MLB Trade Deadline: Which Miami Marlins Are Untouchable?

Untouchable # 4: Tom Koehler 

Please keep reading.  I promise you won’t disagree as much with the other slides!

Putting Tom Koehler on this list is all about understanding his value to the Marlins organization specifically, and how different that is from his value to the rest of league. Consider how this season has played out, what Michael Hill just had to give up for a couple months of Andrew Cashner.  It was worth it, but only because this team needs a playoff run to gain any traction with a fickle South Florida market; they absolutely overpaid.

In Miami, Koehler is a clubhouse leader and a veteran presence.  He’s already tied for 10th all-time in wins on the franchise list, and could realistically crack the Top 5 by the end of a full 2017 season.  He’s effective, and everything you want from a back of the rotation starter.  In short, if he played for San Diego, he’d be a Marlin today anyway.

Adam Conley almost got this spot.  The reason he didn’t is that he has upside. No. 2 starter upside.  We’ve seen Koehler’s ceiling.  The league has too.  No one, during regular (non Deadline) market conditions will give the Marlins something as valuable to them for these next two years as Koehler will be.  Conley though?  He might be great one day, he’s streaky good right now.  But that’s probably a year or two away.  If some rebuilding team offers a more finished product, you take it and stick it right behind Fernandez at the top of the rotation.

And then a couple days later, @TKREFRESH22 will be there to give you a solid day’s work.

Next: Untouchable # 3