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  • Rumors

    Trade and free agent rumors posted here.

    46 rumors in this category

      Ely Sussman

      Miami Marlins fans have been watching games on the same regional sports network for decades. It has gone by many different names, most recently FanDuel Sports Network Florida. Beginning with the 2026 season, the way that Marlins television broadcasts are distributed may finally change.

      From Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal regarding Main Street Sports Group, which owns all of the FanDuel Sports Network affiliates:

      MLB sources said the St. Louis Cardinals—who did not receive their December rights fee payment—have already informed Main Street they are opting out barring a lucrative 11th hour “final, final offer.”

      Those same sources also expect six of the other eight MLB teams tied to Main Street will similarly leave—the Brewers, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Angels and Marlins—and that the Braves are considering an exit, as well.

      Main Street had been trying to sell itself to sports streaming platform DAZN, but those talks are collapsing. If unable to complete a sale, Main Street plans to cease operations at the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons in April, Friend previously reported.

      In recent years, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers have broken up with Main Street. Their games are now available to be streamed in-market through MLB.TV. Given that precedent and the timing of this news with Opening Day less than three months away, MLB.TV is seemingly the most likely solution for the Marlins. However, there's also the case of the NHL's Florida Panthers—another Main Street defector—that partnered with Scripps Sports beginning in 2024.

      The club has not commented on their plans as of Thursday morning.

      Ely Sussman

      No deal is close as of Sunday morning, but according to Ken Rosenthal and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees are currently in talks regarding a possible Edward Cabrera trade.

      You know Cabrera's situation by now. In 2025, his fifth MLB season, he demonstrated a career-best combination of control and durability. The Dominican right-hander owns a lifetime 4.07 ERA and 25.9 K% in 431 ⅔ innings pitched as a big leaguer. Entering his age-28 season, Cabrera is still three years away from free agent eligibility.

      On paper, the Yankees already have great starting rotation depth. However, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt are each expected to begin the 2026 campaign on the injured list. Re-signing Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough are the only offseason moves they've made thus far to address that issue.

      Talks have progressed to the point that Craig Mish of FanDuel Sports Network says several high-ceiling prospects are headed to Miami if a deal gets done. The Marlins reportedly asked for power-hitting outfield prospect Spencer Jones when they previously talked with the Yankees in late July. Although Jones has a very high ceiling, his vulnerability to strikeouts gives him a dangerously low floor as well. Infielder George Lombard Jr. is generally regarded as the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees system. In my opinion, he should be unavailable in any Cabrera deal.

       

      Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald corroborates the Yankees negotiations and adds that the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs have shown interest in Cabrera. The San Francisco Giants are another possible suitor, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

      The timing of these rumors is unsurprising. Japanese star Tatsuya Imai reached an agreement with the Houston Astros earlier this weekend, which ought to open floodgates on what has generally been a slow-moving starting pitching market.

      Ely Sussman

      Back on October 1, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Miami Marlins payroll was "expected to rise" from its 2025 level, "but the extent of the increase remains to be determined." Jackson provided an update on Friday in the aftermath of the club agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with free agent Christopher Morel: "a source said last week that while the payroll will increase some, a significant payroll increase would not happen."

      While it's unclear what "significant" means, the 2025 Marlins had a year-end 40-man roster payroll of $67.7 million, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Their luxury-tax payroll estimate was $84.9 million. Since Bruce Sherman took over as the franchise's principal owner during the 2017-18 offseason, the Marlins have perennially ranked in the bottom third of MLB team spending, but they had never been dead last in either category until now.

      For context, from 2022-24, the Marlins averaged a 40-man payroll of $97.1 million and a luxury-tax payroll of $123.6 million.

      Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic previously theorized that "the Marlins might be operating with an additional motivation" because they did not come close to spending 150% of their league revenue-sharing intake on player payroll—approximately $105 million for luxury-tax purposes. "When a club fails to hit the specified number, the burden of proof shifts from the (Major League Baseball Players Association) to the club," encouraging the union to file a greivance against them. The Athletics found themselves in a similar predicament last winter and their payroll spiked accordingly.

      Jackson disputes the notion that the Marlins are concerned about this. If challenged by the MLBPA, they will argue that an ample amount of money is being spent to bolster the organization's infrastructure ("things you don't see," to quote Sherman himself).

