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Miami Marlins Rumors: Marlins Receiving Calls on Dan Haren, Mat Latos

By Ehsan Kassim |

With a record that sits 15 games below .500 and the loss of their superstar slugger Giancarlo Stanton for at least a month, the Miami Marlins could look to sell sooner than later, as the teams season looks lost in the final days of June. 

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While the team doesn’t have many assets to trade, with their core likely already in place, the Marlins will only look to deal players that aren’t in their immediate plans.

Two names that come to mind, Dan Haren and Mat Latos, both of whom will be free agents at the end of the season. For both those players, the Miami Marlins have already begun to get multiple trade inquires for their services, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports (via Twitter).

As Morosi notes, the return of Jose Fernandez and the team wanting to see rookie prospects Jose Urena and Justin Nicolino also opens up the door for the Marlins to trade two players that will be under contract next season, but also may not fit into the Marlins plans, in Tom Koehler and Brad Hand.

With the impending return of Jose Fernandez to the Marlins rotation this Thursday, Morosi notes the team could move a starter very soon.

Just last week MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro felt a trade involving both Tom Koehler and Brad Hand could be imminent, to an unknown team.

Nothing came to fruition on the trade front at the time, but where there’s smoke, there usually is fire, so there could already be something in the works in regards. Teams usually talk for weeks before finalizing a trade, so a developing trade could come together quickly if both sides become motivated.

The Marlins should be motivated to sell with their lack of success in 2015 and with the depth they are about to have in the rotation.

Last week, author Michael Sonbeek took a look at potential trades for both Haren and Latos, with none of them bringing a significant player back, but at least helping the Marlins build up some depth they sorely need.

Haren on the season owns an appealing 3.38 ERA in 93 1/3 innings of work, but his peripherals suggest he’s been a much worse pitcher than that. Haren’s FIP and xFIP sit at 4.25 and 4.30, mainly due to his lucky 80.4% left on base rate and the .234 BABIP against him. His career marks sit at 72.6% and .288 respectively.

Regression is due for Haren, hopefully the Marlins can sell him before it hits.

On the other hand, regression the other way is due for Mat Latos, who owns a 5.49 ERA and a 3.61 FIP in 62 2/3 innings of work. After a slow start to the season, Latos has improved each month and has started to resemble the arm the Marlins wanted when they traded for him. His fastball velocity has been back at 94+ the past few starts.

Latos is someone the team should hold onto for a bit longer than Haren, as his trade value should actually begin to go up as the trade deadline nears, if he keeps throwing the way he has of late.

Both Koehler and Hand are who they are. Teams will probably want them more for their ability to serve as swing-men more than anything else. They don’t have a ton of trade value, but could still add a useful piece for the team moving forward, in the right deal.

With Giancarlo Stanton out for the next 4-6 weeks, the Miami Marlins should definitely sell, and start selling soon. Mat Latos and Dan Haren are a good starting point for the them to begin with.

Follow Marlin Maniac on Twitter @MarlinManiac for all your Miami Marlins news, opinion and analysis!

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