Ely Sussman

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. 3B Jeimer Candelario (Washington Nationals)Originally signed and developed by the Chicago Cubs, Jeimer Candelario broke through to the majors during their curse-breaking 2016 campaign. That cup of coffee lasted only five games, however, and he didn't make much of an impression during brief MLB stints with them the following year. Candelario was shipped to the Detroit Tigers prior to the 2017 trade deadline, where he spent the next half-decade as one of the few bright spots of their gradual rebuild. From 2018-2022, Candelario led the Tigers in practically every offensive counting stat while posting a league-average slash line at the plate. Detroit used him primarily at third base except for the shortened 2020 season, when he moved across the diamond to first and raked at a career-best level (.297/.369/.503, 140 wRC+ in 52 G). Candelario got off to an extremely poor start in 2022, then briefly missed time due to a left shoulder subluxation. Even though he played closer to his career norms from late June onward, his overall season production was roughly replacement level and the Tigers non-tendered him (otherwise, he would've been due a contract in the $7 million range via arbitration). The Washington Nationals scooped up the 29-year-old in free agency on a one-year, $5 million deal. Candelario has rewarded them by fully rebounding to his pre-2022 self. Candelario enters Wednesday having played in 75 of Washington's first 79 games, slashing .262/.336/.469 (116 wRC+) and providing 2.3 fWAR/2.5 bWAR. The Nats are vying for the National League's worst record, but they'd be even worse without Candelario's clutch hitting—he ranks fifth among MLB third basemen in win probability added, per FanGraphs. A switch-hitter who's historically been the same dude from both sides of the plate, he's disproportionately mashing as a lefty in 2023 (135 wRC+ and all 10 of his home runs). https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/07/82031ddc-76fa0dea-ba9a7a68-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/27/8995b8de-b8f9bf5e-4fdad4e9-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4After mixed results on defense in 2022, Candelario has improved in that facet of the game, too. He's got three defensive runs saved and a career-high six outs above average. Aside from lacking the arm strength typically associated with the position, he has well-rounded skills. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/10/9f1cd67a-f31cf077-84453532-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-05/20/d28586e9-f8f718ee-4226bc9f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Even Candelario's baserunning is aging gracefully. His 27.4 ft/sec sprint speed is his best since 2017 and he has taken the extra base in 53% of his opportunities, as defined by Baseball-Reference (his career average is only 39%). Availability The Nationals entered 2023 with minuscule playoff odds and those have only gone down from there. For Candelario to be arguably their best player speaks to the dearth of talent around him. The Nats could conceivably explore an extension with the pending free agent to raise the floor of their lineup moving forward. However, the FA class around Candelario is thin on everyday players, so he'll be very tempted to let things play out and cash in. Facilitating a trade would behoove Washington as well because there just aren't many veteran players on their roster likely to generate interest from contenders. Although intradivision trades have been rare in the past, I expect attitudes toward that to change now that head-to-head matchups between rivals are less frequent and it's easier to reach October as a Wild Card (and make noise once you get there) irregardless of who's in your division. Roster Fit & Hypothetical Trade Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On FirstCandelario's fit with the Marlins hinges on how Jean Segura performs over the next month leading up to the deadline. Segura has been miscast as a third baseman, so Candelario would clearly be an upgrade defensively, but the Fish are understandably holding out hope that Segura's bat will improve down the stretch. So far, he's been MLB's worst hitter (min. 200 PA) despite a lengthy, solid track record. If Segura's July falls significantly short of a 100 wRC+, how about making Candelario the strong side of a third base platoon with the potential to play some first base in the event of 39-year-old Yuli Gurriel wearing down or Garrett Cooper suffering another injury? The cost to acquire Candelario is suppressed by his lack of club control beyond 2023 and the suspicion that his production will drop off a bit in August and September, so Miami's best prospects will be off limits. Would pairing right-hander Evan Fitterer and outfielder Peyton Burdick be enough? Both 2019 draft picks still have paths to being serviceable big leaguers, but their flaws are glaring (shaky control for Fitterer, too much swing-and-miss for Burdick). The Marlins can subtract them without hindering their chances of a postseason berth. Here's what Baseball Trade Values thinks. Photo courtesy of Washington Nationals