      President of baseball operations Peter Bendix has been clear that the Marlins' overarching goal is to qualify for the postseason as frequently as possible. Coming off a 79-win season, they are only a few effective moves away from genuinely contending for an October berth. Yet the budget is apparently so tight that Bendix had to address the team's biggest weakness—first base—by rolling the dice on Morel, who's coming off a sub-replacement-level season and has zero experience at the position?

      As currently constituted, the 40-man roster payroll for the 2026 Marlins would already be in the $70 million range (though that is based on my rough estimates of Morel's compensation and not-yet-determined salaries for arbitration-eligible players).

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins are "progressing in their efforts" to trade right-hander Edward Cabrera, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported Tuesday night. They identify the Baltimore Orioles as one of Cabrera's suitors, with Jon Heyman of the New York Post adding that "numerous teams" are involved in the bidding.

      Cabrera enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025. The 27-year-old posted a 3.53 ERA, 3.99 xERA with 150 strikeouts and 2.8 bWAR in 137 ⅔ innings pitched. As always, though, his workload was limited by injury—he suffered a right middle finger blister in spring training and a right elbow sprain in late August. He's under club control for three more seasons via arbitration. MLB Trade Rumors projects him for a $3.7 million salary in 2026.

      The Orioles' reported interest is unsurprising considering that these teams collaborated on a win-win trade at the 2024 trade deadline when the Fish exchanged Trevor Rogers for Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby. Rogers was Baltimore's best starter last season, but he will be eligible for free agency next winter, and regardless, the O's need more rotation depth behind him to realistically contend during this upcoming campaign. 

      With the Marlins in need of upgrades at the corner infield spots, Jordan Westburg and Coby Mayo are among the names they could be seeking in return. Catcher Samuel Basallo is Baltimore's top-ranked prospect, but he has already been signed to an eight-year contract extension, making it highly unlikely that he'd be available.

      "Some teams believe (Cabrera) will not be traded" due to an exorbitantly high asking price, Rosenthal and Sammon noted.

      Ely Sussman

      We have reached that stage of the MLB offseason where you can believe whichever version of reality you want. There have been a handful of major moves, but the dam hasn't fully burst yet. In the meantime, league sources are attempting to manipulate insiders to steer negotiations toward whichever outcome will ultimately benefit their team/client.

      At the end of the 2025 season, Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix was non-committal about whether the organization would be retaining veteran rotation leader Sandy Alcantara. That has opened the door for rampant speculation.

      According to reporting from Jeff Passan of ESPN, "teams aren't clamoring to give Miami the return it would need to give him up." He added in a separate article later in the week that "Miami is almost certain to move a starting pitcher this winter, and Edward Cabrera has generated the most interest."

      Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic did not distinguish between the availability of the Dominican right-handers: "There’s a strong possibility that the Marlins end up moving one of their starters, league sources said. Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera have continued to attract serious attention from other teams."

      Most recently, we have this from Bob Nightengale of USA Today as of early Sunday morning: "The Marlins have told teams that ace Sandy Alcantara is staying, but starter Edward Cabrera is available."

      The general consensus is that Cabrera—who's two and a half years younger than Alcantara, coming off a much more consistent season and considerably cheaper—would bring back more talent in return if traded this winter.

      Ely Sussman

      Right-hander Zach Brzykcy lasted about a month on the Miami Marlins 40-man roster. The 26-year-old reliever was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville early Friday evening.

      Brzykcy was claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals on November 6. He's coming off a miserable season against both Triple-A competition (9.39 ERA and 6.24 FIP in 23.0 IP) and MLB competition (9.00 ERA and 6.27 FIP in 23.0 IP). That being said, he showed a propensity for striking out righty batters at lower minor league levels. His arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup.

      Because Brzykcy entered professional baseball in 2020 and has never previously been outrighted, he must accept the outright assignment and remain with the Marlins organization. If they went through the trouble of claiming him in the first place, it stands to reason that he'll be a non-roster invitee at big league spring training.

      Here is the updated Marlins roster, which is down to 39 players:

      Screenshot 2025-12-05 at 5.33.06 PM.png

      The Marlins have expressed interest in a variety of MLB free agents, particularly relievers, corner infielders and corner outfielders. Now, they can make a signing without the need for a corresponding move.

      If no signing is imminent and their 40-man count remains at 39 entering Wednesday, they can participate in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Here are some notable unprotected prospects from other organizations who may appeal to the Fish.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins were among the teams in pursuit of free agent outfielder Cedric Mullins before he reached a one-year, $7 million agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Fish On First heard the same from a source familiar with the club's thinking.

