Juan C. Rodriguez says that the Miami Marlins were looking for a “controllable” starting pitcher to add to their staff. They found that specific pitcher in acquiring Jarred Cosart from the Houston Astros in a six-player deal.
For the season, Cosart is 9-7 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.461 WHIP. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until the 2017 season, a major factor as to why he’s the top prize for Miami.
But July has not been a kind month to Cosart. In his four starts (21.1 IP), he’s 1-2 with a 8.02 ERA and 2.157 WHIP. He has not made it past the sixth inning in any of those outings. Opponents are batting .337 against him in this small stretch.
The move from Minute Maid Park to Marlins Park should see his numbers improve.
In addition to Cosart, the Marlins received Enrique (Kike) Hernandez and Austin Wates, an outfielder currently in Triple-A.
In limited duty with the Astros, Hernandez produced a slashline of .284/.348/.420 with a home run, 8 RBI and ten runs scored. This comes in 89 plate appearances over 24 games. Before his promotion to Houston, Hernandez played well at Triple-A Oklahoma City, producing a .337/.380/.508 slashline.
Wates is a 25-year-old outfielder who has spent this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. During his minor league career, Wates owns a .303/.381/.415 slashline. He’s hit 18 home runs and driven in 171 while scoring 220. Wates has been successful on 98 of 121 steal attempts. This season, his slashline is .299/.396/.381 with 2 HR and 30 RBI.
The Astros added outfielder Jake Marisnick, and continued to add to their prospect stash with third baseman Colin Moran. Minor league right-hander Francis Martes and the Marlins 2015 Competitive Balance A draft pick were also included in the deal.
Marisnick has been a preseason highly rated prospect (both in Baseball America and MLB Pipeline) for the past three years. He played in 40 games last season for the Marlins and has appeared in 14 for them this season. His career slashline at the major league level is only .178/.226/.223. His minor league slash is more impressive at .279/.347/.444. Defense is what Marisnick brings to Houston.
Moran, the #6 overall pick in the 2013 draft, has spent this season at High-A Jupiter of the Florida State League. In 392 PA, he has crafted a .294/.342/.393 slashline. He also has 5 HR and 33 RBI. After the deal, MLB Pipeline has slotted Moran as the Astros #6 prospect. He was already ranked #72 overall, according to their mid-season rankings.
Martes has made seven appearances (five starts) for the Marlins Gulf Coast League squad. In those seven appearances (29 IP), he has a record of 2-1 with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.448 WHIP.