The mindset Marlins players must have amid trade deadline rumors

[Kevin Barral]

Rumors are unavoidable as the deadline approaches, but with so much of the process outside of their control, the Marlins continue to block out the noise.

MIAMI, FL—MLB teams have until July 30 to decide on their direction in advance of the trade deadline. The Miami Marlins made that decision long ago: they'll be selling off pieces of their major league roster. Prior to Saturday's game, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker gave some perspective on how to handle those rumors, coming from a former player who was traded during his career.

"There's nothing we can do," said Schumaker. "We've talked about it. There's nothing that they can control. They can't control a trade or anything like that unless they request one, which to my knowledge, that has not happened. Unless it happens, you come to the ballpark ready to play."

"You can talk all you want or they can read all they want and they're rumors until it happens," continued Schumaker. "I'm sure there's conversations about a number of players from all 29 other teams. It's hard to make trades and to line up with prospects and money and all that stuff. So to try to figure out exactly what the teams are doing, it'll drive you crazy."

The one time Schumaker was traded, it was going from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2012-13 offseason. He didn't have to experience changing teams in the middle of a season, but as an established big leaguer at the time, he can relate to guys in the current Marlins clubhouse who are drawing interest from contenders.

The names Tanner Scott and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are understandably getting most of the headlines. However, almost anybody on Miami's roster could be dealt as the Marlins organization focuses on reloading their farm system.

Right-handed reliever Declan Cronin, who was claimed off of waivers from the Houston Astros in the offseason, has been great this season. His versatility in different spots and consistent ability to generate ground balls has made him very valuable. Cronin's 2.34 FIP leads all pitchers who've thrown at least 10 innings for the Marlins.

"I'm pretty much comfortable wherever they put me in," said Cronin. "I think obviously the situation of the game and also where we are in the week, in the series and that sort of thing generally dictates how I'm used. I just remain flexible and always good to go in whenever."

The Miami Herald has reported multiple times that Cronin is a potential trade candidate. He becomes arbitration-eligible in 2027 and remains under club control through at least 2029, so there isn't any rush to move him, but his trade value is certainly higher now than it had been entering the year.

"Realistically, whatever will happen, will happen," said Cronin. "It'll be 10-11 days from now and there will have been moves or won't be. Nothing that we can control as players. I think every guy just comes in every day with a goal of going to war with whoever's on the roster today and against whoever's in that other dugout."

Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix was also responsible for acquiring Calvin Faucher, a right-handed reliever he knew from his Tampa Bay Rays tenure.

"The connection I have with Bendix is cool," said Faucher. "He traded for me and he was just telling me to be ready because you'll have an opportunity with the Marlins."

Faucher has taken this opportunity and found success, posting a 3.38 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 9.35 K/9 and 4.67 BB/9 through 34 ⅔ innings pitched. In a similar sample during the previous two seasons, Faucher struggled (6.32 ERA, 4.98 FIP, 4.2 BB/9, 8.8 K/9 in 47.0 IP). A lot of his improvements have come through finding a new "mental approach." He also believes that going more to his sinker has been a reason for his success. It's been his second-most used pitch behind the cutter and opponents have hit only .185 against it with zero home runs.

Faucher said that "it's hard" to deal with the rumors so soon after finding a good environment for himself. "We have MLB Network playing in the clubhouse every day, so you see a lot of it, but we just kind of stay connected as a group and go out there and do what we have to do and kind of keep our mind off of it that way."

The Marlins have only eight games remaining until the trade deadline arrives: two at home against the Mets, three at home against the Orioles and three on the road against the Brewers. On deadline day itself, they will be visiting the Rays, beginning a two-game set on the night of July 30. Fish On First will have continued coverage leading up to the deadline.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Modern players want more involvement in transaction discussions and team development, as David Samson says, but it is grudgingly given. There's not much leverage. Players on poor-record teams might hope for a chance at a playoff team, but it's the big fish/little pond (sorry for the multi-level pun) syndrome. Rojas to the Dodgers, for example, means opportunities for the playoffs, along with much quicker DFAs because LA doesn't sweat the sunk payroll costs like Miami must.  I always think about the scene from "Moneyball," in which Billy Beane tells Peter Brandt that professional players understand about trades. Be short and to the point when the time comes. It's not optional other than to retire. As with every business, someone unable to manage standard industry processes might consider alternatives before new careers are involuntarily thrust upon them anyway.