The 2015 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, as we are just 19 days away from July 31st. The closer we get, the more rumors and actual trade actions we get to see.
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The Miami Marlins are going to be a busy team at the trade deadline, but for the opposite reason they had hoped for before the season.
Sitting 14-games under .500 coming into play today, the Marlins are prepared to become sellers, with Dan Haren, Mat Latos, and Steve Cishek of the most notable Marlins said to be available.
The market for one of the players, Dan Haren, seems to be heating up. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Haren’s name is appearing on a lot of wish lists for the trade deadline, with the Pittsburgh Pirates even scouting his last start at Fenway.
"3. Dan Haren, RHP, Marlins — Haren (6-5, 3.34 ERA, 1.057 WHIP) is starting to appear on a lot of lists for a deadline pickup. While he made demands in the offseason, he’s now settled into the fact that he might get moved. One team that watched him at Fenway was the Pirates, who could still add a veteran pitcher. But there are a lot of teams who could benefit from Haren’s experience and toughness. He’s a six-inning guy, but a contender would take that."
Haren is actually set to make the mound for the Miami Marlins later today, in their final game before the all-star break. This is good news for owner Jeffrey Loria, as the fans watching the game on television could see a few more butts in the seat, as scouts watch Haren.
With the all-star break here, there is a good chance today could be the final start for Haren as a Marlin. Haren owns a 3.34 ERA in 17 starts and 105 innings of work. Without any real health concerns, Haren seems on his way to a 200 inning season, his first since 2011.
While Haren’s ERA is sparkly, there is concern among Miami Marlins fans about his eventual regression. Haren owns a fastball that rarely touches the upper 80’s, does not strike out many hitters, and has allowed a ton of home runs this season.
Haren has been surviving on a fluky .252 BABIP against and a 79.8% left on base percentage. If either of those numbers regress for Haren, and he continues to give up home runs at a 10% pace on flyballs, his ERA could balloon in a hurry.
Even with that said, Haren is a proven commodity and teams will pay a decent price for a backend starter that eats innings. Haren also has post-season experience and is a well-liked clubhouse guy. Teams, even today, could pay a hefty price for that.
If the Pirates are indeed interested in Haren, they are an interesting match for the Marlins, based on their strong farm system. The Pirates have an array of pitching and hitting prospects that could interest the Marlins.
Haren is someone who Miami Marlins should look to move sooner rather than later, as his trade value is probably at its peak. Over the next couple of weeks, more damage can be done to Haren’s value than it can be done to help it rise.
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