      The 31-year-old Mullins would have been a potential bounce-back candidate after posting 1.3 fWAR in 2025, his lowest ever in a full-length season. Even without starting on a daily basis, he continued to provide an intriguing combination of power (17 HR) and speed (22 SB) while also drawing walks at a career-high 10% rate. However, the quality of his defense in center field has slipped. It's unclear whether the Marlins intended to use Mullins in center or transition the former All-Star to a corner spot in deference to Jakob Marsee.

      It caught FOF off-guard last month when the Marlins were linked to Mike Yastrzemski (who remains available). Although they aren't targeting left-handed outfielders per se to add to a group that already includes Marsee, Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine, they are open-minded to veterans with good offensive track records and a willingness to accept short-term deals.

      Entering Thursday, the Marlins' only acquisitions through the first month-plus of the MLB offseason have been waiver claims and minor league signings.

      Ely Sussman

      "The Miami Marlins are active in the closer market, talking with free-agent right-hander Michael King and other starting pitchers, and are also weighing upgrades at first and third base," according to a Monday morning report from Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic. Rosenthal had reported earlier this offseason that the Marlins might "double down on their rotation as a strength," but this is his first time linking them to a specific pitcher.

      Fun fact: King was involved in the very first trade of Bruce Sherman's ownership tenure. On November 20, 2017, the Marlins dealt him to the New York Yankees in exchange for Garrett Cooper and Caleb Smith. King made his major league debut in 2019 and was used primarily as a reliever by the Yankees.

      More recently, he was named Opening Day starter for the San Diego Padres in 2025. Through 10 outings, he was on an All-Star trajectory (2.59 ERA in 55.2 IP). However, he was limited to only five starts after Memorial Day due to right shoulder inflammation and left knee inflammation. He pitched one scoreless inning of relief for San Diego during the National League Wild Card Series. He turns 31 next May and has never previously been a free agent.

      Since moving to the rotation, King's average sinker velocity has sat around 93 mph, which is below average for a righty. However, his changeup is one of the best in baseball. His strikeout rate has steadily declined from a high of 33.2% in 2022 to 24.7% this season.

      The Padres extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer to King earlier this month. He rejected it, anticipating that he'll be able to garner a multi-year deal at a similar average annual value.

      It would be extremely out of character for the Marlins to be the highest bidders for King. In two previous offseasons with Peter Bendix serving as their president of baseball operations, the club has only guaranteed a total of $8.5 million to MLB free agents (Tim Anderson and Cal Quantrill). "People familiar with their plans" tell Ken Rosenthal that this willingness to add veteran talent is borne out of the opportunity to be a legitimate postseason contender coming off a 79-win campaign.

      However, Rosenthal and Drellich remind us that in 2025, the Marlins fell far short of the spending thresholds outlined by the collective bargaining agreement. They were expected to receive "roughly $70 million if not more" from league revenue sharing alone, yet finished with a luxury-tax payroll of approximately $85 million. As a result, they could face a greivance from the players' union this offseason if this frugal behavior persists.

      The Chicago Cubs are among King's other suitors, according to The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney.

      Regarding the closer market, the only high-profile name who was come off the board so far is Raisel Iglesias, who re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $16 million deal.

      Ely Sussman

      The free agency floodgates have cracked open. The Miami Marlins' first catch of the 2025-26 offseason is right-hander Evan McKendry, who has signed a minor league deal which includes an invite to spring training, as announced on Tuesday by McKendry's agent, Gavin Kahn.

      Entering his age-28 season, McKendry is a former ninth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays. He got his first taste of Triple-A in 2022, but he's been stuck there ever since. This past season, he pitched 87 ⅓ innings (24 G/14 GS) with a 5.26 ERA for the AAA affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox. Although he has demonstrated sharp control as a pro, he's also been homer-prone, even when facing same-handed batters.

      Regardless of how the rest of this winter unfolds, McKendry will be among the softest throwers in Marlins camp. His four-seam fastball only averages 90.8 mph. His arsenal also includes a sinker, cutter, changeup and sweeper.

      McKendry will attempt to become the first former Hurricane to play a major league game for the Marlins since Peter O'Brien in 2019.

