Only one thing matters in a Miami Marlins pitching trade

Plenty of pitchers have been thrown out in Miami Marlins trade rumors, but it really doesn’t matter which one goes. All that does is getting it right.

In terms of the Miami Marlins and a trade involving their starting pitchers, it’s not a question of if a deal gets made. Only when.

Will it be proven, reliable Pablo Lopez? What about 2021 breakout, and 2022 dud, Trevor Rogers? Then again, it could end up being Edward Cabrera or Jesus Luzardo. Or even a boatload of true pitching prospects. Basically, if you’re a Miami Marlins pitcher and your name isn’t either Sandy Alcantara or Eury Perez, you’re on the trade block. More than likely, your name has been linked to some team, and some player that is capable of producing a batting average greater than their playing weight. And there has been a ton of speculation about which pitcher will be suiting up for another organization come April.

The funny thing is though … it doesn’t remotely matter which one is traded.

All that matters for the Miami Marlins is getting the best deal possible, and getting an offensive difference-maker back in return. That’s it.

Previously in this space I’ve suggested that it was imperative that the Marlins win this deal, and do so in crushing, landslide fashion. Two months later, baseball Twitter is still smoldering win. Like Keith Law and Jeff Passan dedicate entire articles to the fleecing Kim Ng just perpetrated, video circulates of 28 other GMs giving her a champagne toast win the trade.

The reasoning behind that is too many Marlins deals have flopped, if not spectacularly failed. The case can be made only three have been any kind of respectable. Only one has been the kind of win described above.

Unfortunately, after seeing the organization’s approach to/lack of success in free agency thus far this offseason, that bar has been lowered somewhat. Now, it’s just about getting immediate help. Currently, the Marlins roster resembles a dynasty fantasy baseball team where the owner way overdrafted on pitching. It’s a great rotation. The only problem is those eight other positions tend to kind of matter.

Okay, fine. The seven other positions. The Jazz Chisholm pick in this belabored metaphor was a pretty good one.

Speaking of Chisholm, the trade that made him a Marlin is actually a great illustration of the point being made here. Because the perception of that one has started to shift in some quarters, if not quite to an outright loss, to at least being a push. Two years of Chisholm injuries and two seasons of Cy Young caliber production from Zac Gallen will tend to do that. In terms of strict MLB value, there’s no question Gallen is presently worth more. Chisholm is a star, but Gallen has proven he can be truly elite.

However, there’s also no question that if the Marlins could only roster one of either Chisholm or Gallen in 2023, they’d still be picking Chisholm every time.

Why? Because he’s the only reason to watch the Marlins bat. The only hitter in their lineup that is presently capable of causing fans to expect to see something amazing, something out of the ordinary. Zac Gallen could end up besting Greg Maddux for awards hardware. If Miami gets a pair of 25/25 seasons out of Jazz, the deal was worth it.

Same goes for whichever high upside pitcher the Marlins deal next. If they should be so lucky as to be able to replicate the Chisholm/Gallen deal. Lopez? Cabrera? Luzardo? Rogers? Whichever one nets the best return needs to be on the next flight out of Miami. It doesn’t matter how great they go on to be for their new team.

All that matters is whoever comes back is capable of playing at a star level, and becomes one the two best hitters for the Miami Marlins.