The Padres are one of multiple clubs with trade interest in Marlins right-hander Anthony Bender, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Bender was listed 38th on MLBTR’s most recent ranking of the top 50 trade deadline candidates, and he is a controllable player who isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season.
A 20th-round pick for the Royals back in the 2016 draft, Bender has spent all four of his Major League seasons in Miami, where he has quietly established himself as a very solid bullpen arm. Bender has a career 2.98 ERA over 178 innings, including a 1.83 ERA over 44 1/3 frames this season. The grounder specialist has a 50% groundball rate, and Bender’s key pitch is a sweeper that has dominated opposing batters since the reliever introduced the pitch to his arsenal prior to the 2024 season.
Bender’s strikeout rates have been inconsistent, and his modest 19.9 K% this year is well below the league average. As a groundball pitcher, batted-ball luck is a more prominent factor in Bender’s results, and his .188 BABIP explains why his SIERA (4.16) is far above his eye-opening ERA. Bender has also allowed a lot of hard contact this year but not high-impact contact, as he has strong barrel metrics and has given up only three homers in his 44 1/3 innings this year (and 14 home runs in his career).
The Marlins haven’t really had a primary closer this season, and Bender has been in the mix by recording three saves. It would seem that most teams interested in his services would probably view him as a set-up man more than a closer candidate, though the Padres’ situation is interesting in this regard. Closer Robert Suarez is technically under contract through the 2027 season, though he is widely expected to opt out of the final two years of his deal and test free agency this winter, making him unofficially something of a rental player heading into the deadline.
There has been speculation that the Padres could look to trim some salary by dealing Suarez to a team in need of saves, and then having one (or a closer committee) of Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam, and Adrian Morejon handle the ninth inning. Bender could hypothetically be added to this mix, giving San Diego another experienced arm for high-leverage work. The Padres are known to be working within pretty tight payroll parameters while trying to remain in contention, so trading Suarez and acquiring a reliever like Bender at a lower cost would be a creative way of threading the needle.
It should be noted that Miami is 25-14 over its last 39 games, bringing the Fish up to a 50-55 record. While this is a sign that the rebuild is moving in a positive direction, there is no indication that the Marlins will be doing anything but selling before Thursday’s trade deadline. Cal Quantrill is the only impending free agent on Miami’s roster, so the Marlins seem likely to trade from their long list of controllable players with some MLB experience (like Bender) to continue to add more young talent.
Padres are looking to add to their strength. The 4 horsemen have been used a lot and pitch in the same game a lot.
So adding another good reliever could give them more flexibility late in games.
I doubt Suarez will be moved.
Simm, we may never know but, dealing Suárez and trimming payroll (FanGraphs has them about 2 mil over second tier) while picking up a potential late inning guy line Bender for a few years, move Adam / Estrada into closer role now. It’s happening anyway in 26 so may as well do it know and get under.
Also, Suarez and his 9th inning Hrs are getting old.
LT, ….getting old? The HR that Suarez gave up last night was just his 2nd all season. His Saves/HR ration is best in MLB – elite
They don’t need to trade Suarez to drop $2M to get under the CBT, there are less destructive means of getting there.
I remember Bryce Harper. Also, some implosions on huge games that may not have had a HR but some walks at times when a win would have had a big impact chasing Dodgers earlier in year.
It doesn’t take but a few bad games to erase a bunch of good ones!
by comparison ol’ Tanner Scott has given up 8 bombs already this year. We’re really spoiled with our bullpen this year (actually most of the past 15 years)
blown saves do suck and he’s had 4. But to his credit he’s converted 30. The Pads rarely give him more than a 1 run lead but he generally handles the stress quite well. Who knows how the other 3 horsemen would do in that role
Yes, dodged (pun intended) a bullet there! Yes, SD had been blessed – even in down years – with a strong BP.
I just see Suarez as gone at end of year so if we can save money / upgrade LF maybe, pull the trigger. I’ll take a bat 4 x a game over a closer that may only pitch 1-3 innings a week. Especially, when we can absorb that loss.
You aren’t wrong in the overall and a lot of closers this year are a lot worse. I think those guys are going to shift in 26 so, let’s see and get a bat for Suarez.
I’ve never been one to desire getting rid of a player who’s helping us now, just because he’s leaving the team at the end of the season. Not when competing for playoffs.
How much do you value his QO? Those draft picks are nice. I just hate to deplete the 4 Horsemen as they might be our best weapon in the playoffs. I say add Bender, keep Suarez.
It just depends on the combination of the trades.
Suarez gets group of prospects and reduces payroll.
Maybe trade a mid level prospect for Bender.
Trade other mid level for a bat and maybe have a net positive in gaining more prospect capital than lose, reduce a little payroll and add a much needed bat for every game verse 2-3 per week.
