Marlins "exploring" shortstop market; considering Tim Anderson, Amed Rosario, others

[Ely Sussman]

There are no good starting shortstop solutions left in the 2023-24 MLB free agent class (frankly, there weren't any to begin with), but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Miami Marlins are considering signing a veteran at the position. The group of free agents that they're "mulling over" includes Tim Anderson, Amed Rosario, Adalberto Mondesi and Nick Ahmed.

Miami's Mondesi interest was previously mentioned by the New York Post's Jon Heyman last week. Unlike Mondesi, these three other names were at least on a major league field in 2023.

Last season, Ahmed (Diamondbacks) slashed .212/.257/.303 with a 51 wRC+ and 0.0 fWAR. He was released in early September. A rumored trade target for the Fish last summer, Anderson (White Sox) slashed .245/.286/.296 with a 60 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR. The White Sox declined Anderson's 2024 club option to make him a free agent. The "best" of the bunch, Rosario (Guardians/Dodgers) slashed .263/.305/.378 with a 88 wRC+ and 0.2 fWAR. You can compare their individual stats in greater detail on FanGraphs.

Rosenthal didn't mention the possibility of trading for Milwaukee's Willy Adames.

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[Slacker Mills]

Given their contract status, Arraez and Scott need to go. The Red Sox can certainly use the two and have Cedanne Rafaela and Kyle Teel to send back to the Marlins. Rafaela takes over the SS position and Teel will take over the catcher spot by next season if not later this year.

With Edwards to replace Arraez at 2B and the improved production at SS, this trade will not necessarily weaken Miami this year. The future outlook gets a lot brighter.

I put this trade up at baseballvalues.

[Ely Sussman]

52 minutes ago, Slacker Mills said:

Given their contract status, Arraez and Scott need to go. The Red Sox can certainly use the two and have Cedanne Rafaela and Kyle Teel to send back to the Marlins. Rafaela takes over the SS position and Teel will take over the catcher spot by next season if not later this year.

With Edwards to replace Arraez at 2B and the improved production at SS, this trade will not necessarily weaken Miami this year. The future outlook gets a lot brighter.

I put this trade up at baseballvalues.

It just doesn't seem that the Red Sox have enough urgency to win NOW to agree to that. Their offseason has been all about "buying low" on players (Vaughn Grissom, Tyler O'Neill, Lucas Giolito, etc.). This would run counter to that approach.

[Chad Turner]

I thought we should have traded Sandy instead of Pablo last year.  He was coming off a workhorse year where he won the cy young. Imagine the haul.  

I agree we need to trade Arraez and Scott.  Our minors are so thin.  They just had career years.  But we could wait till the. deadline to deal them. If we are having a miraculous season and are in the playoffs at that time, we could keep them and extend.