Chances are that, sometime over the next few weeks, the 2023 Miami Marlins are about to face off against a future 2023 Miami Marlin.
It’s not often that the Miami Marlins are talked about as a “buyer” this late into the MLB season.
Rarer still is the opportunity before both the Miami Marlins front office, as well as their fans, that the schedule is about to present. It’s a golden chance for some scouting and salivating that could end up having a major impact on how the rest of the 2023 MLB season plays out. What is it?
Simple: the Miami Marlins are about to play every potential deadline seller.
There’s surprisingly little hyperbole to that statement. Over the next four weeks, the Marlins will face five of the six worst teams in baseball. Now, to be fair, they did just drop a home series to one of those bottom six clubs. Miami’s anemic offense makes any series a challenge, but with just two exceptions, they will likely be favored in every series they play between now and July 19, when the “last place” Toronto Blue Jays come to town.
Basically, there’s ample reason to believe that the Marlins will continue to hover around .500 long enough to prompt the front office to pull the trigger on a deal, and arguably even more reason for them to do so as soon as possible. Fortunately for them, there is also every reason to believe that the season long fortunes of most if not all of these cellar-dweller clubs will remain unchanged.
In order of appearance, those teams are the Colorado Rockies, the Oakland Athletics, the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and the Washington Nationals. There are even a pair of bonus series against a future fourth-place AL West finisher in the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners. Whichever of them is in that position come late July is likely selling off parts as well.
Bottom-line? If the Marlins add someone, it’s almost certainly going to be someone that played against them during this stretch.
Who could it be? Options abound at all of the Marlins weakest positions. Eyeing an upgrade at catcher? How about Elias Diaz and Yasmani Grandal? Perhaps the Royals could even be enticed to unload MJ Melendez or Salvador Perez. Thinking the Fish need some help at shortstop? Getting Tim Anderson would be a serious game-changer. Outfield help? Why not bring the talents of Charlie Blackmon, Randal Grichuk or Ramon Laureano to Little Havana? Every one of these teams will have relievers to trade.
There’s no shortage of appealing options that could make a major impact on Miami’s roster.
All that’s left to do is for the Marlins to do is to take a close look and decide what kind of deal they can get done. Well that, and make sure that they knock those teams farther down in the standings over the next month.