Miami Marlins: 5 Players to Not Sell at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline

While there may be a big list of the players that the Miami Marlins will potentially sell at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline, what about the players that they shouldn’t?

When looking at a potential “selling” team, almost every player you could make an argument could be potentially available. However, for the sake of this article, let’s assume that the following players will be 100% untouchable over the next two weeks for the Marlins: Sandy Alcantara, Trevor Rogers, Jazz Chisholm.

Who shouldn’t the Miami Marlins sell at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline?

While each player will obviously garner different levels of interest and potential returns, there are a few Marlins that will be more sought-after trade targets than others. However, if it is one of these five players, the Marlins should not sell them at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline, unless it is too-good of an offer to pass on.

5. C Jorge Alfaro

2021 Season Stats: .216 AVG, .270 OBP, 304 SLG, .574 OPS, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 4 SB

While Miami could end up trading the 28-year old catcher over the next 2-3 weeks, it is simply unknown as to how much, if any, interest other clubs will have in the Marlins backstop. One could argue that it would make sense to move on from Alfaro, who is having one of the worst seasons of his six-year career, but I’ll say the Marlins shouldn’t sell him for one sole reason.

You don’t have to look far to find that sole reason is depth, as the Marlins have arguably no clear-cut starting major league caliber catcher available behind Alfaro. While handing over the starting role to Triple-A catcher Chad Wallach would be an option, the Marlins should hang on to Alfaro, who is still under team-control for two more years, and is bound to turn things around offensively at any moment.

4. 1B/OF Garrett Cooper

2021 Season Stats: .291 AVG, .387 OBP, .481 SLG, .867 OPS, 9 HR, 32 RBI

Cooper will most-likely be one of the names that you hear teams looking at most leading up to the Trade Deadline, but will Miami move the 30-year old? Currently on track for the best single season of his career, it’s clear why there will be so much interest in Cooper, a potential option for teams at three different positions (1B, RF, DH).

However, the Marlins should not trade Cooper solely due to his emergence as Miami’s DH, should the NL adopt the position full-time in the immediate future. Still under team-control for two more seasons similar to Alfaro, the Marlins could trade Cooper for the right offer, but shouldn’t solely due to the veteran’s value for Miami for the immediate future.

3. 3B Brian Anderson

2021 Season Stats: .250 AVG, .316 OBP, .371 SLG, .687 OPS, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB

Currently on the IL with an injury, Anderson is nearing a return to the field, and could be a player that garners some interest from clubs over the next 2-3 weeks. However, similar to Alfaro previously, the Marlins should not entertain any offers for Anderson mostly due to depth purposes.

Anderson has been good during his five years in Miami slashing a combined .264/.346/.426, and appears to be a focal-point at the hot-corner for the Marlins going forward. While it’s possible the 28-year old could garner interest from teams, the Marlins should hold-on to Anderson with no clear-cut option to replace him in the farm system.