Trade Grade: Thoughts on the Miami Marlins Three Deadline Deals

The Miami Marlins made three trades in the lead up to the Wednesday trade deadline.

None of these three moves were meant to help the Miami Marlins in the immediate future. As with most trades during this rebuild, they were meant to help the team over the next several seasons. How successful were they in their bid for “future considerations?”

Deal 1: Sergio Romo, Chris Vallimont, and a PTBNL for Lewin Diaz

Four days preceding the trade deadline, the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins made a trade involving four players. The Marlins gave up their number 23 prospect, Chris Vallimont, and their current closer, Sergio Romo. They also threw in a PTBNL for the Twins number 30 prospect, first baseman Lewin Diaz.

Diaz was Minnesota’s number 10 prospect in 2017 and 2018, according the the MLB Pipeline. He dropped down the list after hitting just .224 in an injury plagued 2018 with the Fort Myers Miracle, in which he played in just 79 games. The Twins wanted a little help in the bullpen, so were willing to part with Diaz for Romo’s services.

Diaz had rebounded this season for the Miracle, hitting .290/.333/.533 in 57 contests, with 13 round-trippers and 36 RBI. He was hitting .309/.351/.602 wireframes the double-A Jackson Generals at the time of the deal. The Marlins were so enamored of Diaz, that they threw in solid starting pitcher prospect Vallimont in the deal, and a PTBNL.

Although the price was steeper than I would have liked, I can’t argue with the acquisition of Diaz. Marlins Grade: C+, Twins Grade: A-

Deal 2: Zac Gallen for Jazz Chisholm

Zac Gallen was acquired by the Miami Marlins in the Marcell Ozuna trade after the 2017 season, along with Sandy Alcantara, Daniel Castano, and Magneuris Sierra. Not a highly rated prospect at the time, Gallen later blossomed to put up the best statistics in his three months with the New Orleans Baby Cakes. He was 9-1 with a 1.77 ERA at the time of his promotion, with 112 whiffs and only 17 walks in 91 innings. Opponents were hitting .153 off of him.

After getting called up, Gallen held opposing hitters to 25 hits in 36 innings, going 1-3 with a 2.72 ERA at the major league level for the Miami Marlins. He also had a good-not-great 1.18 WHIP at the time of his trade.

Jazz Chisholm has been ranked in the top 100 lists of several outlets, and was the Arizona Diamondbacks top rated prospect at the time of the deal. Although his average had not yet translated to the double-A level, with a .204 batting average and a 34 percent whiff rate, he still boasted enormous power potential. He had 18 with 44 RBI at the time of the deal in 89 games for the Jackson Generals.

Chisholm started his Miami Marlins career last night for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp by going three-for-four and coming within a double of a cycle.

Still, one game doesn’t prove anything, and Chisholm has struggled at the double-A level, two levels short of the majors. Meanwhile, Gallen’s major league stats proved that he could hang at the top level. There are those who praise the Miami Marlins for the Chisholm acquisition, and I’m glad we have him as well, but I think that Gallen was an awfully stiff price to pay.

Marlins Grade: B-, Diamondbacks Grade: A

Deal 3: Trevor Richards and Nick Anderson for Ryne Stanek and Jesus Sanchez

Amongst the three deals the Miami Marlins made at or near the trading deadline, the in-state four-player swap was the most beneficial to the Fish, in my opinion.

Trevor Richards was 3-12 with a 4.50 ERA over 20 starts, and had a 1.38 WHIP with 103 K’s in 112 innings. Nick Anderson was a pleasant surprise in the bullpen, racking up 14.22 K’s per nine innings of work. He was 2-4 with a 3.92 REA in 45 relief appearances.

The Miami Marlins received major league reliever Ryne Stanek, currently on the injured list, as well as the number 39 major league prospect outfielder Jesus Sanchez.

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Sanchez had hit .275/.331/.404 at the double-A level with the Montgomery Biscuits, and had recently transitioned to the triple-A level with the Durham Bulls, where he was hitting .200. Sanchez had nine homers and 54 RBI in 96 minor league games this season.

Stanek is in his third major league season, and has compiled a 2-7 record with a 3.51 ERA in 162 games. He’s operated both as an “opener,” and as a conventional reliever, with 83 starts. He’s struck out 232 in 196 2/3 innings thus far, for a hefty 10.56 K/9 rate.

The 28-year-old Stanek is roughly equal in terms of future value than was Anderson. Sanchez for Richards is a calculated risk, but one I think the Miami Marlins may cash in on.

Marlins Grade: A-, Rays Grade: A-

So that’s what I think. Disagree? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading. Follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our newsletter, and like us on Facebook to keep up with the Miami Marlins.