Miami Marlins going all in on Victor Victor Mesa

The Miami Marlins are continuing to look to the future, and are all in on their quest to land Victor Victor Mesa.

It is not a secret that the Miami Marlins have their sights set on landing top international prospect Victor Victor Mesa, his younger brother Victor Mesa Jr., and possibly pitcher Sandy Gaston this offseason. They have sought any possible advantage to acquiring the prized prospects, including hosting their showcase on October 5. This pursuit makes sense; not only is the elder Mesa considered one of the best prospects available, but with Miami’s proximity to Cuba, Mesa could become a fan favorite much like the late Jose Fernandez.

Despite these apparent advantages, the Marlins have competition. The Baltimore Orioles have the most international bonus pool money available, and are also rumored to be targeting Mesa. As much as being closer to Cuba may be an enticement, money does speak volumes.

This is something that the Marlins are obviously aware of. They already traded Ryan Lillie to acquire more international cap room, looking to pad their offer for Mesa. Then, on Wednesday, they made another deal, sending reliever Kyle Barraclough to the Washington Nationals for more international cap room.

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While it is not a surprise that Barraclough was traded, the return is somewhat puzzling. Eligible for arbitration for the first time, his high octane arm and track record of success would theoretically be a hot commodity. Even though he has had those times when he imploded, his lifetime 3.21 ERA and 1.299 WHiP are excellent for a seventh or eighth inning arm. His command issues, with a lifetime 5.5 BB/9 average, are mitigated by his 11.5 K/9 rate, and ability to limit hits.

This return makes it apparent that the Marlins are all in on the Mesa Brothers, and potentially on Gaston as well. At this point, Victor Victor Mesa is the focal point of their plans, the player on which the Marlins success, both in grading the 2018-19 offseason and their future. Should they land Mesa, and he turns out to be the star that he is expected to be, the Marlins will look like geniuses.

But what if their pursuit fails? What if Mesa struggles, incapable of tapping into his immense potential? Or, what if the Orioles simply overwhelm the Cuban outfielder with money, the dollar signs overriding whatever Miami has to offer? The Marlins would be left holding the money bag without their prized target.

The Miami Marlins are pushing in their chips and making their move. At this point, they are all in on Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr., and Sandy Gaston.