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Three Bargain Bin Relief Pitchers the Miami Marlins should Target via Trade

By Allen Settle |
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The Miami Marlins enter the 2023-2024 MLB offseason with a few critical needs. While some of these are more dire than others, the franchise must be aggressive if the Fish hope to continue their postseason momentum entering the new season.

Four Bargain Bin Relief Pitchers the Miami Marlins should Target via Trade

We have already discussed "bargain bin" options for starting pitching depth, a starting catcher, and a utility position player. Now, we reach another key aspect of the roster: relief pitching.

While the 2023 bullpen eventually rounded into form under the stability of closer Tanner Scott, other options like AJ Puk, David Robertson, and Dylan Floro were all plagued by inconsistency.

With Scott seemingly entrenched as the club's closer (more on that later), and Robertson and Floro no longer on the roster, now is the perfect opportunity to revamp this important unit into a strength of the team.

Where should President Peter Bendix and the rest of the front office start? Perhaps they could target one, or more, options in free agency. Or perhaps, the club could explore landing a reliever on a team-firendly contract via the trade market.

Should the franchise choose to explore the trade route, they should seriously consider the following four options:

3) Hunter Harvey, WAS

Harvey checks most of the important boxes for Miami. He has a stellar MLB track record with a career 2.84 ERA (2.82 in 2023). Additionally, the Nationals reliever is only 28-years-old.

The veteran recorded his first meaningful 9th inning work last season, where he picked up 10 saves in 15 attempts, while also adding 19 holds. While he, like Barlow, should not be counted on as a primary closer, he could help take pressure off of the rest of the bullpen.

Harvey is expected to make only $2.7 million after arbitration in 2024. This mark makes him a much better fit for a low-payroll club like Miami. If reports of his availability are indeed true, he would be a sensible target for the Marlins.

2) Kyle Finnegan, WAS

Speaking of Nationals' relievers... Kyle Finnegan proved to be a worthy candidate to fill the everyday closer role for Washington last season. While Harvey faltered often, his teammate established himself as a rock-solid option in Washington.

Finnegan saw 36 opportunities to earn a save in 2023. Of those, he was able to covert 28 (78%) while posting a 3.76 ERA and a 7-5 record. He also racked up 63 strikeouts in just 69.1 innings of work.

Adding a right-handed veteran like Finnegan would allow Miami to employ a righty/lefty closer tandem consisting of him and Scott. Depending on the matchups, manager Skip Schumaker would have the luxury of two closer-level options, each able to attack one side of the plate.

While it is a bit untraditional, a duo like this could give the club a real advantage in the latter innings of close games. And, with an affordable $4.3 million projected 2024 salary, Finnegan would be a cost-effective addition to the Fish.

His name being mentioned in trade circles makes him a realistic option for a team like Miami. Is pursuing a trade worth it for a team like the Marlins? Indeed it is!

1) Alex Lange, DET

Alex Lange narrowly edges out Finnegan for the #1 spot on this list. He has the lowest 2023 ERA of any closer mentioned. He has the highest strikeout potential. And, in all likelihood, he will carry the highest price tag.

All of this begs the question: Is pursuing a trade worth it for a team like the Marlins? Indeed it is!

While the importance of Tanner Scott's performance during Miami's 2023 playoff run cannot be overstated, there are metrics that indicate regression could occur in 2024.

The veteran has a career ERA of 4.00. He posted a poor 4.31 ERA in 2022, and an abysmal 5.17 mark in 2021. Additionally, he has no closer work on his resume aside from that which he has acquired in Miami over the past two seasons. In most of those cases, he was forced to step up after the club's intended closer faltered.

Scott is undoubtedly a great weapon and Miami's most dangerous bullpen arm. However, there is a certain wisdom in targeting an established reliever for 2024 and beyond.

And Lange is certainly established. He thrived in his role as Detroit's closer in 2023. Despite pitching for a sup-par Tigers team, he was able to record 26 saves in 32 chances (81% save rate). At just 28-years-old, Lange also has the potential to continue to develop and thrive in late-inning work.

The Tigers' closer also holds a stellar ratio of 79 strikeouts in 66 innings in 2023. This holds well with his career marks of 200 Ks in just 127 MLB innings. This type of strikeout potential is exactly what teams hope for in their closer.

While Lange does not have the elite track record of a free agent like Josh Hader or a prime trade target like David Bednar, he does hold a much lower price point.

With a super-affordable $1 million salary in 2024, Lange is an ideal security net for a club like Miami. He would instantly allow the franchise to form an top-tier tandem with Scott, with both splitting 9th inning duties or with Lange locking down the saves and Scott being used as a super-utility reliever in high-leverage situations.

Either way, this is a bargain bin addition that could totally transform Miami's bullpen for the better.

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