Checking in with the Miami Marlins as we near the deadline

Speculation has been rampant since the Miami Marlins struggled through the month of May. In spite of it all, the core of the team will likely remain together.

The chances of the Miami Marlins making the playoffs in 2017 sit at 4.2 percent. They’re seven games below the even mark that they’ve been fighting to get back to for several months. It appears that will be the narrative for the rest of the season.

As such, it makes sense that the Marlins would be sellers at the deadline. They have a number of pieces that teams around the league covet. And with their history of tearing apart their teams and starting from zero, fire sale talks are understandable.

But for all intents and purposes, the Miami Marlins will mostly stand pat at the deadline.

That isn’t to say they won’t be making moves. The team isn’t set up to win now, evidenced by a 13.5 game deficit in the NL East. So they’ll be active at the deadline, but not with the players that fans are buying jersey’s of.

The Miami Marlins are telling interested teams that Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, J.T. Realmuto, and Dan Straily are untouchable. All are team controllable, immensely talented, and building blocks for a team that isn’t that far from being a legitimate competitor.

Giancarlo Stanton could be moved, but a deal is not likely by the deadline. Given the enormity of his contract, the offseason would be the likeliest time to sort something like that out.

Of course, if you’re a regular reader of Marlin Maniac, you knew this was the way the team was going to behave at the deadline two months ago.

It wouldn’t make any sense for a team to trade away players like the ones listed above. Those are the kind of players you trade for when you are rebuilding, not trade away.

Who will be on the move

AJ Ramos won’t be with the team to start the month of August. The Miami Marlins have used Ramos as a closer for the last few seasons, and he’s been passable. He isn’t a viable option to close games on a competing club though. Teams would be trading for an elite eighth inning guy in Ramos.

David Phelps is also likely to be on the move. Heartbreaking for Marlins fans who love the intensity and passion Phelps plays with. The organization has asked him to assume several different roles in his time in Miami, and he’s filled them all without a hitch.

Martin Prado appeared destine to be dealt to Boston before the deadline. But an injury to a troublesome right leg puts that on hold. He will likely need to be evaluated by any team looking to trade for him. His health status makes his status on the trading block tenuous.

Kyle Barraclough is a name that has been kicked in to a number of deals. Don’t expect the Fish to move him, though. For the same reasons as those listed above; he is young, talented, and team controllable. To this point, he’s logged only 1.059 years of MLB service time.

Dee Gordon could be moved, but it is going to take a lot to make it happen. His contract is still good for another three years, and he is reasonably paid. After a slow start, Gordon has been playing better and has hiked his average near .300 again. He had three hits, including a walk off single in the 10th on Monday night.

Next: Martin Prado's injury means he might not be traded

Conclusion

The bullpen figures to get the biggest makeover. If you add in the trade they made that sent Hechavarria to Tampa Bay, the left side of the infield has will have been completely remade as well.

This trade deadline should be palatable if you’re a fan of the Miami Marlins core players. After months of speculation, it appears that trade expectations are beginning to normalize. With prudent moves in the coming weeks, and aggressiveness in the offseason, Miami can compete at a high level in 2018.