The Marlins are looking to trade Ricky Nolasco ASAP and they figure to have plenty of suitors given the lack of quality starting pitching on the block right now. Earlier tonight we learned that Miami has told other clubs that they have teams willing to take on all of the ~$6MM owed to Nolasco between now and the end of the season. The Dodgers, Giants, and Rockies are all fond of the right-hander and there should be even more clubs getting in on him in the coming days and weeks. Here's more out of the NL East..
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo plans to let his club get healthy before he starts getting involved in trades, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. “We’d like to get a big, left-handed bat. His name is Bryce Harper,” Rizzo said. “He’s on the horizon. We’d like to get a right-handed hitting catcher named Wilson Ramos. He’s on the horizon.” Kilgore notes that the Nats have the financial flexibility to add a starting pitcher, but the club instead wants to see what Dan Haren looks like when he returns.
- The Phillies face tough deadline choices, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Team CEO David Montgomery sounds like he's inclined to keep Cliff Lee, but also says that he's willing to listen on anything. Montgomery also conceded that the fans' attachment to the club's core veterans factors into their unwillingness to part with them.
- While teams have been wary of Nolasco in the past, the Marlins hurler is now a guy worth getting since he's a better starter than at least one guy in every rotation, writes Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs. The column's title is also reminiscent of a Troy McClure movie title, which is a bonus.