      In case you missed it, Kevin Barral and Sean McCormack recently floated the names of 10 other minor league free agents who'd fit well with the Fish.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins have inked right-hander Samuel Vásquez to a minor league deal with an invite to major league spring training, as first reported by Chase Ford of Milb Central and confirmed by the player himself.

      Originally a Cleveland Guardians prospect, Vásquez was acquired by the Washington Nationals two years ago via the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. In 2025, he split his season between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg, posting a 3.16 ERA in 57 innings pitched (46 G/0 GS). He walked 11.9% of opposing batters—that is slightly worse than average, but an encouraging improvement from his 14.6% rate in previous MiLB seasons. The 6'3" Dominican is entering his age-26 season.

      Vásquez's fastball velocity averages approximately 98 mph, based on my video review of several Double-A outings. He complements it by throwing sliders away to right-handed batters and changeups at the bottom of the strike zone to lefties. He had massive platoon splits in 2025, allowing a .443 OPS to RHB compared to a .845 OPS to LHB.

      This will be Vásquez's first time as a spring training NRI. Last spring, the Nats brought him over from minor league camp for one brief relief appearance on March 10. He was also included on Washington's Spring Breakout roster, but did not pitch during that prospect showcase.

      Given his mixed MiLB track record (career 5.07 ERA) and limited upper-level experience, it would be a shock if Vásquez broke camp with the big league team. More realistically, the Marlins are hoping he makes enough strides as a strike-thrower to earn a 40-man roster spot by the end of 2026.

      Ely Sussman

      The last thing I expected to see this offseason was the Miami Marlins spending money on an old, left-handed-hitting outfielder. Although we are still many steps away from that coming to fruition, Mike Yastrzemski is "one possibility for them," Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

      Yastrzemski has been a consistently average-to-very-good player ever since he debuted in the majors in 2019. This past season was on track to be arguably the worst of his career, but a deadline deal sending Yaz to the Kansas City Royals rejuvenated his bat. In 146 total games in 2025, he slashed .233/.333/.403 with 17 home runs and seven stolen bases, accumulating 2.4 fWAR. He turned 35 in August.

      As Morosi noted in his report, Marlins general manager Gabe Kapler was the San Francisco Giants manager from 2020-2023. Yastrzemski was on the team throughout Kapler's tenure.

      It would still be a peculiar roster fit and use of resources. All-Star Kyle Stowers and standout rookie Jakob Marsee—both of whom also hit from the left side—are projected to be everyday starters for the Marlins. Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández could theoretically platoon to adequately fill the remaining corner outfield spot. Yastrzemski has generally rated well defensively, but his glove wouldn't be a clear upgrade over any of those names, particularly at this stage of his career. This rumor gets more confusing if the Marlins are contemplating a multi-year commitment because one of the best bats in their farm system, outfielder Kemp Alderman, is poised to debut at some point in 2026.

      Starting Yastrzemski primarily as Miami's designated hitter would add some value. However, that implies Agustín Ramírez will continue catching on a regular basis, and his struggles there would negate a lot of the offensive boost.

      Maybe the Marlins intend to convert somebody to first base? That is their most glaring hole entering 2026. Yaz has no professional experience at the position, for what it's worth.

      Ely Sussman

      In his latest USA Today column, MLB insider Bob Nightengale insists that the Miami Marlins have modified their stance regarding veteran right-hander Sandy Alcantara.

      "The Marlins never got the offer they wanted to move their former Cy Young winner," Nightengale writes referring to trade talks that took place during the 2025 season, "but this winter, are set to accept the best offer they receive, believing now is the time."

      Nightengale continued by noting that Alcantara's salary will be a team-high $17.3 million in 2026 and that his contract includes a $21 million club option for the 2027 season, as if this would be a financially motivated trade. But that's preposterous—the Marlins carried the league's lowest payroll this past year and they're currently projected to do so again.

      Miami's front office is actually weighing whether Alcantara's overall mediocrity coming off Tommy John surgery (5.36 ERA in 174.2 IP) is indicative of how he'll perform moving forward, or if his substantial improvement during the second half of the season is more relevant. Also, the Fish must factor in the potential that top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling have to fill the 30-year-old's shoes. Snelling, in particular, should be making his major league debut by next June, if not sooner.

      The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and New York Yankees were among the teams that contacted the Marlins about Alcantara in the days leading up to the 2025 deadline.

      Edward Cabrera "has never had more trade value than now," Nightengale adds in the same column. Cabrera overcame a late-season elbow injury scare to end his age-27 campaign on a high note. He is two and a half years younger than Alcantara and considerably cheaper (projected for $3.7 million in 2026).