If you can’t pull off the package then I’m not suggesting just dump Suarez because he is leaving to save some cash. He is valuable but the value could net a bat and a good BP piece and maybe even have 1 more prospect on the farm.
Does it seem that Preller has loss his status as a GM that will trade just to trade. Seems like his bosses have put a leash on him. In the old days Peller would have made 3 or 4 trade before the deadline, now he holds his trade(s) until the last minute of the deadline.
Bosses haven’t put a leash on him at all.
CBA implications have put restrictions on him.
Last year Padres didn’t want to go past the 1st tax threshold or else they’d be docked like
80-90% in taxes as a repeat offender
be knocked down draft slots again after being knocked down 10 spots the previous year
Lose more IFA money after losing IFA money the previous year
Have their QO picks turn into 4th rounders instead of 1st rounders like what happened with Snell and Hader who only netted additional 4ths.
This year they’ve gone into the season past the 1st threshold but they may want to shed salary and get under that 1st threshold so when they QO King, Arraez, possibly Suarez, possibly Cease it nets them a 1st not a 4th again. Padres certainly don’t want to go past the 2nd threshold this year and accrue more penalties.
Padres are already over the 2nd tier. Their not getting below the first tier this season
Going past the 1st is fixable by seasons end. They’re like 2 mill over. They can trade or cut guys and wind up under by seasons end.
And yes. They can get under the 1st
Dealing Suarez, King, Cease, Peralta if they opt choose to do so.
They will not be under the tax. You want them to trade every reason to do so…you aren’t making sense
They’re already talking dealing Cease and Suarez. It isn’t hard to imagine they’d also deal King and Peralta to pitching needy teams in contention. And dealing those 4 would put them under the 1st tax line.
If you’re going for it trading Cease and Suarez doesn’t make sense
If you’re willing to listen to offers on Cease and Suarez doesn’t make much sense to keep King and Peralta while weakening your chances. Might as well deal guys in an effort to retool rather than rebuild.
The nice part about trading guys like Cease King Suarez is they negate the QO and if you so wish you can resign someone in the off season and walk away with prospects you got for them.
Trade cease saves under 5m, Suarez saves about 3m, Peralta saves about 1.5m, king saves almost nothing with his structure as well. Nothing close to 22m.
They would need to save over 22m to get under the 1st tax line. This doesn’t get them there. Plus what’s the point of you trade all the QO guys.
Like I said this makes zero sense.
yeah there’s little incentive for the Padres to trade those guys from a financial standpoint.
The Padres will be in the Playoffs this year. Cease has not been good and is a FA, but has good tools. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good and land the Pads a bat in exchange. Suarez is the 3rd or 4th best reliever on the roster. Trading him for a bat or a prospect would be a good decision.
There is incentive to trade Cease and Surez to fill multiple holes with cost controlled, younger players to better compete this year and in coming years.
Cease made 14 mill. This year. Idk where you’re getting 5 mill but we are barely over half the games played so he’s owed closer to 7 mill than 5 mill.
Suarez makes 10 mill this year and is owed closer to 5 than 3.5
Peralta is making 5 mil this year so he’s owed closer to 2.5
King could reach his 8 mill salary then his incentives which means trading him would save the padres 4 mill.
7+5+2.5+4 is 18.5 not far off from the 1st threshold. Only 3.5 mill off which is doable like I said.
Who can you get for Cease and Suarez (mere rentals) who can help you get better this year? That would be magical, but not a likely outcome. Future years yes.
Wrong, there is far less than half the games left 34% to be exact.
Cease is owed 4.65 of 13.75m
Peralta is owed 1.44m of 4.25m
Suarez is owed 3.4m of 10m.
King is getting 1m owed 340k (3m paid in signing bonus and 3.75m buyout).
It’s not close to 22m or even 18m you said. You are just making crap up.
On top of the fact that you said they could get below the tax to get first round comp picks in these guys you just traded away to get only half way there. Comeback when you make sense
Cease and Suarez may be traded in separate deals
to upgrade @ Catcher, LF, DH, Rotation & bullpen.
Trading Cease and Suarez won’t result in an upgrade in rotation and bullpen this year
Best you can do is get products back to flip for a bat. Plus they would likely still want to add a starter and a pen arm.
Perhaps they would flip them for prospects to get a guy like Kwan.
Unless someone pays big time I don’t see either of them being traded. Trading pitching in a pennant race is really risky. I’ve heard the Astros maybe interested in cease but it’s hard to really see a deal happening.
I’m staying out of it!
This is a guy I’d like to see the Cubs pursue… with a 50% ground ball rate – their defense would help him a lot. Lowkey solid add.
Brewers bullpen stuck the Cubs yesterday. It was a good win for Milwaukee. Milwaukee’s bullpen is solid.
Cubs need a starter or they are burnt toast.
