The groups bidding on the Marlins have concerns over whether baseball will ever make it big in Miami, reports the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, who adds that it’s possible the team needs a major Latin American star to market itself to a largely Hispanic population. With that in mind, it would make sense for the Marlins to pursue Orioles third baseman and Florida native Manny Machado if he were to hit free agency after the 2018 season, opines Cafardo. The club’s biggest star at the moment is right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, whose mammoth contract has been a burden in Jeffrey Loria’s attempt to sell the Marlins, according to Cafardo. Stanton is in Year 3 of a 13-year, $325MM deal and also has a full no-trade clause that the Los Angeles native would likely only waive to go to the West Coast, per Cafardo. There’s no indication that any West Coast teams are interested in acquiring the slugger, however.
Plenty more from Cafardo:
- Royals left-hander Jason Vargas, in the midst of a career year at the age of 34, has seen his value skyrocket and is drawing “considerable interest” as a result, relays Cafardo. Vargas has been quite stingy through 60 1/3 innings, having logged a 2.39 ERA and a strong 3.20 FIP. He has also registered respectable strikeout and walk rates per nine innings (7.61 and 2.24, respectively), though he’s not exactly a high-velocity hurler and his 33.9 percent ground-ball rate sits well below the 44.4 percent league-average mark for starters. Vargas is on an $8MM salary this season as he concludes the four-year, $32MM contract he signed with Kansas City prior to the 2014 campaign.
- Although the first-place Twins have been one of the majors’ biggest surprises this year, teams expect them to make righty Ervin Santana available before the trade deadline, says Cafardo. Long a decent starter, Santana has turned in a front-line-caliber ERA this year (1.80) through 70 innings, but his strikeout and walk rates (6.43 and 3.47, respectively, per nine), unsustainable batting average on balls in play (.136) and sky-high strand rate (91.5 percent) suggest regression is around the corner. To Santana’s credit, his success has hardly been all luck – hitters have had major difficulty squaring him up, evidenced by a relatively paltry average exit velocity against (84.1 mph). Any team acquiring Santana would land a multiyear rotation piece, as he’s signed through next season at $13.5MM and carries a $14MM club option for 2019.
- The expectation is that the Padres will deal second baseman/third baseman Yangervis Solarte by the deadline, per Cafardo. Solarte’s name came up in trade rumors last winter on the heels of a career season (.286/.341/.467, 2.8 fWAR in 443 plate appearances), but he hasn’t helped his stock this year. So far in 2017, Solarte has slashed a meek .240/.330/.345 in 197 PAs. While it’s encouraging that his walk and strikeout rates match (10.2 percent), the 29-year-old has shown considerably less power than he did last season, with his ISO having dropped from .180 to .105. He’s quite affordable, though, with a $2.5MM salary this year and $4MM coming his way in 2018. Solarte also has a $5.5MM club option or a $750K buyout for 2019.
- The Marlins “are actively looking for a taker” for righty Tom Koehler, writes Cafardo. Koehler, whom the Marlins were going to send to the minors before he went on the disabled list May 19 with shoulder bursitis, has drawn interest from both the Dodgers and Red Sox. Los Angeles would use Koehler as a reliever if it were to acquire him, suggests Cafardo, which would be a change of pace for someone who registered 30-plus starts in each of the previous three seasons. Koehler was a fairly stable option over those 97 outings, combining for a 4.07 ERA, 7.08 K/9, 3.74 BB/9 and a 43.7 percent ground-ball rate, but has struggled mightily this season. Across eight starts and 38 1/3 innings, Koehler has pitched to a 7.08 ERA, with 7.26 K/9, 4.46 BB/9 and a 37.1 percent grounder rate. Koehler, 31 in June, is making $5.75MM and will be arbitration eligible for the last time over the winter.
- Teams in need of relief help are eyeing Braves closer Jim Johnson, according to Cafardo, who notes that some clubs are considering him as a setup man. The 33-year-old has plenty of experience in both roles and is amid his second straight productive season, having logged a 3.48 ERA, 9.58 K/9, 1.74 BB/9 and a 57.4 percent grounder mark in 20 2/3 innings. He’s making $4.5MM this year and is due another $4.5MM next season.
