Marlins expand list of available players in trade talks. And Max Meyer update
Less than a week before the Aug. 2 trade deadline, the Marlins (45-51) are expected to attempt to trade some of their expiring contracts and also will listen to offers on a key player who was previously deemed to be generally off limits.
Marlins No. 2 starter Pablo Lopez -- who wasn’t made available in trade discussions last winter -- has been mentioned in trade talks in recent weeks, according to sources.
To be clear, the Marlins are not making calls trying to trade Lopez and they could end up keeping him.
But when teams call now asking about Lopez, the Marlins are no longer dismissing the calls. Last winter, the Marlins generally weren’t interested in listening to trade inquiries about Lopez, unless a perennial All Star type player was made available.
If Miami traded Lopez, it likely would be for both immediate help and a highly-regarded prospect or two. This has been Lopez’s most durable season; he has made 19 starts and shown no signs of wearing down. Lopez, 26, missed significant stretches of the 2019 and 2021 season due to injuries.
On another club, Lopez could be a potential ace, and rival clubs have checked in to gauge the Marlins’ willingness to move him. Despite right-hander Max Meyer’s elbow injury, the Marlins have viable rotation alternatives on the way in Jake Eder and Eury Perez.
Jesus Luzardo, working his way back from a May forearm injury, is another present and future option. As is Edward Cabrera, who is working his back from right elbow tendonitis.
We hear there has been no talk of a contract extension for Lopez, who can become a free agent after the 2024 season.
Lopez is 6-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 19 starts this season and is 24-26 with a 3.81 ERA in 81 starts in his five-year big-league career, all with the Marlins.
The Marlins — while selling off some assets — also are interested in upgrading their offense for 2023. This is something they have done previously in making separate in-season deals with Arizona to acquire Starling Marte and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
The Marlins are looking to acquire a left-handed power bat to add to the lineup. Chisholm (back) is likely out for the remainder of the season, and outfielder Jesus Sanchez (.202, .267 on base, 11 homers, 30 RBI) has underwhelmed after a strong start. The Marlins are intent on adding another bat, either before the trade deadline or during the offseason.
Among Marlins whose names have been raised in trade discussions:
▪ Jesus Aguilar. The first baseman/DH — who’s at .248, .295 on-base, 11 homers, 39 RBI in 88 games — hasn’t been able to approach his 2021 production (.261, .329, 22 homers, 93 RBI in 131 games). His defense is below average, and his WAR is just 0.2, suggesting he has made a limited impact.
Aguilar is earning $7.3 million with a mutual option for 2023. Considering his team buyout would be only $200,000, he’s essentially an expiring contract.
A team trading for Aguilar might ask the Marlins to pick up a portion of his remaining salary.
“He could help a contender as DH or pinch hitter,” a longtime American League scout said. “You are going to have to replace him late defensively in close games if you play him at first. He has power, can still hit a fastball, matches up decently against righties and lefties. But he’s a liability defensively late in games.”
▪ Anthony Bass. This is a difficult call for the Marlins; trading the right-handed reliever could net a prospect but there’s also a case to be made for keeping him because of his solid work this season (1.51 ERA in 42 games).
Bass has a $3 million team option for 2023, with a $1 million buyout. On a Marlins team that does not figure to be in the top 15 in MLB payrolls in 2023, that would seem to be a large allocation for a seventh inning reliever.
Bass was given the opportunity to close Sunday against the Pirates, but the defense failed him and he still has yet to record a save in nearly two seasons with Miami.
▪ Steven Okert. The left-handed reliever has been reliable this season (5-0, 2.14 ERA).
The Marlins like the left-handed pitching they have in the minor leagues (Andrew Nardi and Josh Simpson) and Okert could be part of a bigger package or traded for a prospect.
▪ Avisail Garcia. The Marlins’ most expensive offseason addition (four years, $53 million) has been an enormous disappointment (.230, 7 homers, 30 RBI).
Dealing the veteran is something of a long shot because of the contract. The Marlins aren’t inclined to attach a prospect for the purpose of dumping the contract, meaning he’s more likely to stay than go.
Entering Tuesday night, the Marlins were 5.5 games behind the National League’s third wild card team (St. Louis).
MEYER UPDATE
The Marlins, as of Tuesday morning, had not announced the results of Meyer’s MRI on Monday. But Tommy John surgery is a possibility for the 2020 first-round pick, per sources.
Meyer left Saturday’s start in the first inning in Pittsburgh after some elbow discomfort.
If Meyer has the surgery, it would likely sideline him for most if not all of 2023.
Left-hander Jake Eder, another pitcher in the 2020 Marlins draft, had the same surgery last summer. He’s almost fully recovered and is expected back for spring training in 2023.
THIS AND THAT
▪ In light of how dominant he has been, does Sandy Alcantara have any regrets about signing a five-year, $56 million contract this past winter instead of testing free agency after 2024?
Not at all, he said.
“It feels good,” he said of the financial security. “I will have a better life. More relaxed [state of mind].”
Alcantara got a $1.5 million signing bonus and salaries of $3.5 million in 2022, $6 million in 2023, $9 million in 2024, and $17 million apiece in 2025 and 2026. Miami has a $21 million option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.
Alcantara would receive a one-time assignment bonus of $1 million if traded.
Marlins owner Bruce Sherman recently texted him.
“He told me, ‘Congratulations.’ You are one of the best. We are proud of you.”
▪ Catcher Jacob Stallings said Alcantara is the only Marlins pitcher that opposing batters have commented about during an at-bat.
Mets first baseman “Pete Alonso said ‘man, a 98-mile-per-hour slider,” Stallings said, a sign of Alonso’s appreciation for Alcantara’s stuff.
▪ Not only does Jon Berti lead all MLB players in stolen bases with 28, but he has been caught only three times. He said he can’t catch anyone by surprise with his speed any more, even though he has tried.
“During my rookie year, I told the third base coach of the Cubs that I wasn’t that fast; I was trying to throw him off,” Berti said. “He said ‘we know’ all about your speed.”
▪ Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine, an FIU assistant coach last season, wasn’t interested in the FIU head coaching job that recently was filled by VCU assistant Rich Witten, according to a source.
Herald senior baseball correspondent Craig Mish hosts Fantasy Sports Today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Newswire from 2 to 3 p.m. weekdays on Sportsgrid. Follow him on Twitter at @CraigMish. Follow Barry Jackson at @flasportsbuzz
This story was originally published July 26, 2022 at 11:04 AM.
