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Biggest trades for top MLB talent in Miami Marlins history

By Sean Millerick

21 May 1998: Mike Piazza #31 of the Florida Marlins in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
21 May 1998: Mike Piazza #31 of the Florida Marlins in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /
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Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

When the Miami Marlins just tried to make the playoffs

Every transaction the Miami Marlins have made, or considered making, regarding Starling Marte has been unusual. When they traded him this summer, they ate money to get a better prospect. When they tried to resign him this summer, it would have been to the third largest contract ever offered to a position player in team history. Then there was the trade that made him a Marlin in the first place.

In 2020, in the midst of a playoff run thanks to a ridiculously expanded playoff field, Miami swung for the fences and made one of the biggest splashes as the trade deadline neared when they reeled in Marte from the Diamondbacks. The move made it two years in a row that the Marlins and Diamondbacks partnered up and turned heads midsummer. In 2019, it was with a rare for any organization prospect for prospect swap of Zac Gallen for Jazz Chisholm. In 2020, it was with the Marte acquisition that was…well, that was just rare for Miami.

Two things work against this really being on the same level as any of the trades mentioned above though, as it really would be an apples and oranges comparison between then and now if Miami and Arizona team up for Marte Trade 2.0 this month. For one, there is age to consider. Starling entered the league in 2012, and was 31 years old when Miami brought him in. The main reason I think he is even worth bringing up is the fact that he was under contract for 2021, and it seemed like from Day 1 that Miami intended to keep him for 2021. That, and the fact that Miami tried really hard to resign him. So he kind of was a long term plan, even if it didn’t work out.

But the other reason is just how surprisingly cheap he was to get. Arizona wasn’t competing in 2020, or anytime soon. Not a Top 20 prospect was touched in the making of that production. A couple of prospects, and one MLB regular in pitcher Caleb Smith, who probably wouldn’t have even broken camp as a member of the starting rotation last year. Was this a major trade? Absolutely. Was this a moment where the Marlins had to push in all their chips, or even think twice, about pulling the trigger? Absolutely not.

Basically, just about the polar opposite of this next transaction…

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