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Miami Marlins Rumors: Detroit Tigers Scouting Marlins Starters?

By Ehsan Kassim |

The Miami Marlins currently have a surplus of starters, with Jose Fernandez returning to the rotation on Thursday to make his season debut, after missing most of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery. 

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Between 5 rotation spots, the team has to fit Jose Fernandez, Mat Latos, Dan Haren, Jarred Cosart, Tom Koehler, Brad Hand, and David Phelps on to the 25-man roster. This does not even include pitching prospects like Justin Nicolino, Jose Urena, and Adam Conley, whom are all close to being major league ready.

For that reason, many around baseball feel the Miami Marlins could move some of their starting pitchers at the trade deadline to restock depth at different positions around the diamond.

One team that has done early homework on the Marlins pitchers? The Detroit Tigers.

Historically, the Marlins trading with the Detroit Tigers has Marlins fans scarred. Fans will not anytime soon forget either the Miguel Cabrera or Anibal Sanchez trades with the Tigers franchise that has set the franchise back each time.

The two teams connected in the off-season after the 2007 season, when the Marlins packaged Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for a return of Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Burke Badenhop, Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz, and Dallas Trahern.

While that trade in hindsight looks really bad for the franchise, at the time it was lauded as a great return for the Marlins and would look a lot better if the two top 25 prospects involved, Maybin and Miller, panned out for the franchise.

And then on July 24th, the Miami Marlins shipped Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to the Tigers for Jacob Turner, Rob Brantly, and Brian Flynn. While Turner had not been spectacular in his short big league career with the Tigers, the trade was seen as a consensus win for both sides, as Turner had a top prospect pedigree, as well.

So while history has not always been on the Marlins side in trades with the Tigers, there is no reason for the team to close the door on a trade with the Tigers franchise this deadline.

Mat Latos and Dan Haren are likely the two arms that interest the Tigers, though Tom Koehler, who is under team control, could also be of interest for the Tigers.

Who could the Marlins seek in a trade with the Tigers in return for a pitcher?

While none of Latos, Koehler, nor Haren hold much trade value, you can expect the team to target more pitching depth for the minors, infield help, or even a fourth outfielder, as the team will remain without star Giancarlo Stanton past the trade deadline.

The Miami Marlins have pitching depth and with the team sitting 11-games under .500 on the fourth of July, could look to sell off their pieces soon. The Tigers are one team that could match up with the Marlins in a trade.

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