Miami Marlins: 3 Trade Proposals for Starling Marte to the New York Yankees

Trade Proposal No. 1: Straight 1-for-1 Player Swap

Yankees receive:

• OF Starling Marte

Marlins receive:

• OF Estevan Florial (Yankees No. 10 Prospect)

We start with arguably the potential top prospect return that makes the most sense for the Marlins. It is highly-unlikely that New York’s top four prospects of Dominguez, Schmidt, Garcia, and Peraza will be available at all, and with Miami needing a big league ready position player, No. 10 prospect Estevan Florial makes the most sense.

Originally signed by New York back in 2015, Florial quickly burst onto the scene in the minor leagues where he was considered one of the top young outfield prospects in the game. However, after injuries and the cancelled 2020 minor league season slowed his development, the 23-year old made his big league debut playing in one game a year ago, and is now currently helping provide a spark for the Yankees at the big league level.

When looking at Florial’s tools alone, it’s obvious that there is room for excitement surrounding the 23-year old outfielder that packs a powerful left-handed swing. Despite some concerns on swing-and-miss at times, Florial makes up for it with his elite speed, even leaving some scouts to believe he has legit 30/30 potential.

Considered as an elite defender with a plus-arm, Florial is capable of playing all three outfield positions, but would most-likely remain in center field for the foreseeable future, should he be dealt to Miami.

While Florial is obviously an exciting center field prospect in the Yankees system, Marte would undoubtedly be an instant upgrade for a New York team fighting for a postseason berth in the competitive AL East.

While the Yankees also have multiple top pitching prospects among their Top 10 that Miami could possibly pursue over Florial, the 23-year old outfielder makes the most sense. Should he be traded to Miami, Florial would most-likely instantly takeover as the Marlins everyday starting center fielder going forward.

Trade Proposal No. 2: Five Player Deal

Yankees Receive:

• OF Starling Marte
• RP Yimi Garcia

Marlins Receive:

• SS Josh Smith (Yankees No. 14 Prospect)
• OF Brandon Lockridge (Yankees No. 20 Prospect)
• RHP Glenn Otto (Yankees No. 28 Prospect)

While this five player deal wouldn’t land Miami a player that we would likely see in the big leagues for the remainder of the 2021 season, it would include three names we could all very easily see in 2022.

The arguable center piece of this deal for the Marlins would be 23-year old shortstop Josh Smith, a former second round pick by New York in the 2019 MLB Draft. A former LSU product, Smith is currently dominating High-A pitching slashing .344/.452/.625, and could very well rise quickly through the minor leagues.

Considered as one of the best pure-hitters in the Yankees system, Smith’s name has continued to come up frequently in trade talks, and rightfully so as he has the ability to be an above-average two-way player at both middle infield positions.

Joining Smith would be New York’s No. 20 prospect Brandon Lockridge, as well as No. 28 prospect Glenn Otto. Lockridge is currently batting .378 down in Double-A, and is showcasing some impressive power to combine with his elite-speed, undoubtedly the best in the Yankees system. Otto, a 25-year old right-hander, currently posts a 3.23 ERA in Triple-A, and is a player who has previous experience as both a starter and reliever.

When looking at the Yankees return, Marte is obviously the main piece, but Yimi Garcia is also an option for a team that likely needs bullpen help. Garcia, a free agent at seasons end, has struggled at times during his first season as a closer posting a 3.57 ERA with 14 saves, but would surely return to a 6-8th inning role with the Yankees bullpen.

While the return for Miami here wouldn’t include “high-profile” names like a Florial or others, it would include three players who could all make an impact in the big leagues as early as next season.

Trade Proposal No. 3: Four Player Deal

Yankees receive:

• OF Starling Marte
• RP Richard Bleier

Marlins receive:

• OF Estevan Florial (Yankees No. 10 Prospect)
• C Josh Breaux (Yankees No. 19 Prospect)

The final trade proposal would once again conclude with New York landing both Marte and a reliever. This is however a different reliever, and arguably a more-likely option, as well as one that Yankees’ fans are familiar with.

That reliever as you most-likely know by now is 34-year old left-hander Richard Bleier. Bleier began his career in New York during the 2016 season posting a 1.96 ERA across 23 innings before being traded to Baltimore in 2017 where he posted a combined 3.15 ERA across four seasons.

As is the same with the previous proposal, Marte would obviously be the main piece for New York, but Bleier would certainly help solidify the Yankees bullpen. Across 37.1 innings pitched this season, Bleier has posted a 2.89 ERA with 28 strikeouts to only two walks, and still holds an extra year of team control in 2022.

For a potential Marlins return, the previously discussed Florial would surely be the center piece, but 23-year old catcher Josh Breaux would also be a nice landing piece for Miami as well. A former second round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Breaux is currently in High-A in the Yankees organization where he is slashing .259/.313/.514 across 220 at-bats with 15 HR’s and 40 RBI’s.

Earning a player comp to current Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez both offensively and defensively, Breaux displays a powerful right-handed swing that has some scouts believing he has 35+ HR potential annually, even despite high strikeout numbers.

While Breaux is currently in High-A, the 23-year old could potentially feature a role in the big leagues during the 2022 season. A natural catcher, Breaux’s skill-set would also make him a DH option going forward, assuming the DH is in the National League full-time.

The New York Yankees make a lot of sense as a potential trade destination for Marte due to the pure need at the position from New York, as well as the prospect capital the Miami Marlins could receive in return. Could we possibly see one of these three moves, or something similar within the next week?