A blockbuster reunion trade for the Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins need lineup help as recent games show. It’s also time for The Fish to do our best to get rid of Avisail Garcia, who is a bad contract. There are some trade possibilities, or more precisely bad contract swaps that I suggested before.

The Miami Marlins should consider a reunion with Christian Yelich.

Avisail Garcia’s struggles have been discussed quite a bit by this point. He has a .225/.262/.317 batting line with 6 home runs and 28 RBI in 77 games and 284 AB’s. He also has a terrible -0.8 WAR. It really doesn’t feel like he even wants to play for the Miami Marlins. Unfortunately he’s owed $12 million a year through 2025, with a $12 million team option for 2026 that is sure to be declined.

Avisail Garcia was pretty good for the Milwaukee Brewers last season though, as he batted .262/.330/.490 with 29 home runs and 86 RBI in 135 games and 461 AB’s. Could Milwaukee want him back? It’s possible that he’s a “change of scenery” candidate who would do much better in their hitter’s park. Then there’s Christian Yelich…

Christian Yelich was very good for the Miami Marlins from 2013-2017, producing 16.6 WAR and having batting lines of .298/.376/.483 and .282/.369/.439 in his final two seasons with The Fish. He took it to another level upon being traded to Milwaukee, batting .326/.402/.598 in 2018 with 36 home runs and 110 RBI, and then .329/.429/.671 in 2019 with 44 home runs and 96 RBI in 2019.

Christian Yelich then fell into a bit of bad luck due to injuries, batting .205/.356/.430 in 2020, .248/.362/.373 in 2021 and .251/.347/.379 so far in 2022. Due to an extension with them, he’s owed $26 million a year through 2028, with a $20 million mutual option for 2029. It’s hard to believe that the constantly financially strapped Milwaukee wants to pay all of that money.

Would the Milwaukee Brewers be interested in a bad contract swap with the Miami Marlins? Milwaukee get to save significant money and get a player who may hit better for them. They can get a prospect too and use their savings to get someone else they may prefer. The Miami Marlins upgrade while tacking on more money. Would The Fish be willing to finally spend though?

I think that this trade can make sense for both sides. As long as Christian Yelich is still productive and even bounces back, the Miami Marlins should definitely go for this trade.