       

      Ely Sussman

      Published on Wednesday following Peter Bendix's end-of-season press conference, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Miami Marlins will not be as complacent during the offseason as they were during Bendix's first two years on the job. "At the very least, Miami will try to add an established bat and bullpen help; they’re willing to make competitive offers for players they decide to target," according to Jackson.

      The only major league free agent deals that Bendix has done as Marlins president of baseball operations were one-year contracts for potential bounce-back candidates Tim Anderson ($5 million guaranteed) and Cal Quantrill ($3.5 million). He also picked up Eric Wagaman ($770k) on a split contract and Wagaman ended up sticking in the majors for the entire season. None of those acquisitions meaningfully made the team better.

      The Marlins bullpen had an effective 2025 season overall, ranking fifth in win probability added. However, that unit was only 24th in MLB in strikeout rate. Going after relievers with premium swing-and-miss stuff and a track record of effectiveness against left-handed batters would make a lot of sense.

      Wagaman's primary position, first base, is the most obvious spot for the Marlins to shop for offensive help, as Kevin Barral explained for Fish On First. Perhaps Agustín Ramírez eventually moves to that position, but Bendix insisted during the presser that Ramírez will continue to focus on improving behind the plate for the time being.

      The Marlins had MLB's lowest payroll in 2025. Only Sandy Alcantara ($17.3M) and former Fish Giancarlo Stanton ($10M) and Avisaíl García ($5M) are currently on their books for 2026. Arbitration-eligible players include Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett, Anthony Bender, Max Meyer, Ryan Weathers, Calvin Faucher and Andrew Nardi. Of that group, Cabrera is projected to receive the most substantial raise (salary in the $5M-6M range).

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins are saying goodbye to one of their longest-tenured employees. According to Fish On First's Isaac Azout, they will not be retaining Kevin Randel for the 2026 season.

      "Smoke" Randel was the franchise's 13th-round pick in the 2002 MLB Draft out of Cal State Long Beach. Playing primarily second base across eight minor league seasons, he slashed .267/.374/.439 with 83 home runs and 82 stolen bases. Randel made it as high as the Triple-A level, then transitioned to coaching after the 2009 campaign.

      Randel's first opportunity as a manager came with Low-A Greensboro in 2015. Most recently, he led Double-A Pensacola for four seasons. The Blue Wahoos won the 2022 Southern League championship with a roster that included future big leaguers like Eury Pérez, Griffin Conine and Troy Johnston. Randel's 275 total wins from 2021-2024 is an all-time Pensacola team record.

      Screenshot 2025-09-08 at 5.28.46 PM.png

      Nelson Prada took over as the Blue Wahoos skipper entering 2025, with Randel serving as a roving instructor for the Marlins. That position is being eliminated by the player development department moving forward, per FOF sources.

      Still only 44 years old, Randel ought to have ample opportunities to continue working elsewhere in coaching/player development if he's interested in doing so.

      Ely Sussman

      With mere hours to go until the MLB trade deadline, the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees continue to discuss Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera trade scenarios, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. The Marlins have asked for outfield prospect Spencer Jones in return.

      Jones might be the most polarizing prospect in baseball. He's a lifetime .279/.359/.505 hitter in the minor leagues who has been especially hot this summer, but with a 31.5% strikeout rate. As J.J. Cooper of Baseball America recently detailed, players with such severe swing-and-miss issues in the minors rarely amount to everyday big leaguers.

      Previous reporting from Jon Heyman of the New York Post characterized the 6'7" Triple-A masher as borderline untouchable. Shortly after Morosi's tweet, Heyman reiterated that.

      Earlier this month, Fish On First's own Alex Carver devised an Alcantara mock trade to the Yankees with Jones as the centerpiece.

      Ely Sussman

      Considering the talented prospect packages that have moved around Major League Baseball in recent days for relievers with limited club control beyond the 2025 season, the Marlins understandably want a piece of the action.

      From Will Sammon of The Athletic regarding controllable right-handers Ronny Henriquez and Calvin Faucher: "Miami is fielding interest in both players, people briefed on the situation said. In particular, multiple teams are looking to acquire Faucher, league sources said. Of the two pitchers, he is more likely to get traded."

