triple slash line with 22 homers. Defensive metrics loved his work behind the plate, as DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) estimated he saved the Orioles 18 runs behind the plate in 2013.

2013 was considered a down year for Wieters, coming off back-to-back season where he was estimated to be near a 4 WAR player. In 2011, he owned a .262/.328/.450 slash line and in 2012 he owned a .249/.329/.435 slash line.

Along with his strong bat and defense behind the plate, Wieters would bring the Marlins the power they are desperately seeking. Wieters has 87 home runs and 121 doubles in his first 5 major league seasons.

Wieters won’t come cheap. Along with a hefty price tag the Marlins would likely have to part with to acquire him, the team would also have to pay for the raise he is going to get in arbitration. Wieters will be entering his second year of abritration and MLB Trade Rumors projects that he’ll be awarded close to $8 ($7.9M) million for the 2014 season.

What do you guys think, could Wieters be the Marlins solution at catcher? Or is he too expensive and too close to free agency for the Marlins to take a look at? I’d personally say the team should go for him. Let me know what you think in the comments.