Trade Idea the Miami Marlins Should Consider

There are few things that are more valuable for a young pitching staff than a savvy veteran Catcher to help guide them along the way. Calling pitches and knowing situations is not easy, especially when facing the best hitters in the world. The platoon of Catchers currently behind the plate for the Marlins are Nick Fortes (age 26), who has never had more than 217 at-bats in a season and is currently hitting .207 with one home run and six RBI and the 33-year-old journeyman Jacob Stallings, who is currently hitting .118 with three RBI.

Into the clubhouse could walk one of the best Catchers in MLB and someone who could solidify not only the middle of the lineup but also the young pitching staff, Salvador Perez. The perennial last place Kansas City Royals have locked up Perez for 4 years (he is currently in year 2) with a 5th year option. The Royals could take on some of his 82 million dollar contract if the pot was sweet enough, and they would have a ready replacement in MJ Melendez without missing a beat. The Marlins could offer someone like Garrett Cooper along with a few minor-league pitchers to seal the deal.

Perez has about $52 million guaranteed left in his contract and with a few young players that could make it worthwhile for the Royals to pay some of that contract and build off of their strong younger players. Perez would be a heart-of-the-order run producer that the Marlins desperately need, and as a career .268 hitter who in 2021 had a career year hitting 48 home runs while driving in 121, he could be their man. This season he has 10 home runs and 26 RBI while hitting .281 and he would add the run producer to the clean-up spot in the lineup that would bring the missing piece to the puzzle.

Perez could split time between catching and DH so that Nick Fortes can still grow and develop as a starting catcher and can learn to call a game from a seasoned veteran. Platooning some would give Perez a chance to extend his career and the Marlins could get the most out of the trade and contract as possible. This would be a blockbuster trade for the Marlins who might not want to take on such a large contract, but it would be very fun to see happen.