      Henriquez and Faucher each threw scoreless innings in Wednesday's Marlins win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

      Henriquez—a former waiver claim— has emerged as the team's best bullpen weapon. In 49 appearances (all in relief), he's posted a 2.96 ERA and 3.81 FIP while picking up six saves. He will be under club control all the way through 2030.

      Faucher is only a year closer to free agency and in the midst of his final pre-arbitration-eligible campaign. This season, he has a 3.73 ERA and 3.97 FIP with 10 saves in 41 innings pitched.

      The Marlins just wrapped up a terrific month of July and bullpen depth was a major reason why. Their 'pen arms collectively ranked second in MLB with a ERA (2.22) and FIP (3.21), so they have quality candidates who could be elevated into higher-leverage roles in the event that some combination of Henriquez, Faucher and Anthony Bender depart.

      Ely Sussman

      Dealing with more injuries than any other MLB contender and in the midst of a season-long five-game losing streak, the Houston Astros are "in the market for a hitter" as Thursday's trade deadline approaches, according to Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Miami Marlins outfielder Jesús Sánchez is among the "names under consideration." Sánchez is mentioned in the same breath as Minnesota Twins infielder Willi Castro and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy.

      Teams know what they're getting in Sánchez. He posted a 108 wRC+ in 2023, a 101 wRC+ in 2024 and a 104 wRC+ in 2025 entering Tuesday's game (he's in the Marlins lineup, starting in right field). Virtually all of his production comes against right-handed pitching, including 59 of his 68 career home runs.

      Worth noting, Sánchez's plate discipline has improved in his age-27 season. He is chasing pitches outside the strike zone at a career-low rate, resulting in a personal-best 20.7% strikeout rate.

      If sent to Houston, Sánchez would presumably be utilized in left field and at designated hitter, with his playing time dependent on the availability of Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve. The Astros have rookie Cam Smith starting regularly in right and performing solidly.

      Sánchez is currently making a $4.5 million salary. That figures to climb into the $6-7 million range via arbitration next season. He'll be arb-eligible one final time in 2027 if not extended or non-tendered beforehand.

      Ely Sussman

      What a haul this would be. The Chicago Cubs love Edward Cabrera, according to North Side Baseball managing editor Matthew Trueblood, and the Miami Marlins are trying to exploit that by demanding both outfielder Owen Caissie and right-hander Jaxon Wiggins in return to facilitate a deal.

      "The Cubs are unwilling to meet that asking price," Trueblood writes. "Giving up both would leave a huge hole in the team's farm system, and the two teams are in a staring contest, each hoping the other blinks first."

      Caissie's name came up in rumors when these teams previously discussed Jesús Luzardo last offseason. His performance since then has only raised his stock. Repeating the Triple-A level, he has a 137 wRC+ in 81 games with 20 home runs, already exceeding his 2024 season total. An elevated strikeout rate, which has hovered around 30% throughout his MiLB career, is the main cause for concern.

      Caissie ranks 58th on Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list. He turned 23 earlier this month.

      Wiggins has dominated in 14 appearances between High-A and Double-A, posting a 2.02 ERA and 2.58 FIP. His .151 batting average against is sixth-lowest in Minor League Baseball among players with at least 50 innings pitched. Following the graduation of Cade Horton, he has emerged as the consensus top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system. He's also 23, but unlike Caissie, Wiggins doesn't occupy a 40-man roster spot yet (Rule 5 Draft-eligible in 2026).

      The Cubs enter Monday tied for the National League's best record, though the team they're tied with, the Milwaukee Brewers, is in the same division. Although extremely likely to reach October even without Cabrera, his consistency could be crucial to them winning the National League Central and potentially earning a bye to the NLDS. He's also controllable for three additional seasons via arbitration, hence the steep asking price.

      "Since there's no guarantee that Cabrera's price tag will come down, the Chicago front office has also remained engaged with several other teams about controllable pitchers who would deliver huge impact down the stretch but can also be retained for another two or more seasons," Trueblood adds. However, "the goal is to draw down the asking price on Cabrera."

      Ely Sussman

      Sandy Alcantara made a strong impression on trade deadline buyers while beating the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Trade interest in him has "soared since his last start with teams now convinced he will be moved by the July 31 deadline."

      Alcantara went a season-high seven innings in that outing, allowing one unearned run. It was only the second time in 2025 that he's held an opponent without any walks or hit-by-pitches. He also induced a pair of his signature ground ball double plays.

