Remembering how Marlins attacked MLB trade deadline the last time they were buyers

The cast is almost entirely new, but the script is eerily familiar. Through their first 100 games of the 2026 season, the Miami Marlins have a 52-48 record. They're virtually tied for the National League's third wild-card spot, but trending in a troubling direction in the midst of six consecutive losses. At this same point in 2023, their record was 53-47, their deficit in the race for NL WC #3 was one game, and their streak was eight losses in a row.

The next two weeks are absolutely crucial to determining how the Marlins will behave at the MLB trade deadline.

In '23, general manager Kim Ng was at the helm, securing several midseason acquisitions that propelled the Fish to October for only the third time in a full season in franchise history. This time around, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix is calling the shots.

Last week on Fish Unfiltered, Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman said he is entrusting Bendix to do whatever he believes is appropriate. Should the club snap back to consistently winning series, that will mean augmenting an already-talented roster with the right kind of complementary pieces, even if that necessitates increasing payroll or parting with minor leaguers. "I know Peter will do a very, very thorough job," Sherman said.

During this calm before the storm, I think it would be the appropriate time to reflect on what Ng bought at the deadline three years ago and the price she paid to get those deals done. How much of the future was mortgaged for a short-lived postseason run?

Traded Dylan Floro to Minnesota Twins for Jorge López 

About a week before the deadline, the Marlins and Twins consummated an unconventional swap of veteran right-handers.

Floro had the much more consistent track record across multiple seasons. Although both had been performing worse than the league average in 2023 in terms of ERA, Floro boasted dramatically better underlying peripheral stats (2.75 FIP compared to López's 5.92). On the other hand, López offered a higher ceiling, having earned an All-Star selection the previous year as closer for the Baltimore Orioles. Also, his club control extended through 2024, whereas Floro was a pending free agent.

The Marlins lost this trade, though neither team would come away satisfied. López made 12 awful relief appearances (9.26 ERA and 5.31 FIP) in Miami before returning to the aforementioned Orioles via waiver claim. Floro continued to suffer from remarkably poor luck—his .401 batting average on balls in play was the highest in MLB (min. 50 IP). Minnesota cut him days before the season ended.

Traded Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernández to New York Mets for David Robertson 

Still four days in advance of the deadline, the Marlins paid a steep price for a revered high-leverage arm. Even after taking on the remainder of Robertson's $10 million salary, they sent a pair of productive teenage hitters to New York.

The Marlins immediately installed Robertson as their closer. He took care of business without breaking a sweat in his July 30 team debut, but slumped badly in August, including three blown saves. The 38-year-old was lowered on the depth chart accordingly. Overall as a Marlin, Robertson posted a 5.06 ERA with a grotesque -1.67 WPA (fifth-worst among MLB pitchers during that span).

The Marlins figured they were selling high on Vargas, an infielder who had been raking in rookie ball despite signing out of a Mexico in 2022 with minimal expectations. They've been proven right.

Vargas is still with the Mets organization today and ranks as their No. 19 prospect, according to Baseball America. Injuries have taken their toll on his availability and performance. He has played less than 200 minor league games in three calendar years, homering only twice. As of this writing, he's on Double-A Binghamton's IL. Strong defense at the middle infield spots gives him a chance of tasting the majors eventually, but not as anything close to an everyday player.

Hernández has also stuck around with the Mets. Repeating the High-A level, the switch-hitting catcher is slashing .228/.355/.370 with seven homers and 19 stolen bases in 73 games. The 2027 campaign will be critical as he'll be trying to secure a 40-man roster spot in advance of MiLB free agency.

Traded Jake Eder to Chicago White Sox for Jake Burger 

What a bold, fascinating move this was in the moment.

Burger had been hitting for huge power (25 HR in 88 G) in the midst of his first full-length MLB season, but none of his other traditional tools even graded out as average. Eder was briefly in the conversation for top overall prospect in the Marlins system, having represented Miami at the 2021 Futures Game. However, in mid-2023, there was still obvious rust coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Third base had been a black hole for the Marlins up to that point in the season. Burger turned it into a strength. He slashed .305/.355/.505 with nine home runs and a 130 wRC+ in 53 games. Even that understates his impact because of how he elevated his performance in clutch situations.

Burger's follow-up campaign was inconsistent, with sub-replacement performance for most of the first half, then a terrific power surge spanning most of July and August. He led the 2024 Fish in hits (134) and homers (29), but also slid down the defensive spectrum from 3B to 1B/DH, He was dealt to the Texas Rangers during the ensuing offseason.

Eder's value tanked immediately upon joining the White Sox organization (11.42 ERA in 17.1 IP at the Double-A level post-deadline). He made only one major league appearance for the Sox and has since bounced around to the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. In 13 MLB games (mainly pitching in low-leverage situations), he owns a 4.44 ERA and 4.94 FIP. The 27-year-old lefty is currently a free agent.

Traded Jean Segura and Kahlil Watson to Cleveland Guardians for Josh Bell 

This must've been a tough pill for Bruce Sherman to swallow. The Marlins had invested $17 million in Segura and used a first-round draft pick on Watson, and now they were going to be used to acquire Bell's underwater contract?

Just like Burger, Bell contributed to his new club immediately. He slashed .280/.338/.480 with 11 homers and a 118 wRC+ through season's end. The veteran first baseman did so well, he had to think carefully about whether to exercise his $16.5 million player option for the 2024 season or elect free agency. He decided to pick it up.

Bell couldn't carry that momentum with him into the following year. He was durable as usual in 2024, but ineffective at the plate for the most part. A hot streak following the All-Star break allowed the Marlins to move him for cash considerations.

The Guardians didn't even give Segura a chance—they released him as soon as the trade became official. His -1.2 fWAR tenure in Miami would prove to be his final chapter in the major leagues.

The jury is still out on Watson. The shortstop-turned-outfielder has a prominent role on the 2026 Guardians, but he isn't offering much production as a rookie (62 wRC+ in 26 G entering Monday). Although his tools are enticing, poor plate discipline will probably prevent from sustaining even average offensive production,

Traded Garrett Cooper and Sean Reynolds to San Diego Padres for Ryan Weathers 

Speaking of a former first-rounder who needed a change of scenery, Weathers was a nice get for the Marlins. It just took a full offseason for him to turn into a competent starter. He was limited to 13 post-deadline innings in 2023.

Weathers posted a 3.74 ERA in 24 starts for the 2024-25 Marlins. Unfortunately, he spent more time on the injured list than the active roster due to fluky injuries. His value rose considerably between his arrival and when Bendix traded him to the New York Yankees this past January—three of the players who came back in that deal are current Fish On First Top 30 prospects.

Cooper played 41 forgettable games for the Padres and Reynolds totaled just 38 innings out of their bullpen before taking his talents to Japan.

The Marlins were quickly booted from the postseason, losing both of their NL Wild Card Series games to the Philadelphia Phillies. Ng left the front office later that month and Bendix made the unpopular but understandable decision to rebuild the organization with a more modern infrastructure, taking a temporary step back in competitiveness (they went 62-100 in 2024).

With that being said, Ng's deadline activity energized the Marlins clubhouse and fanbase, and the prospects she sacrificed have not been missed.

Bendix has a better farm system at his disposal than she did, a more well-rounded major league roster—as reflected by their positive run differential—and plenty of financial flexibility, according to Sherman. How will he utilize these resources? Depends on whether or not the Marlins can close out July with high-quality play that justifies a buyer's approach.