Marlins Trade Targets: Yan Gomes

The Miami Marlins have exceeded expectations so far in 2023. However, to sustain this (and to better position themselves for perennial postseason contention), they'll likely need to acquire help from outside the organization. Leading up to the August 1 MLB trade deadline, Fish On First will profile potentially attainable players who would fit with what the Fish are building.

C Yan Gomes (Chicago Cubs)

A former All-Star (2018) and World Series champion (2019), Yan Gomes is past his prime—he'll turn 36 next month. Nonetheless, he'd help improve the lousy production that the Marlins have received from the catcher position.

Entering Wednesday, Gomes is on pace for 17 home runs, which would be the second-highest total of his 12-year MLB career. That's despite only starting about half of the Cubs' games this season. The majority of his production has come against left-handed pitching. In fact, no other catcher has a higher wRC+ than Gomes (180) against lefties (min. 50 PA vs. LHP).

The main problem with Gomes' offensive game is his lack of discipline. He's got among the highest (worst) chase rates in the majors in 2023 and it was just as bad in 2022. He has drawn only four walks all season. Although he's frequently able to get his bat on the ball, by settling for pitches outside the zone, he doesn't give himself the opportunity to potentially get something tastier to hit later in the count.

It hasn't been as prevalent for him this year, but Gomes grounded into 30 double plays in 2021 and 2022 combined. That led all MLB catchers. The Marlins offense has been crippled by GIDPs enough already (13 more than any other team).

Gomes has a weak but accurate throwing arm and gives himself a better chance to nab base-stealers with a quick exchange. His caught stealing rate is typically above the MLB average (as is the case in 2023). Cubs pitchers are performing about the same when paired with Gomes as they are with the club's other catchers. He's been struggling to frame borderline pitches this season in the estimation of both Baseball Savant and Baseball Prospectus. Overall, he's an okay defender.

Gomes is earning a $6 million salary this season (approx. $2 million from the trade deadline onward). His contract comes with a $6 million club option for 2024 that has a $1 million buyout. Most teams acquiring Gomes would be interested in exercising his option at that price if he stays healthy and maintains his current production through season's end, but it's premature to project what will happen there.

Although known for being the best Brazilian-born player in MLB history, Gomes spent his teenage years in South Florida (Miami Southridge High School). On a personal level, the Marlins would presumably be a comfortable landing spot for him.

Availability

The Cubs jacked up their payroll by about $40 million entering 2023 with aspirations to be more competitive. They got off to a hot start, but have faded since then. Entering Wednesday, they're 29-37 with a Pythagorean record of 32-34, trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates by 5.5 games for the National League Central lead. Their odds of reaching the playoffs are 11.3%, according to FanGraphs. Not waving the white flag quite yet.

However, the Cubs are carrying catchers Miguel Amaya and Tucker Barnhart on their roster in addition to Gomes. Amaya used to be a highly regarded prospect, so perhaps they want to expand his role during the second half of the season to determine what he's truly capable of? They'll have the opportunity to do that while also recouping some young talent in exchange for Gomes.

Roster Fit & Hypothetical Trade

Yan Gomes would be an upgrade over Jacob Stallings. I do want to acknowledge that there's been a recent uptick in Stallings' performance, reaching base safely in eight of his last nine starts and throwing out three would-be base-stealers during that span. In the unlikely scenario that he sustains this streak of adequacy through July, the Marlins might suspend their catcher search until the offseason. For the time being, though, Stallings does not get the benefit of the doubt from me.

Including his August/September salary and 2024 buyout, there will be $3 million guaranteed to Gomes moving forward. A Marlins team with very limited prospect capital available should be volunteering to eat all of that money to make the transaction less costly in terms of talent. However, I'd expect pushback from the Cubs' perspective—what's their motivation to dump the respected veteran unless they're receiving a likely major leaguer in return?

A potential compromise: Chicago throws in $1 million corresponding to Gomes' buyout in the event that he struggles down the stretch and proves to be just a rental. In exchange, the Marlins sell high on left-hander Patrick Monteverde.

Drafted by the Marlins in 2021, Monteverde has a career 2.84 ERA and 3.49 FIP as a minor leaguer (180.1 IP). He's been fantastic here in his age-25 season, having struck out one-third of the batters he's faced in the Double-A Southern League while surrendering only two home runs.

Monteverde has a deep pitch mix and figures to be MLB-ready within the next calendar year. The key question is whether his low-velocity fastball will get enough whiffs at the highest level.

Featured image courtesy of Chicago Cubs