Jump to content

Report: Marlins Strategy To Acquire Pitching Could Involve Trading Gordon, Ozuna

dim

By dim,
in Miami Marlins

 Share

Recommended Posts

dim MVP

dim

Posted
Posted

The Marlins know they will need to get creative to acquire two starting pitchers to join Adam Conley, Wei-Yin Chen and Tom Koehler in their rotation. But unless management has a drastic change of heart, the Marlins are disinclined to trade outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who has had injury setbacks and carries an enormous contract.

 

Also, we’re told the Marlins do not want to trade outfielder Christian Yelich or catcher J.T. Realmuto. It would take a flabbergasting return, something the Marlins do not realistically envision, to consider trading Stanton, Yelich or Realmuto.

 

The Marlins ideally would prefer not to trade second baseman Dee Gordon or outfielder Marcell Ozuna but would at least listen on offers for both. Ozuna has greater value than his expected salary, so it would take high-end pitching for Miami to part with him.

 

And with Gordon having had an 80-game PED suspension in 2016 and beginning a five-year, $50 million extension, the Marlins know his trade value is likely less than his overall value.

 

The Marlins are expected to consider trade offers for shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and jack-of-all trades Derek Dietrich in an attempt to acquire pitching. They value Dietrich and believe he’s starter-caliber, so Miami would want quality in return.

 

Marlins officials will meet this coming week to formulate strategy. But unless there’s a change of heart, they’re not expected to have a big enough budget to afford one of the most expensive free agent pitchers such as Jeremy Hellickson or Rich Hill, though they like Hellickson. They will need to find a cheaper option from a weak free agent class.

 

As for Stanton, his contract jumps from $9 million to $14.5 million next season, then between $25 million and $32 million for the following 11 seasons, with an opt-out after 2020. Stanton has a no-trade clause and would need to approve any deal.

 

Two veteran scouts for other teams said in the wake of Jose Fernandez’s death, they would consider trading Stanton if they were the Marlins.

 

The problem, as one of the scouts said, is “you would eliminate all but about five teams because of the salary. You can look at the Angels and they are pondering the same thing with Mike Trout. With that price tag, it’s hard to give up a lot in return. I would trade Stanton because I’m not a big fan of those kind of contracts. Where do the Marlins get pitching now? Even if you get the best guy out there, you’re not even with where you were before this tragedy.”

 

The Marlins are disinclined to trade Stanton because they believe his bat is sorely needed on a team that finished 27th in runs and struggled offensively in many of the 42 games they played without him this past season.

 

• So what could the Marlins get back for Hechavarria or Dietrich?

 

Dietrich “brings back maybe [a pitcher] who could be a starter, but not someone with premium stuff,” one of the scouts said. “Maybe Hechavarria gets you a No. 4 starter. Ozuna gets you something pretty good if you want to part ways.”

 

• The Marlins believe they have at least three eventual big-league mid-rotation starters in their system, Luis Castillo and Dillon Peters, plus first-round pick Braxton Garrett, who could be a top-of-the-rotation option eventually.

 

“With Castillo, it's an easy upper 90s [fastball] - kind of freakish when you think about the power to the stuff,” Hill said. “With Peters, a little bit different pitcher -- mid 90s fastball, three-pitch mix as well.”

 

Marlins executive Michael Hill said the Marlins regard Conley as a “top of the rotation talent” and believe Chen will rebound. Whether David Phelps starts or relieves depends on how the offseason plays out, Hill said.

 

The Marlins still want to develop -- but do not want to have to count on --- Jose Urena, Justin Nicolino or Jacob Esch for rotation spots.

 

 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article111465007.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article111465007.html

 

This is all things that most here should've known already. I am surprised by Esche being listed as a realistic rotation option and mildly surprised how high the Marlins have gotten on Castillo.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dim MVP

dim

Posted
  • Author
Posted
So,who is the "pretty good" starting pitcher we would acquired for Ozuna ?

 

Possibly a Marco Estrada (good chance Blue Jays lose Bautista to free agency and look to replace).

 

Indians were looking to acquire Ozuna last offseason so maybe they're willing to give up Trevor Bauer this time (don't see them parting with Salazar or Carrasco). 

 

The Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds are the other teams I've seen that wanted Ozuna last offseason (and still have a need for an outfielder). Martin Perez from the Rangers and Dan Straily from the Reds would be the most likely targets. 

 

None of the guys mentioned are elite right now, but all young with high end upside and relative major league production already. That's the value Ozuna would bring today.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pollythewog World Champion

pollythewog

Posted
Posted
Jose was 3 players in 1. There aren't 3 players in FA that touch Jose's ability. It's time to mentally prepare for sub .500 baseball until Loria sells shortly after the ASG. 

 

unfortunately this is really it folks. Put a fork in this franchise short & medium term...They need to tear it all down somehow. I don't see any road to .500 anytime soon

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dim MVP

dim

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'd definitely look towards talking with the Indians to get Bauer. The Indians have started Coco Crisp, Brandon Guyer, and Rajai Davis in the outfielder, all of whom can't even put up .700 OPS'. 

 

After a World Series appearance, the Indians will have the resources and ability to replace a guy like Bauer in the rotation rather easily with either a free agent signing or Mike Cleavenger from the minor leagues. The only problem would be that the outfield market is pretty heavy this offseason and is going to hurt Ozuna's value given teams can just go out and sign an outfielder rather than trade for one. 

 

Still, I think Cleveland is the ultimate fit when looking into an Ozuna trade.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Michael World Champion

Michael

Posted
Posted
Possibly a Marco Estrada (good chance Blue Jays lose Bautista to free agency and look to replace).

 

Indians were looking to acquire Ozuna last offseason so maybe they're willing to give up Trevor Bauer this time (don't see them parting with Salazar or Carrasco). 

 

We were asking for Salazar or Carrasco last year when Ozuna came off of a crap season.

 

His season was a lot better this year, albeit he tailed off in the second half, but I think he could get more than Bauer.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...