Miami Marlins: What Should The Marlins Do On July 31st?
Jun 20, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Derek Dietrich prepares on deck before a game with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
July 31st is one of the wildest days in the baseball season. July 31st is obviously the MLB trade deadline and it’s approaching us once more.
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Around this time we all wonder the same thing about our favorite baseball team, are they sellers or buyers? Or are they going to stay pat?
I don’t have the time to talk about all 30 teams and this is a Marlins site so let me just talk about the Miami Marlins.
Obviously the Miami Marlins’ record isn’t good but they aren’t as bad as the record says they are. Since the Dan Jennings, hire the Marlins have been playing around .500 baseball, which isn’t enough to get them in a position to make a run for October.
The Marlins are 11 games under .500, but only 7.5 games back of first place. The NL East hasn’t been strong this year but you don’t expect the Nationals to stay at this pace and you can probably expect them to run away with the division which leads me to the point of this article.
Will the Miami Marlins be sellers or buyers?
The answer to that right now probably isn’t known. It would not be smart for the Marlins to trade pieces who are under control past 2015 which leads to only two players who are not, Mat Latos and Dan Haren. Both of these players we acquired by the Marlins in the off-season and now it looks like the Marlins might move them.
What can the Marlins get for these guys? Probably not a lot since Latos has injury concerns and Dan Haren just isn’t that great anymore despite what his numbers say.
Below I am going to run through some trade scenarios with both players and what teams might be interested.
Next: Dan Haren Trade Scenarios
Sep 16, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dan Haren (14) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
One trade partner I can see the Marlins having for Haren is the Dodgers (this one is probably the most far fetched).
Yes, this is weird since the Dodgers traded Haren to the Marlins, and are basically paying him not to play for them. But they had some injuries to starting pitching so I can see them being interested in Haren and I’m sure Haren wouldn’t mind since he preferred staying in the West Coast.
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TRADE SCENARIO
Miami gets: Victor Araujo (Pitcher, Dodgers 21st rank prospect)
Dodgers get: Dan Haren
A second team that I see that can get involved in Haren talks are the Houston Astros who might be looking to add another starter to try to make a run at the post-season.
TRADE SCENARIO
Miami gets: Andrew Aplin (Outfielder, Astros 28th ranked prospect)
Astros get: Dan Haren
Next: Mat Latos Trade Scenarios
Jun 18, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Mat Latos (35) is relieved during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Now we switched gears and talk about Mat Latos. Like I mentioned earlier he has some injuries so teams might not be going at the Marlins at full force for him.
Two teams I can see being interested in the South Florida native are the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays.
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Let me start with the Rays. Some find it as a shock, but the Rays are a good team and probably have a great shot for October, so they can definitely be looking to add a starter.
TRADE SCENARIO
Miami gets: Tim Beckham. The former first overall pick hasn’t found much success in the Majors and the Rays could really look to move him.
Rays get: Mat Latos
Now what about a trade with the Blue Jays?
TRADE SCENARIO
Miami Gets: D.J. Davis (17th ranked prospect in Toronto’s system) Davis gets compared to Billy Hamilton as a runner, but his offensive game hasn’t been great so far in his first few years in pro ball.
Blue Jays get: Mat Latos
There is also the chance the Marlins don’t make any moves. They still feel like they can make a run and getting healthy could help that.
They expect to get Jarred Cosart and Jose Fernandez off the DL real soon, and Henderson Alvarez is starting to throw, so if the Marlins start winning games they could just stick with this core.
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