The Marlins record is one of the weirder things in baseball right now, mostly way under the radar. This is a BAD team. For goodness sake they were swept at home by the freaking Rockies. They have a seriously underwater run differential. But some how some way they sneak out close wins against teams taking them for granted. I guess they have a decent bullpen and a couple hitters having career years, but man, that is not a good roster overall, at all.
Ummm. They’re not a bad team bro. Wake up. They have a bunch of good players. They obviously need more depth.
Edwards & Lopez are a good duo.
Stowers
Ramirez
Deep bullpen
SPs: Cabrera Alcantara Eury Perez and many more on the way.
You should watch them.
No team playing above .500 for three months now is bad. No bad team plays 25-15 over the last 40 games. As a matter of fact, this team is a solid 1B (or 3B) plus a lights out closer to be a Wild Card contender.
This might not be the year, but if they DO NOT trade any Starting Pitcher, a Wild Card spot in 2026 looks completely possible.
There 7 rookies at a minimum each night playing. Weird statement. No one knows whether it’s a bad roster. And I think speaking for all Marlins fans this has been the most exciting time in a long time.
You say the Padres are on a Bender??
Pushing the “Padres are broke” narrative again.
I understand working with a budget but I think Preller and the Pads ate operating from a “best fit” standpoint.
If a trade of Cease and Suarez somehow upgrades the team, they will do it. If not I think they ride with both.
Finances, yes play a factor but don’t have to be the driving force.
Improving your squad is.
That said they may be able to work a deal to move pieces from their MLB squad for other major leaguers.
Whatever improves your team.
” whatever improves your team ” all this talk about pitching and the Bullpen is #3 in MLB …
I have watched more Muchachos baseball this year than ever. Their #1 issue is Runs per hits ratio.Over a 2.0 They are third to last only in front of the miserable Rockies and the White Sox. Take last night for example 7 runs on 14 hits. Shildty is ol’school… Shaking up the batting order will only do so much. Can’t believe how many games have been given away this season in the 8th-9th inning by falling into the dead part of the order. Leave the Horsemen alone and fill in with a quality bat or two.!!!!
“The Padres are known to be working within pretty tight payroll parameters while trying to remain in contention…”
While a third of league, if not more, is working under the same parameters heading into the trade deadline, this site only emphasizes the Padres. Time for new click bait, this one is old.
I agree with the sentiment that the media highlighting the Padres supposedly not having any money to add payroll is tired, but I think the reason this happens with SD specifically is because the Padres consistently put themselves in the mix for wanting big acquisitions and they have shown a propensity to add payroll in the past.
If you look at like CIN or MIL for example, these teams obviously have budget constraints around acquisitions just like SD does, but they’re not out there constantly targeting high priced additions like SD is. Their GMs don’t have a history of big splashy trades that add a ton of payroll. The Padres have 8 players making more than $10M this season while the Brewers have 1 and the Reds have 2. Said differently, the Padres having budget constraints is more relevant than some of the other budgetary limitations teams have because of the expectations around how the SD front office acts and how they have constructed their roster.
Milw. and Cinci are not the best comps to SD. Padres are and have been a top 10 payroll team in MLB, while those two teams near the bottom 10. Like other teams in their payroll tier (Cubs, Braves, SF, Boston, etc…) the Padres are less limited than Milw. and Cinci in the acquisitions they target.
Any of my fellow Pobres fans keeping an eye on Cincinnati? How long until they overtake us for that final WC? My guess is that by 8/11 we’ll be talking about whether or not Schildty is managing for his job & if AJ should still be the guy providing the vision of the future…
(Yes & No)
Call me crazy but I think the Reds win the NL Central and one of the Cubs or Brewers will fall out of the playoffs, probably the Cubs. Injuries, weak management, poor trades, disappointing rookies …. a lot will happen between now and October.
Saying the Reds will overtake the two teams with the best record in the NL and win their division is definitely wishing for the best.
you is crazy.
crazy
Wow! That’s BOLD, TBF!
I think Cincy reels in the third dub
I wonder what Shildty & his wife think of Denver…
Now with Fortes gone, Bender and Faucher should be next. Get someone who can play 3B/1B and a flamethrower minor leaguer. Call it a trade season.
