The Miami Marlins are sellers at the trade deadline, as established by the Steve Cishek trade to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Mat Latos, Michael Morse trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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With Cishek, Morse, and Latos already gone, it was unsure of what else the Miami Marlins would be willing to sell today. Martin Prado seems unavailable and Dan Haren seems to be safe with the team as well.
However, with the New York Yankees growing frustrated with their pursuit of relief pitching, including former Brave Craig Kimbrel, they could be turning to the Miami Marlins to discuss the exciting Carter Capps, according to Jon Heyman.
And according to Jayson Stark, the Yanks and Marlins have already kicked off discussions about the right hander.
Capps, who will be arbitration eligible after the season, will be less expensive money wise than other options, like Kimbrel and Adrolis Chapman. Capps is also less established than the other two options, so he might be a cheaper prospect haul to trade for.
Capps has been damn near unhittable in 2015, owning a spectacular 1.21 ERA, a 0.99 FIP, and a 0.97 xFIP in 29 2/3 innings of work for the Miami Marlins. Boosting Capps numbers are a 50.0% strikeout rate and a 5.4 walk rate. While his fastball always cranked near 100 MPH, his slider has become a nasty pitch this season as well, boosting him to his career, breakout season.
For the Marlins, listening on Capps is a good idea. He may very well be the team’s best trade chip, aside from any of Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Dee Gordon, and Jose Fernandez. Marcell Ozuna is likely in that group as well, but while there is smoke by his name for a trade, it’s unlikely he heads anywhere by the end of today. Even with his agent very upset with the team.
While moving Capps may not be popular with the Miami Marlins fan base, it would be a shrewd move to help get a decent return to help the team try to contend in 2016. Capps, like I said above, should bring in a decent sized prospect haul for the Marlins, especially with his team control being a huge bargaining tool.
What can the team get for Capps? While I am not 100% sure of the Yankees farm system, the team should be targeting a top 5 prospect in their system, and maybe even a backend top 100 prospect overall in baseball.
That’s how a Capps trade would make sense for the ballclub.
The Marlins originally acquired Capps for Logan Morrison after the 2012 season.
Last night, I felt like today would be a quiet day for the Miami Marlins on the trade front, but this rumor indicates otherwise.
Stay tuned.
(Update 9:54 AM): Marlins want Yanks #4 prospect for Capps?)
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