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Miami Marlins Trade Rumors: Five Players Who Could be Bait

By Kevin Kraczkowski

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Neil Walker #18 of the Miami Marlins singles in Garret Cooper #26 (not pictured) in the third inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 27, 2019 in Washington. DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Neil Walker #18 of the Miami Marlins singles in Garret Cooper #26 (not pictured) in the third inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 27, 2019 in Washington. DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Miami Marlins
ST LOUIS, MO – JUNE 19: Trevor Richards #36 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on June 19, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Trevor Richards would undoubtedly require an enormous offer for the Miami Marlins to consider parting ways with him. He’s currently under team control for this season and the next five, scheduled to hit free agency in 2025. Why Richards?

It seems the Miami Marlins may have collected more than enough in the way of major-league ready starting pitchers. With Caleb Smith, Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen, Pablo Lopez, Jordan Yamamoto and Elieser Hernandez already in the mix, as well as another half-dozen ready to challenge for a rotation spot within a year.

Richards’ unlikely rise has been well documented, but we’ll recap it anyway. A 23-year-old substitute teacher and beer factory worker, Richards was signed through free agency by the Miami Marlins in July of 2016.

After a quick rise through the Marlins’ minor league affiliate system, Richards made a faster-than-expected major league debut. Although he’s only 7-19 in 43 starts, he has a near-league-average 4.31 ERA, has struck out 218 in 225 innings, and keeps a 1.37 WHIP against the top level that baseball has.

Along with Sandy Alcantara, Richards is the only member of the Opening Day rotation to remain with the parent club through the entire 2019 season so far. He has totaled 16 Quality Starts, and has a nearly indescribably nasty changeup.

What would a contender pay for five-plus years of control and that wicked off-speed pitch? If the Marlins entertain any offers for their growing stable of major league-ready starting pitchers, look for Richards to be shopped.

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