Offishial News: Could Marlins pry Jackson Jobe from Tigers at trade deadline?

The idea of Jackson Jobe potentially being available would have been absurd entering this season. The 22-year-old Detroit Tigers right-hander was considered a consensus top-10 MLB prospect and slotted to pitch out of the club's starting rotation. He seemed untouchable. However, perhaps the combination of Jobe's shaky rookie performance and the timing of his pending Tommy John surgery has opened the door for a seller like the Miami Marlins to make a blockbuster trade this summer.

In 10 starts prior to his injury, Jobe posted a 4.22 ERA, 5.12 FIP and .249 BAA in 49 innings pitched. His 12.4% walk rate ranked in the eighth percentile among MLB pitchers. His fastball velocity was almost as good as advertised, averaging 96.5 mph, but he threw it middle-middle too often. Although his changeup missed bats at a very high rate, it yielded a .600 slugging percentage. There are still adjustments to be made.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have been thriving. They went 9-1 with Jobe on the mound despite his pedestrian individual performance and enter Friday with the best record in the American League. Even during their surprising 2024 playoff run, rotation depth was a concern and that is definitely the case again.

The Tigers' best opportunity to snap their 40-plus-year championship drought figures to be in 2025 and 2026 before ace Tarik Skubal is eligible to leave via free agency. Jobe is unlikely to throw another pitch for them during that window. The Marlins, on the other hand, aren't seriously eyeing World Series contention for a few more years. They would have to get creative—how about a package containing both Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera? 

Even if my zany suggestion gets laughed at, these teams ought to be in frequent communication with each other during the month and a half leading up to the deadline.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville won, 6-4. Matt Mervis was a double shy of the cycle and raised his Jumbo Shrimp OPS to 1.065. Double-A Pensacola lost, 5-4. Kemp Alderman registered a top-of-the-scale 117 mph exit velocity on his RBI single. High-A Beloit lost, 3-1. Garret Forrester's first home run of the season accounted for the only Sky Carp run. Low-A Jupiter won, 5-2. John Cruz's first extra-base hit as a Hammerhead this year came at a convenient time as he doubled in the 10th inning to drive in the go-ahead runs. FCL Marlins won, 5-0. Nate Payne picked up his first professional win (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K). DSL Marlins won, 11-1. Only two hits allowed by Bayant Melo, Gerinton Mendez and Albert Ortiz, with one of those being a bunt single. DSL Miami won, 16-2. Five stolen bases for Sandy Presbot.

More Marlins news and content below:

🔷 A "rival official" who attended Sandy Alcantara's latest start told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he believes the "Sandy of old" is getting close to returning. Data from Eno Sarris corroborates that the location of Alcantara's pitches was more precise against the Pittsburgh Pirates than it had been in any of his previous outings this season.

🔷 The Prediction Time leaderboard has been updated through the first 22 series. Become a SuperSub and we'll keep track of your predictions all season long!

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Tarik Skubal has allowed one total run over his last four starts combined (30.2 IP). Jacob Misiorowski threw five no-hit innings in his major league debut. The Colorado Rockies erased a five-run deficit against the San Francisco Giants to record their very first walk-off win of the season.

🔷 Today's MLB game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Edward Cabrera) open up a three-game set against the Washington Nationals (LHP Mitchell Parker). The Marlins have a 47.0% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 6:45 p.m. ET. Full organizational schedule below.

🔷 Prior to the game, Fish On First LIVE will preview the Nats series beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. FOF LIVE is presented by About The Fans. Check out our new merchandise collection (coupon code fof10 for 10% off).

Marlins podcast episodes