      Through 20 starts this year, Alcantara has a 6.66 ERA, 4.47 FIP and .270 BAA in 104 innings pitched. In seven major league seasons prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery, he posted a 3.32 ERA, 3.77 FIP and .231 BAA in 900 ⅔ frames, peaking as the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner. He turns 30 in September.

      Alcantara's spot in the Marlins rotation is due up next on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. If suitors are as satisfied with his progress as Nightengale suggests and Miami is actually motivated to move him, taking the mound again before the deadline would be an unnecessary risk.

      The Marlins' deadline approach has become a bit muddled by a lengthy hot streak during which they have resembled a contender themselves. They enter Sunday as winners of four straight series. At 50-53, this is the closest they've been to the .500 mark since April. They are five games back of the final NL wild-card spot.

      Ely Sussman

      The Miami Marlins aren't going to part with him easily, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports, but starting center fielder Dane Myers is a potential trade candidate leading up to next Thursday's deadline. Contending teams have shown interest in the toolsy 29-year-old.

      From Opening Day through mid-June, Myers was the best all-around player on the Marlins. Even in the midst of a deep slump at the plate, his .264/.309/.355 slash line this season is comparable to what he posted as a part-time player from 2023-24. In line with his career norms, he continues to have large platoon splits (146 wRC+ vs. LHP, 55 wRC+ vs. RHP).

      Myers has been excellent defensively, accruing seven defensive runs saved, four outs above average and seven outfield assists (tied for fifth among MLB outfielders). He's been Miami's starting center fielder in 53 of their first 100 games. Gifted with plus speed, he was also responsible for arguably the consequential baserunning play of this Marlins season.

      Rosenthal describes Triple-A Jacksonville standout Jakob Marsee as a "potential replacement" for Myers. I wrote recently about Marsee sliding into Jesús Sánchez's role in the event of a trade, and still think that is the more likely outcome with Sánchez being two years closer to free agency than Myers is.

      Ely Sussman

      The Chicago Cubs had a scouting presence at loanDepot park on Tuesday night to get a first-hand look at Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera, according to Matt Cozzi of Locked On Cubs. Fish On First can confirm the report.

      The Cubs are certain to be buyers leading up to the July 31 MLB trade deadline. They entered the day with 95.2% playoff odds, per FanGraphs, occupying the National League's top wild-card spot and only one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead. Their rotation is anchored by Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga, but outside of them, they're lacking clear playoff-caliber starters.

      Facing a deep San Diego Padres lineup, Cabrera continued to impress, just as he has for the majority of 2025 (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 86 pitches/56 strikes). Coming off an elbow injury scare before the All-Star break, the 27-year-old's velocity was slightly up on all of his pitches relative to his full-season averages.

      Through 88 innings pitched this season, Cabrera has a 3.48 ERA and 3.56 FIP. He is in his first year of arbitration and under club control through 2028. Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN estimate that there's only a 30% chance of him being moved this summer.

      Cabrera is projected to pitch one more time before the deadline during Miami's upcoming road series in St. Louis.

      Ely Sussman

      No other pitcher who is realistically going to be available at the upcoming MLB trade deadline can match Edward Cabrera's combination of recent production, pure stuff and multiple years of cost-efficient club control. According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets are two of the contenders already expressing interest in him.

      It's been suspected that the Cubs would aggressively shop for starting pitching help ever since Justin Steele underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Additionally, they just lost veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon to a right calf strain last week, though he's likely to return later in the year. Chicago enters Wednesday night with a two-game lead atop the National League Central division.

      The Cubs and Marlins hooked up on a tiny trade last offseason, swapping Vidal Bruján for Matt Mervis. More notably, they had talks regarding a Jesús Luzardo deal prior to Luzardo going to the Philadelphia Phillies, sources confirmed to Fish On First.

      Similar story for the Mets. They are just a half-game back of the Phillies for the NL East lead and strongly motivated to chase a championship in 2025. They've done business with Peter Bendix's front office before, but nothing that involved an asset of Cabrera's magnitude.

      Beyond those teams, the New York Yankees presumably would be a logical landing spot, as Alex Carver detailed here recently.

      In 15 starts this season, the 27-year-old Cabrera has a 3.33 ERA and career-best 3.88 FIP in 78 ⅓ innings pitched. After allowing three earned runs against the Cubs at loanDepot park on May 19, he has held eight straight opponents to two earned runs or fewer.

      Cabrera is projected to make three more starts between now and the deadline.