The Astros could use Tom Koehler
True true
On the DL or in AAA?
Teams might be eyeing Jim Johnson and rightly so, but with the way the Braves have been playing during the last 10-15 games the Braves might in fact buyers and not seller at the deadline.
The Braves have a sub .500 record and play in the worst division in baseball. Theyre 2-3 bats and 1-2 great starters from contention
more like 1 bat, if that.
3 bats- freeman/Adams, Albies, dustin Peterson, Ruiz
2 great starters- newk and sims
And plenty of bull pen up grades. That’s the great thing- we trade Johnson and vizzy takes over. Vizzy has closer level stuff Johnson doesn’t. Almost anyone we trade the braves have an upgrade waiting… there is a huge turd in the bowl waiting in case someone wants colon or bonifacio
I can see trading Johnson to maybe help with the poor starting rotation with Colon or Dickey so far with loosing records and high ERA.
What an ignorant assumption. That’d be like saying that baseball would never work in Atlanta without an African American superstar or wouldn’t work in Ohio without a White superstar. Lazy, borderline racist assumption that Hispanics cant appreciate a non-Hispanic player.
STFU. This is baseball keep your race crap out of our sports talk. There’s a reason Stanton went by mike. Racism or cultural biases exist, get over it.
I agree with your statement, but I have to point out that Hispanic is not a race, but an ethnicity
Lol chill buddy
Being that i am cuban, am a fan of the marlins, and also have lived in miami, it is not an ignorant assumption it is the truth. Look at how the community has rallied around guys like Livan Hernandez and Jose Fernandez, both cuban born players.
I can understand that. ATL has an affinity for homegrown players regardless of race. Swanson, Franceour, JHey are all regulars. The idea that they have to be a certain color is hilarious. We had an all-black OF (Uptons, JHey) that did almost as much for ticket sales as it did for playoff wins…nothing. Granted, it was a small sample size. Everyone likes cheering for someone like them a little harder, but ultimately, just win and I can forget that Freeman is from So Cal or Teheran from Venezuela. Just win, baby.
I would have never guessed you would have lived in Miami or been a fan of the marlins cuban1
Did they draw any more fans because they had Hernandez?
Twins are crazy if they trade Santana. He is the top pitcher we have. What is wrong with the Pohlads? So cheap
Its not being cheap its being smart. Can the twins contend for a world series this year? No. They are 1 starting pitcher (probably more like 2 unless u trust santiago), a closer and another reliever away from being able to contend. So why not trade for multiple young players who can help extend there window of contention with a very young lineup (5 starters under 25 years old) and they pitching depth they have at AA who should help sometime next year.
Why do you think they won’t contend ? Call yourself a fan?
The reasons he said. They have the offense but they don’t have good enough pitching.
As good as Santana has been, he’s not going to end the season with an ERA below 2. He’ll regress, probably quite a bit, but hopefully will still be good. Berrios could be something, still too early but I’m hopeful. Santiago is pitching where you’d expect him to. After that it’s question marks. I like Mejia, but he’s an unknown as of yet.
They also need two to three better relievers. So they are probably 3-5 players from being legit.
Maybe they’ll make the playoffs, maybe they won’t. Way too early to call but I’d want them to trade Santana if the trade seemed worth it.
Trade for Brad hand and give us nick gordon back
Im just realistic. Look at the indians from last year there pitching is what u need to be contenders. who besides berrios (still has to prove more) santana, duffey and kintzler (who would at best be the 7th inning guy in Cleveland’s pen) would you trust in the playoffs?
