3 players the Miami Marlins could target by trade?

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The Miami Marlins have a pretty bad offense to say the least, so it’s natural to want The Fish to acquire some big bats. It’s technically a part of a plan for us to build an annual contender. There are some players that I often see mentioned as trade candidates. Is it possible for us to acquire them? Will their current teams be willing to trade them? Let’s look at these trade candidates and analyze the potential of a trade.

The Miami Marlins have three players that they can potentially target in a trade.

3. TIM ANDERSON

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 06: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox throws to first base in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 06, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images) /

Tim Anderson has been named a potential Miami Marlins target. It makes some sense, as the Chicago White Sox are unlikely to make the playoffs this season, and he can be a free agent after this and next season, unless they pick up his team options ($12.5 million and $14 million). I think that it’s safe to say that Chicago will pick up those options.

Tim Anderson is batting .301/.339/.395 this season (he’s currently injured), and is a career .288/.316/.442 hitter. Anderson would be an upgrade over our current SS Miguel Rojas offensively, and would be great as our new lead-off hitter.

So what could the Miami Marlins trade to the Chicago White Sox for Tim Anderson? How about…. Nothing. Don’t get me wrong, Anderson would be a great fit for the Miami Marlins, I just don’t see why the Chicago White Sox would trade him. They may not go to the playoffs this season, but they will surely be trying to make them next season. Anderson is also pretty cheap, so you can’t even make a financial argument for them to trade him.

Tim Anderson would be a great fit on the Miami Marlins, but I don’t see why the Chicago White Sox would trade him. They’re trying to contend, he’s a key player for them and is pretty cheap.

2. RAFAEL DEVERS

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 16: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox is walked during the eighth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals on September 16, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

Rafael Devers would not only be a massive upgrade at third base for the Miami Marlins, but would also be a middle of the order bat that we do badly need. The Boston Red Sox aren’t going to the playoffs this season, he’s a free agent after next season, and have been low-balling him on an extension.

Rafael Devers is a career .281/.339/.513 hitter who is batting .288/.347/.526 with 26 home runs and 79 RBI this season. He also has a very impressive 4.3 WAR. It’s pretty obvious that the Miami Marlins would be a lot better with him on the team.

Are there any red flags with Rafael Devers? There are actually. Part of the reason why Boston has been low-balling him, is because the belief is that he’s so bad defensively at third base, thst he’s better off moving to first base. First base however is typically easier to fill and so here we are. Obviously it shouldn’t be an issue for The Fish at all.

What would Rafael Devers cost the Miami Marlins? The same price as Tim Anderson…nothing. I hate to be a negative Neil, but I just don’t see a scenario where Boston trades him. They will almost surely try to contend next season, and they’re not going to trade their best hitter. I do however think that we can afford Devers in free agency after the season, remember if we don’t even bid for him, it’s because Bruce Sherman doesn’t want to, and not because we can’t afford him.

3. SHOHEI OHTANI

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 02: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels jogs to the dugout after fllying out against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 2, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Shohei Ohtani! The two-way superstar is not only an annual MVP contender as a hitter, but is capable of winning the Cy Young award as well. There’s very few players out there who can do as good as him, you have to go back to Babe Ruth to find two-way players on that level. Ohtani is a free agent after next season and is unlikely to stay in Anaheim. Could the Miami Marlins acquire him?

A lot depends on whether the Los Angeles Angels will even shop Ohtani. Unlike Boston and Chicago, they’re not expecting to contend next season, or at least shouldn’t be realistically. Even if they think they they can make the playoffs, it’s unlikely they’ll do it anything other than a Wildcard team. They’re also likely to just receive a draft pick for Shohei Ohtani and his departure.

The Los Angeles Angels could be open to moving Ohtani, and that means that the Miami Marlins should be in the mix. There is one issue though… can we sign him to an extension? It’s important to remember that we can afford him, and only Bruce Sherman’s willingness to pay him is in the way of us offering him a record-breaking deal. Of course the bigger issue is that he might not want to sign with us, and might want to test the free agent market.

The Miami Marlins should be in the mix if Shohei Ohtani is made available. Will we acquire him? Unfortunately probably not, but the Los Angeles Angels might not even end up shoooing him. We’re not going to get Devers or Anderson, but we can at least dream of a shot at Ohtani.

Next. What will we actually do in the off-season?. dark

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