      Ely Sussman

      Last week, our own Kevin Barral listed outfielder Jesús Sánchez among the Miami Marlins players most likely to get moved leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. Per Jim Bowden of The Athletic, at least one contending team already does have Sánchez on their radar.

      Bowden proposes a deal sending Sánchez to the Twins in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Dasan Hill:

      The Twins have made it clear to opposing general managers that they are looking for a left-handed-hitting outfielder. Sánchez is one of their trade targets. He has slashed .251/.324/.412 with seven doubles, seven homers and seven steals in 53 games. Last year he hit .252 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in bat speed and the 76th percentile in average exit velocity. Sánchez, 27, is under team control through 2027.

      In return, the Marlins would get Hill, a 19-year-old [lefty] whom the Twins selected in the second round of last year’s draft. He’s been dominant in the Low-A Florida State League this season, posting a 1.65 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. This is the type of trade that’s been prioritized by Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who has shown a preference for accumulating talent over big-league readiness.

      I would pull the trigger on this with no hesitation. As tantalizing as Sánchez's raw power is, his fundamental lapses and non-competitive plate appearances against lefty pitching limit his impact. Between Griffin Conine (currently rehabbing from shoulder surgery) and outfielders in the upper minors, the Marlins have capable internal replacements for 2026 and beyond.

      Our pals at Twins Daily rank Hill sixth among Minnesota's top prospects. He's on track to get a bump up to High-A before season's end.

      Bowden's article also includes mock trades sending Sandy Alcantara to the Baltimore Orioles, Edward Cabrera to the Los Angeles Angels and Kyle Stowers to the Kansas City Royals.

      Ely Sussman

      Last year's unconventional Luis Arraez trade has distorted everybody's understanding of the MLB trade market. The five-player deal that sent the reigning National League batting champ to the San Diego Padres on May 4 was the exception, not the new norm for the Miami Marlins under Peter Bendix.

      On Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported what I figured was already obvious: the Marlins won't be handling Sandy Alcantara the same way. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald also hears that "they are in no rush to decide" on whether to shop him.

      Unlike in 2024 when they instantly faded from postseason contention, Miami currently owns an 8-7 record, one game out of an NL wild card spot. "Marlins officials share more optimism regarding their roster than they did a year ago," per Sammon, specifically in regards to the pitching staff.

      It is premature to say that the 2025 Marlins are going to keep this up. Lacking talent and experience outside of their ace, they will likely wind up being sellers again come July 31. However, unless they are approached with an extremely generous offer and have internal concerns about Alcantara recapturing his pre-Tommy John surgery form, trade talks can wait until much closer to the deadline. Undermanned as they may be on paper, they'll continue to try winning games in the meantime.

      Through three regular season starts, Alcantara has a 4.70 ERA, 3.85 FIP and .182 BAA in 15 ⅓ innings pitched. He's lined up to face the Philadelphia Phillies in his next outing on Friday.

      Ely Sussman

      For the second consecutive year, the Miami Marlins have completed a trade on Opening Day eve. In 2024, it was flipping Jon Berti for prospects. This time around, they're adding to the big league roster by acquiring out-of-options right-hander Tyler Phillips from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. The Marlins designated righty reliever Seth Martinez for assignment as the corresponding 40-man roster move.

      Phillips made his MLB debut midway through last season. He tossed an improbable shutout on July 27, but allowed 28 runs (all earned) in his other 27 ⅔ innings pitched. There was a poor outing against the Marlins mixed in there (4.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K on Aug. 14). 

      Phillips' pitch mix includes a sinker, sweeper, four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup. He has induced ground balls at a high rate throughout much of his professional career, including this past spring (63.0 GB%). However, the Phillies still designated him for assignment on Sunday.

      Screenshot 2025-03-26 at 1.00.17 PM.png

      It might be a brief stint for Phillips in Miami as the team seems poised to churn through multi-inning, low-leverage arms until their injured guys make their way back from the IL.

      Seth Martinez had two separate stints with the Fish during spring training, most recently returning via waivers on March 15. He threw a scoreless inning in each of his three Grapefruit League appearances last week. Perhaps the "tiebreaker" between Phillips and Martinez was that the former was capable of providing more bulk at this stage of the season.

      With Martinez in DFA limbo, Anthony Bender, who turned 30 in February, is expected to be the oldest player on the Marlins Opening Day roster.

      Screenshot 2025-03-26 at 2.54.07 PM.png

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