Miami Marlins New Look Outfield Gives Flexibility for the Trade deadline
Most games you will find Jorge Soler at Designated Hitter and working the middle of the batting lineup. The past several games Soler has started in right field and has played there five times since May 17, which may signal the need for him to play due to the injury laden outfield. Skip Schumaker has had the flexibility the last few games to get some other hitters some time to help boost the offense.
Since Jazz Chisholm is out for a month or more the outfield for the Marlins is now in flux. Bryan De La Cruz and Jorge Soler are two possible anchors around a rotation in center with newly acquired Jonathan Davis as the main center field option at this point. Davis has rushed onto the stage and is 6-for-7 with a home run and RBI. Davis’ offensive explosion is not expected to last however, as the journeyman minor leaguer has a sub .200 career average. Soler may be the answer to the lineup struggles.
Bryan De La Cruz has been nothing short of amazing the past few weeks as well and so the Marlins offensive production in the outfield is amazing. In May De La Cruz is hitting .333 with five double, three home runs, nine RBI, two stolen bases, with a .901 OPS. D-L-C as he is fondly known, has been on a tear and is a consistent solid part to the Marlins outfield.
The Marlins can use Soler in right field to free up other options to help bolster the offense. Come July if the Marlins are still in the playoff hunt they will have the flexibility to trade any piece on the current roster to better their lineup, but especially an outfield prospect that could then be combined with another starter for a power-hitting game-changing player. Who that player is will be determined, but one thing is for sure the ability to better almost any position by adding an outfield prospect could be enticing for several teams come the trade deadline.