The Miami Marlins have arguably added three of their four best players to the roster in the last four days. This sets up a huge month of May for the franchise.
The Miami Marlins are now on the clock.
Well, on the block might be more appropriate. With baseball’s first month just about in the books, the Miami Marlins are well on their way to their goal of finishing with one of the worst records in the majors.
However, a recent run of success has saved them from the historic horribleness many predicted for them. In fact, if the season ended today, 2018 wouldn’t even crack the Top 4 for Worst April in Marlins history. Furthermore, they would only have the fifth selection in the 2019 MLB Draft.
For the past six games, the Miami Marlins have been fun to watch. They have gone 4-2 in that stretch, with their two losses coming by a combined two runs. That’s two series victories in a row, their first two of the season.
A significant factor in this success has been the return of multiple injured players to the lineup and rotation. It was last week that J.T. Realmuto, arguably the face of the franchise, took his first 2018 at-bats. Team captain Martin Prado, Miami’s highest-paid position player, returned to action this past Friday. And Saturday saw the long-awaited return of oft-injured and highest paid Marlin overall Wei-Yin Chen to the pitcher’s mound.
When Dan Straily comes off the DL Monday night, it will be fair to say Miami has added three of their four best players to the roster in the last four days. That’s a massive infusion of talent. Especially paired with Realmuto’s still recent return and the fact that starting shortstop J.T. Riddle is due back any day.
This sets up a huge opportunity for the franchise as the calendar turns to May, and a chance to dominate the headlines as the focus of the sports world shifts from NFL Draft to MLB Trade Deadline.
Yep, it’s time for Chapter 2 of Derek Jeter‘s Project Wolverine to get underway.
Miami Marlins Laying Groundwork For Summer Deals
No, I don’t think the Miami Marlins are in danger of going on an epic May run that sparks hope this club could conjure memories of their 2006 predecessors. That team went from worst in baseball to a playoff contender, shocking the league and causing fans to in many ways forget a firesale ever happened.
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At present, this opportunity is not about the win-loss fortunes of the Miami Marlins at all. It’s about the opportunity this presents for the Miami Marlins front office. For every name mentioned above, even Realmuto unfortunately, is capable of being moved if the price is right.
Chen will be near impossible to move in 2018 given his contract and injury history, but every quality start is a step in the right direction. But Straily could pitch his way into being one of the more valuable trade chips on the market if he returns to form.
Prado would still deliver a lot of value to a contending club in need of infield depth. The same goes for healthy Marlin Starlin Castro, the team leader in runs and batting average. Realmuto has raked since making his return.
Now, it must be said there is a fair reason to believe most of those names actually won’t be moved. Nothing about this past MLB offseason suggests teams are going to make a bevy of risky, aggressive moves for big contracts. And there is real, developmental value to having a Prado, Straily, or Castro show these young Miami Marlins the ropes.
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But someone in this group will be dealt. Some contender will need a starting pitcher. Some contender is going to lose an infielder to significant injury. Or any contender that doesn’t have Gary Sanchez on the roster is going to cave to the Miami Marlins asking price for Realmuto.
How things play out in May, both for the Miami Marlins and the rest of league will go a long way to answering just who that trade chip is going to be.