How Marlins, Rays can make a trade to solve each other's biggest weaknesses

The expectation throughout this season was that the Miami Marlins would approach the MLB trade deadline as traditional sellers, focused on acquiring more young talent to develop for 2026 and beyond. As it turns out, with four days until the deadline, there is a chance for them to compete for a postseason spot ahead of schedule. They enter Sunday only five games back of a National League wild-card spot and they have one of the best records in the league dating back to early June.

If the Marlins have an opportunity to plug a hole on their current roster while also getting a head start on next season's plans without losing any top prospects, would they do it?

According to a recent report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Tampa Bay Rays have been "signaling to teams" that first baseman Yandy Díaz is among the veteran players they could move. The Rays have a 6-14 record in July, dropping them 2.5 games back of an AL wild-card spot. Trading one of their longest-tenured and most valuable players wouldn't necessarily mean giving up on the 2025 season, but an attempt to mix things up and address other needs.

The Marlins could definitely use an upgrade at first base. A combination of Eric Wagaman and several others has produced -1.4 fWAR at the position this season, which is second-worst in the majors ahead of only the Colorado Rockies. Miami first basemen have a .209/.265/.322/.587 slash line with eight home runs.

Meanwhile, the former AL batting champ Díaz is still performing at a very high level as he nears his 34th birthday. Through 99 games with Tampa Bay, he's slashing .286/.345/.475/.820 with 18 home runs, 61 RBI and a 128 OPS+. He continues to strike out at a low rate of 13.9% (the MLB average is 21.5%). He's dangerous against both left-handed and right-handed pitching.

Defensively, Díaz used to play third base regularly, but he graded out poorly there in terms of both outs above average and defensively runs saved. All of his appearances over the past two seasons have come at first base and designated hitter.

The Marlins have been lacking a veteran presence in their lineup. Díaz has been to the playoffs six times in his career and Miami president of baseball operations Peter Bendix knows him well from their time together in Tampa Bay.

Díaz would stick around for at least one additional season beyond 2025. He is set to make $12M in 2026. For 2027, there is a $10M club option that could turn into a $13M vesting option if he reaches 500 plate appearances in '26. This is a solid investment for a Marlins team with the league's lowest payroll and the kind of acquisition that could energize the fanbase by showing a desire to compete.

If this deal went through, it would probably squeeze Wagaman off the active roster with Liam Hicks being Díaz's backup at 1B. The debut of prospect Deyvison De Los Santos would be pushed back until 2026.

What do the Rays get out of it?

A big reason for Tampa Bay's slump has been bullpen blow-ups in high-leverage situations. The Rays took a step to address that when trading a draft pick for right-hander Bryan Baker earlier this month, but Baker has struggled with his new club and exited Saturday's game with a calf injury. They might part with Díaz if it meant getting Miami's most talented reliever, Ronny Henriquez.

Henriquez, who the Marlins claimed off of waivers from the Minnesota Twins, has been a revelation in 2025, posting a 2.94 ERA, 3,88 FIP, 12.31 K/9, 3.67 BB/9 and six saves in 46 appearances (49.0 IP). Henriquez leads all National League relievers in strikeouts. He is still pre-arbitration eligible and only 25 years old.

Henriquez would immediately be the Rays' main setup man for closer Pete Fairbanks and a cheap candidate to eventually replace Fairbanks, who can be a free agent after the 2026 season.

The Marlins would prefer to trade other pieces of their bullpen instead of Henriquez, but ultimately, they shouldn't be growing too attached to individual relievers. They have been getting promising performances from a bunch of Double-A and Triple-A arms this season who have the stuff to help right away if called up.

To fully balance this hypothetical trade, the Marlins would add Karson Milbrandt. Milbrandt was taken in the third round of the 2022 draft and has been a consistent presence on the Fish On First Top 30 list, but he still has not put it all together. Through 14 starts in High-A this season, he's posted a 3.74 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 10.53 K/9 and 5.43 BB/9. He has worked into the sixth inning only twice in those 14 starts.

The 21-year-old has an above-average fastball and slider, but lacks control. Milbrandt is more likely to be a reliever than a starter long term.

It is hard to believe that this kind of deal could really come to fruition, but as the Marlins continue stacking up wins, their front office may be ready to think outside the box and get aggressive. Yandy Díaz would be a great option at a position that's been holding the team back and they have enough pitching in the pipeline to cover for the losses of Henriquez and Milbrandt.