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Miami Marlins Trade Rumors: Four Possible Destinations for Starlin Castro

By Kevin Kraczkowski

CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 5: Starlin Castro #13 of the Miami Marlins hits an RBI double during the eighth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 5, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Miami defeated Cincinnati 6-0. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 5: Starlin Castro #13 of the Miami Marlins hits an RBI double during the eighth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 5, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Miami defeated Cincinnati 6-0. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami Marlins
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 15: Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his solo homerun with Matt Kemp #27 to take a 1-0 lead over the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Situation

Chris Taylor and Corey Seager have the Dodgers shortstop position completely covered. Taylor is slashing .249/.338/.444 in 67 contests, with 29 extra base hits and 27 RBI. He’s also struck out 75 times, but nobody’s perfect. In less of a sample, Seager is slashing .267/.348/.396 in 26 games. The Dodgers are unlikely to seek an upgrade.

Second base is more of a question mark. Enrique Hernandez is the starter there, and only slashing .217/.301/.434 in 61 games. He’s got some pop to his bat, with nine home runs, and his .226 BABip suggests that he’s about to luck into some hits, but Castro still marks a significant upgrade.

Hernandez, a former player with the Miami Marlins, has been with the Dodgers for four seasons now. Los Angeles uses him the same way the Marlins use Derek Dietrich. Everywhere but pitcher and catcher. Hernandez is three fielding runs below average in a 60 game sample size at second base.

39-year-old Chase Utley is the Dodgers other option at second. He’s slashing .216/.302/.324 in a 45 game sample size, with one home run. Utley is clearly on the downward slope of his impressive 16-season career, and can best impact the Dodgers as a situational starter / pinch-hitter.

The Solution

Castro is unquestionably a better option at second base for the Dodgers than Hernandez or Utley. The Dodgers are currently sitting in second in the NL West, at 36-32 and 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Return

Keibert Ruiz

With the Miami Marlins likely also shipping out current starter Realmuto, it may behoove them to check out 19-year-old Keibert Ruiz. He’s the Dodgers’ second ranked prospect and the second best catching prospect in baseball. He’s an advanced defensive catcher out of Venezuela with a 55 hit tool. He also grades out at 55 overall, with all tools average or better.

Mitchell White

Mitchell White is a 23-year-old, 6’4″ right-handed starter and L.A.’s third-overall prospect. In 33 starts, he’s 4-5 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.095 WHIP. He has 146 strikeouts in 122 1/3 innings. The Dodgers are unlikely to want to part with him, seeing as how he’s so close to the majors, so the Miami Marlins would have to include other pieces if they want White.

Dustin May

Dustin May is a 20-year-old, 6’6″ right-hander currently with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the high-A California League. In three seasons of professional ball, he’s 11-10 with a 3.70 ERA, a 1.220 WHIP, and 207 K’s in 209 innings.

Gavin Lux

Gavin Lux is a 20-year-old middle infielder, currently with May on the Quakes. He’s fast and has a great arm, both graded at 55. Lux has an overall grade of 45, which is slightly above average. In 225 games at three levels of minor league ball, he’s slashing .275/.359/.411 with 15 homers and 95 RBI. He’s also stolen 36 bases.

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