Will The Miami Marlins Still Seek Waiver Trade Deals?
The Miami Marlins and Major League Baseball are still in the waiver trade period which means there are deals to be made. Will Miami bite if a team makes the organization an offer it cannot refuse?
The Miami Marlins sent Justin Bour to the Philadelphia Phillies in a move that involved teams in the National League East. While it is frowned upon for teams in the same division to make such moves, it has not stopped the Marlins from doing just that.
Reliever A.J. Ramos was sent to the New York Mets. The Washington Nationals have been all over the possibility of adding catcher J.T. Realmuto up until the MLB Trade Deadline. Still, the Marlins stood their ground and would not let the All-Star go unless the asking price was met.
Realmuto continues to be the best story the Marlins have written this season. Realmuto may be the lead story of the offseason as many teams will look to add a player of his caliber, provided they can come up with enough minor league chess pieces to make team owner Derek Jeter happy.
There are many reasons why the Marlins haven’t been successful this season – may be too many to name in this story. While the team made two deals at the trade deadline, the move to let Bour join a contender for a minor leaguer who is at least two seasons away from joining the parent club is puzzling.
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Still, there are players who could find other homes with the expansion of team roster less than two weeks away. Pitcher Dan Straily, outfielder Derek Dietrich and possibly a few more veterans could move locations. Joe Frisaro of MLB.com pointed out in one of his recent pieces that players were a mixed bag as the trade deadline come and went.
For that reason alone, I think if a deal came along that enticed Jeter or Michael Hill, it could be worked out.
“Manager Don Mattingly said something at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline that stuck with me. He noted that at the Deadline, some players who remained with the club were happy and some who weren’t dealt were not,” Frisaro wrote.“Clearly, there are veterans who see what the Marlins are trying to build and want to be part of it, while others may have wanted to move to teams in the postseason race. Either way, I think it creates an environment where everyone is not on the same page.”
The schedule hasn’t been kind to the Marlins since the second half of the season. Injuries continue to hold players back (Martin Prado, Sandy Alcantara, Lewis Brinson). It creates a strange environment. Losing also becomes habit-forming.
Bour, Brad Ziegler, and Cameron Maybin were respected veterans. And more could be shipped out of South Florida. As long as there are deals to be made, the Marlins will entertain offers. They have to.
This roster may look different next season. Not to the same degree as this past offseason, but enough so that fans and the media will take notice.
The Marlins are 50-76 this season. Any change for the good would be warranted. Let’s just hope those changes, which could still take place before the waiver trade deadline ends, doesn’t sink this team father into the cellar as it already has.