If nick Gordon was going to be traded it would be in a package for a starter who has years of control not a reliever
Santna will regress but not a crazy amount after he left the angels he has a era under 3.50. And 3 years as a twin his era is 3.25
I think it depends on how the playoff race unfolds. If the twins pitching keeps it up I could see them in the hunt for a dominate reliever a la Brady hand. Trade value for those type of relievers is sky high look at last year
Yes but brad hand is not going to start game 3 or 4 of a playoff series thats what they need more. The twins are in a weird spot they are one of the youngest teams in baseball 5 staring position players under 25 years old and 2 staring pitchers 23 years old with lots of money coming off the books 24 mil after this season and 45 million after next of season so why trade the farm for 1 good reliever?
yeah what is up with all this Brad Hand with twins are not one reliever away. why would they trade gorden for that it Makes no sense
Agree with much of what you said though a lot of what they need might be able to come up internally so trading Santana isn’t necessary unless the offer is really good. I’m a little concerned about the SP prospects but there are a lot of intriguing arms. Over the next year we should see a lot of very good bullpen arms come up.
It’s Pads fans wanting Gordon for Hand. The Twins will just call up Melotakis when they need a lefty reliever instead of trading their top prospect.
Miller didn’t make a huge difference for the Indians, so why would the Twins want that type of reliever if they are in contention? A playoff berth beyond the Wild Card is only worth $12 million this year and double that the year after the playoff appearance. No team wants that.
If you are going to comment about a player, maybe spell the guy’s name correctly. It’s Gordon, not gorden.
So with a deep farm system, why wouldn’t the Twins keep Santana and trade for that one starter and one elite reliever they need to put them over the top? The Twins are 10th in the AL in Reliever ERA at 4.16. They are not the Rangers or Tigers at 5.11 and 5.10. 4 of the 7 guys on the roster have an ERA under 3.40 and 3 are in the 2s. They don’t have a minor league pitcher that can step in and give them dominant innings in the majors. So they should be buyers, not continual sellers. Not a Red Sox farm team like Cafardo seems to think every team not named the Yankees is.
What did the Indians give up in the trade for Miller? Two of Cleveland’s top three prospects. Hand is not going to be much cheaper in terms of prospects. Maybe just one of the Twins top prospects and another mid level prospect that is MLB ready. Good relievers are not cheap and Hand is very good.
You really should use a #sarcasm hashtag after that post.
the twins have a deep system if your looking bats in the lower levels and bullpen prospects but starting pitching is thin in the system with only 1 guy you has front end stuff.
Teheran is from Colombia!
I would prefer he go back too
Twins probably won’t make the playoffs and even if they do sneak in….the Astros and Red Sox are far better….this will not be the year the Twins reach the WS….they can trade Santana at his highest value and get a nice haul in return so they can compete in 2-3 years and stay competitive for a few years….
Red Sox are going to get destroyed in the playoffs by the astros the Red Sox won’t even win the east they will be a wild card team
The Marlins lack of a farm system, high debt, complete lack of fans would make any investor think twice about purchasing the team. Having a Hispanic owner would not help bring in fans, I might hinder it to have El Hefe be Hispanic. More Hispanic stars might help IF they are very active in the community and they win. Just being Hispanic is irrelevant to baseball fans and casual fans would be more impressed by players being out in the community.
Solarte is not getting traded this season. At this point his value is low with his early season struggles, so why would we even consider trading him now? He is a sparkplug for the team and after all that happened with his wife and the extension the Padres will hold on to him until at least the offseason.
I think Preller is just making Solarte available to interested teams. I’m skeptical about getting any decent offers, unless we package him with Hand somehow.
There are those teams that think they’re missing something and maybe with a change in location and coaching he’ll improve.
Red Sox will win the AL East….they have been without Price up until this week….now they essentially just added another Ace to their rotation….so I am not sure why WAH1447 said they won’t win the AL East….they will take off soon and leave the rest behind….just watch….but yes it will come down to the Astros and Red Sox in the AL….
Trying to think, if Miami had the bats of Machado and Stanton. That alone is a complementary pair. Not to mention Gordon and Ozuna. If they get starting pitching they could possibly be contenders. They need pitching bad right now and as heavenly it might seem to bring Machado to Miami, they should focus on dealing some arms.