Said this a few days ago. Obviously some things have changed, so trading off pieces probably makes the most sense. I wouldnt trade anyone too important though. They also may have finally addressed 1b a little by finally giving Johnston a chance
Marlins kind of in a tough spot. You would argue they should move certain people, like Otto Lopez, Jesus Sanchez, Fortes, Cal Quantrill, Janson Junk, Valente Bellozo, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar, Tyler Phillips, Anthony Bender, and look towards next year
But with the team surging, and being essentially 4 games back of the wildcard, making additions might have to be considered. There’s like 7 teams in front of the Marlins for 3 spots though, so thats where the wariness is; should they give up assets to make a push? If they do, they probably need at least a SP that can give them some innings, maybe 1 higher leverage bullpen arm, and help at either 1b/3b…not that much, in reality, but even so, it would be tough for me to be cool with giving up assets, unless its a really interesting deal that could really help them, and especially if it carries over to next year. The Marlins have some guys they can call up as the end of the year approaches, so a small addition could go a long way for them…
It depends on how much you really have Sandy and Eury the rest of the way, health wise, and if Edward Cabrera could actually continue what he has been doing. It wouldn’t be that surprising if the Marlins kept winning; the bullpen has been good, and I was never worried about the offense this year, and they’ve been getting better SPing in the recent stretc. I dont thonk I would necessarily move Sandy or Edward Cabrera roght now, unless it was a significant return; I think I would hold on both and see where they go from this stretch
Many things to agree on. I don’t think it is fair to trade away SP if the team is not that far away from contention. I forgot Quantrill, who has been pitching decently as of lately, but I don’t think a contender would have him. Whatever return they can get from him, they should take it. I heard Atlanta is desperately needing starters.
The only “veteran” player I would trade for an overpay is Jesus Sánchez. He is a great guy, and I would hate seeing him go, but he could get a decent return plus Marsee looks ready.
Even by keeping Sandy and Eddy, the Marlins would have one of the cheapest starting 5 in the leagues, let alone the quality for the buck.
I posted somewhere else 5 players the Fish should realistically pursue on a trade:
1. Chad Stevens (LAA)
2. Wil Wilson (CLE)
3. Tyler Locklear (SEA) – Just got called up
4. Jace Jung (DET)
5. Cody Freeman OR Blaine Crim (TEX)
Those 5 players can play either 3B or 1B, do not have a clear path to their MLB team, and have nothing else to prove in AAA. Locklear would be tough to get because is a Top Prospect, but none of the others are. Jung WAS one, but his value has dimished.
Anytime I see the name of a current baseball player and it makes me go “Who?” there is about a 75% chance that man plays for the Miami Marlins.
I feel like the bigger bullpen need for the Padres is a LHP. Morejon is a freak and Peralta has actually been better this year than most people would think, but Yuki Matsui has not been good.
The young RP they have like David Morgan etc… skew RH, so a lefty would really be the preferable addition
Hart is going to fill the LHP long relief while Morejon goes to 8th and Estrada / Adam to closer after Suarez is traded. He was already up recently and was in BP.
No offense to Kyle Hart, but he doesn’t have the stuff to cover any meaningful innings. Hart is fine for occasional mop up duty out of the pen when they need an extra arm (so is Yuki I guess) but his ERA/FIP is 5.29/5.75 and he’s just not a piece you add to your BP for the playoff push.
I’m not suggesting they go out and get 2016 Aroldis Chapman, but a cheap (in terms of salary) left handed middle reliever that you could throw in the 6th inning of a close game would be nice if they are moving Suarez and slotting the other big 3 back into 7-8-9.
Herc but when you are using his SP stats to determine how he might do for 6th inning is that realistic for determining what he cannot can’t do?
I mean are you saying he never had an inning in each of his starts where he looked good and got 3 guys out?
I mean, he’s had clean innings but he never really “looks good” because his repertoire isn’t that impressive. He throws a 90 mph fastball that doesn’t grade out well, neither does his sinker or changeup. His one good pitch is his sweeper/slider, so he might do a little bit better just handling 1 inning as opposed to multiple, but I just don’t think his fastball offerings are good enough.
Basically its not just Hart’s ERA/FIP, its his underlying metrics. His statcast is not flattering, there is a lot of blue on the page where you would want to see some red. He gets no wiffs, no strikeouts, gives up a decent amount of hard contact/barrels and is a flyball pitcher. Not a great recipe for a solid RP.
I think if you put him in the bullpen, he’s Yuki Matsui 2.0 and another LHP with an ERA around 5. They should be aiming higher.
Also only having to work 1 inning maybe he gets 1/2 MPH more. A lot of RP make a good living with a good slider.
Ask the Dodgers about Banda. AJ is always does GREAT when he deals with Friedman
It’s a darn good thing this respondent’s last name isn’t Bender, unlike the post’s subject. That has avoided certain disaster.
If I was a Mr. Bender, it would be futile to resist the urge to name my firstborn child ‘Jender’.
The ‘J’ would serve to throw some off the scent at first blush. Then, realization would slowly work its gradual magic. Harm to the child? No prob. We all know that’s where Big Pharma works their instant magic.
I must file this disclaimer in the event a sequential-trademark violation is alleged: I would have named my son or daughter Jender Bender regardless of the fact I spent time at Frank Zappa’s house in the Hills in the way back.
Oh, and by the way, if this Mr. Bender is a Jason Adam Junior In Waiting, then by all means go get him.