Miami Marlins Morning Catch: Marlins Play Fart Noises During Nats BP

Good morning, Marlin Maniac readers and welcome to Morning Catch, the daily morning news and notes column from MarlinManiac.com about your Miami Marlins.

Miami Marlins play fart noises during Nationals batting practice – Scott Andera, Palm Beach Post

Well before the night’s first pitch, Wednesday had already been a strange day at Marlins Park.

Mat Latos and Michael Morse were reportedly off to the Dodgers in a trade … until both players showed up in the dugout in Marlins uniforms.

Odd as that is, it pales to the antics during Nationals batting practice. The Nationals are notorious for playing slow jams or no music at all during visiting teams’ batting practice this season. (

Well before the night’s first pitch, Wednesday had already been a strange day at Marlins Park.

Marlins Flip Mat Latos to Dodgers for -1 Prospect – Jeff Sullivan, Fangraphs

The headline isn’t the way the Marlins would put it. It’s not the only way to interpret Wednesday’s trade — it’s just one way to do so. The Dodgers, who’ve been in the market for rotation help, convinced the Marlins to sell them Mat Latos. The price for Los Angeles: accepting, along with Latos, Michael Morse. To soften that blow, the Marlins have thrown in a competitive-balance draft pick, to be made after the end of the first round. Now, technically, the Dodgers are sending the Marlins three minor-league pitchers. So it’s not a pure sale, and we don’t know who those players are, so maybe a conclusion shouldn’t be jumped to, but this one feels pretty safe. Those pitchers are presumably the equivalent of nothing. They won’t be as valuable as the player that draft pick turns into. The Marlins sold an asset at the deadline, and they’re the ones effectively losing the best prospect. (Read More Here)

Mat Latos trade: Marlins receive three minor pitching prospects from Dodgers – Michael Jong, Fishstripes

The Miami Marlins became a part of a larger three-team deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, but the principles for the Fish remain unimpressive. The Marlins sent off starter Mat Latos and the dead-weight contract of first baseman Michael Morse to the Dodgers, but their competitive balance draft pick eventually ended up in the hands of the Braves. In return, the Fish mostly received salary relief, in particular the right to not pay Morse his remaining $11 million or so due.

But the team did also receive three pitching prospects from the Dodgers organization. Given the players Miami sent away and the fact that the franchise refused to pay any of the remaining salary on those players’ contracts, the expected return was small. Joe Frisaro of MLB.com finally reported the names involved..(Read More Here)

FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRADE (IF AND WHEN IT HAPPENS) – CBS Sports

1. Latos has pitched very well the last few weeks.

The overall numbers are not pretty. Latos has a 4.48 ERA (85 ERA+) with a 1.25 WHIP this season, and opponents are hitting .251/.302/.354 against him. But, since returning from a knee inflammation-related DL stint, Latos has a 2.96 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP, and batters are hitting just .198/.242/.335 against him. (Read More Here)

Miami Marlins Are Cheap Again? – Michael Sonbeek, Marlin Maniac

It’s that time of the year again for the Fish……A time when competing teams try to acquire talent to help make a push for the playoffs. This time is different for the Miami Marlins and it’s fans.

It’s the annual fire sale.

The burning of the team started last week when the Marlins traded their former closer Steve Cishek to the Cardinals in exchange for Double-A reliever Kyle Barraclough. (Read More Here)

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Next: Latos Trade Tracker