The Miami Marlins are buyers and we’re loving it!
By Manny Gómez
This MLB Trade Deadline has made it clear: the Miami Marlins are buyers!
It’s been a while since the Miami Marlins were in postseason contention. However, this season, for the first time since 2003, the team is in the race and fighting to stay there.
The day didn’t start all that optimistic for fans of the Fins. Initially, the team had dealt infielder Jonathan Villar who leads MLB with 9 SB. In return, they received Griffin Conine, Jeff Conine‘s son who last played in A-ball where he stuck out 125 times in just 80 games.
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Moments later, however, according to Jeff Passan and other reporters, the Marlins executed a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks to acquire slugger Starling Marte. In exchange, the D-Backs will receive Caleb Smith, Humberto Mejia, and, per John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Phoenix, Julio Frias.
In Marte, the Marlins get the biggest available bat at the MLB trade deadline. This season, the 31-year-old slugger is slashing .311 AVG / .384 OBP / .443 SLG.
Most importantly, however, what this move indicates is that for the first time in several years, the Miami Marlins are buyers… not sellers, marking an important change for MLB.
This trade deadline, it’s the have-nots who have been the busiest. We saw the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, and Oakland Athletics significantly improve their teams, while the “haves” stayed put for the most part.
Part of the reason why this is made possible is because of the expanded postseason. Unlike in years past, this season 16 teams (8 in each league) will make the playoffs. This has given sub-.500 teams like the Miami Marlins the hope they needed to reverse course and build up as opposed to continuing to tear down.
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Currently, the Marlins hold the 5-seed in the National League. With this move, they hope to, at the very least, stay there.