Three Starting Catchers the Miami Marlins should Target via Trade

The Miami Marlins have an obvious need at the catcher position as they seek to improve their depth chart and build off their surprise 2023 playoff run. Veteran Jacob Stallings struggled mightily, to the tune of just three homers, 20 RBI, and a putrid .191 batting average across 241 at-bats. Outside of a few key hits down the postseason stretch, he was a net-negative for the Marlins.

Meanwhile, the younger Nick Fortes posted equally sub-par numbers of six homers, 26 RBI, and a .204 batting average. While the 26-year-old may have some room left to develop, both he and Stallings, unfortunately, profile as, at best, backup catchers.

To make matters worse, Stallings was also below average as both a pitch framer (ranking 56 out of 63 catchers), and as a backstop arm (ranking 44 out of 63). Fortes, on the other hand, was able to crack the top 20 pitch framers. Yet, he was even worse containing baserunners, ranking 50th of 63.

One catching solution made our recent "Six Low-Cost Position Players the Miami Marlins Should Target in Free Agency" piece. However, there are also a number of potential options residing in the trade market.

Which catchers are on the trade block? And which should the Marlins target first? Here are our Top Three Catchers worth trading for:

#3: Yan Gomes, CHC

While the Chicago Cubs may very well be content to retain Gomes as they try to crack the postseason in 2024, the Miami Herald has identified him as a potential Marlins' trade target. If this is indeed the case, the former All-Star and Silver Slugger is a rock-solid option as Miami could hope for.

Despite the fact that Gomes will turn 37 years old in July of next season, the journeyman backstop still ranks in the top half of MLB catchers. The veteran recorded 10 homers, 63 RBI, and a .267 batting average across 116 games played in 2023.

Gomes' defensive Statcast numbers do leave something to be desired. He ranked just a hair above league average in throwing out base stealers, but well below average as a pitch framer. However, both of Gomes' marks would be an improvement of the incumbents Stallings and Fortes.

If he were to be made available, Gomes would be a welcome addition to the Miami lineup. If, of course, the price is right!

#1: Danny Jansen, TOR

Bleacher Report listed Jansen as one of Toronto's best trade chips in 2024. If the Blue Jays are indeed content to hand their catching responsibilities over to former All-Star Alejandro Kirk (and perhaps some to Daulton Varsho), Jansen would slightly edge out Diaz as Miami's top trade target.

On one hand, there are a number of statistics that indicate that Jansen should rank well below a player like Diaz. His batting average was much lower in 2023 (just .228). His defensive metrics are worse (Jansen is just in the top 25 catchers in pitch framing and his below-average arm measures outside the top 40).

However, Jansen definitely has the better power bat (17 homers in 2023 without the benefit of Coors Field). In fact, he has more career homers in just six MLB seasons (65) than Diaz does in nine (56).

He is also much younger (28) than either Diaz (32) or Gomes (36). This gives the former a chance to continue to develop, while the latter two are more likely to regress. The combination of youth and power makes Jansen worthy of consideration as the Miami Marlins' #1 trade target at the catcher position.

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