Today's Marlins news roundup also includes the anniversary of an incredible comeback.Tuesday's Gameshttps://fishonfirst.com/game-coverage/marlins-red-sox-highlights-jazz-chisholm-return/https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/27/058b6d2f-f8eae122-23afa3d0-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Marlins Podcast Episodes Tuesday's Marlins MiLB notes: Matt Barnes (FCL Marlins) began a minor league rehab assignment with a scoreless inning. Perhaps another week or so until he's ready to come off the injured list. Jancory De La Cruz (DSL Miami) went 3-for-5 with a home run and Fabian López went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, raising their OPS to .894 and .913, respectively.In his return from the IL, Jazz Chisholm Jr. matched a season high by reaching base four times. He got the start in the cleanup spot, which is where the Marlins used him back in early April (despite his objections). As a team, the Marlins compiled a season-high-tying 19 hits and had their largest margin of victory in any road game.Sandy Alcantara leaned on his changeup more heavily than he had in any previous 2023 start (36.8% usage) and generated most of his whiffs with it. Sunday's matchup against the Braves in Atlanta figures to be an important test of how close he is to turning the page on his first-half mediocrity.After being sworn in to the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition on Tuesday, Kim Ng participated in her first meeting with the other newly appointed members, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald.Elsewhere around the majors, Shohei Ohtani destroyed the White Sox on the mound (6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K) and at the plate (3-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB). Halfway through the Angels' season, he's on pace for 11.4 fWAR and 12.2 bWAR. J.D. Martinez hit his 299th and 300th career home runs. Esteury Ruiz became the first major leaguer to reach 40 stolen bases this season—you'll recall that Jon Berti's 41 steals led MLB in 2022.The latest episode of covered Chisholm's return, Miami's Futures Game selections and much more. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here! The Marlins have a 49.8% chance to win their next game against the Red Sox, per FanGraphs. Right-hander Kaleb Ort is likely to serve as the opener for a Boston bullpen day. Triple-A Jacksonville (7:05 p.m. ET), High-A Beloit (7:35 p.m. ET) and FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) are at home, while Double-A Pensacola (7:35 p.m. ET) and Low-A Jupiter (6:30 p.m. ET) are on the road.Daily Luis Arraez batting average update: he enters today at .399. He doesn't have any substantial history against anybody who could be pitching for the Red Sox tonight. Additionally, Arraez is hitting .366 in road games this season and .399 in night games.Phase 2 of MLB All-Star voting continues until Thursday at noon ET. When the latest update was provided on Tuesday, Arraez was leading Ozzie Albies in National League second base voting, 54% to 46%. Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune talked to former Twins teammates about what makes Arraez so exceptional.Glenn Geffner's View from the Bleachers has begun breaking down fans' main reasons for not attending games at LoanDepot Park, including the ballpark's location and lack of public transportation options.On this day 20 years ago, the Marlins overcame a seven-run deficit to beat the Red Sox at Fenway Park.FOCO released a new Charlie Brown Marlins bobblehead, available to pre-order for $65.Graphic courtesy of Miami Marlins

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Today's Marlins news roundup also includes a summary of the latest roster moves.Monday's GamesMarlins Podcast Episodes https://open.spotify.com/episode/5C2mYxxaOQAUdm6icZ1nem?si=i_w_ETA8Teyk7S2ZEuzrcQMonday's Marlins MiLB notes: Marco Vargas (FCL Marlins) has reached base safely in 14 of his first 16 games played this season. The DSL Marlins dropped to 4-12 and have allowed 8.63 runs per game (more than a run per inning).Jazz Chisholm Jr. (right turf toe) and Jean Segura (left hamstring strain) were both reinstated from the injured list at the expense of Garrett Hampson and Jacob Amaya, who've been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. Hampson and Amaya were playing sparingly as it is. The Marlins filled their vacant 40-man roster spot by reacquiring right-hander Eli Villalobos via waiver claim. Pitching for Pittsburgh's Double-A affiliate, Villalobos had a 4.15 ERA and 6.72 FIP in 16 relief appearances with just as many walks and hit-by-pitches (16) as strikeouts. Villalobos' stay on the 40-man will be short-lived unless his control improves. Monday happened to be his 26th birthday.Congrats to Patrick Monteverde and Nasim Nuñez on being selected to represent the Marlins at the All-Star Futures Game. Here are the complete rosters.https://fishonfirst.com/news/patrick-monteverde-nasim-nunez-futures-game-2023/Great insight from Craig Mish of SportsGrid during a lengthy Twitter Space hosted by Takes Were Made. Mish is skeptical of Avisaíl García playing again for the Marlins this season (at least in any substantial role). He estimates that Segura has another month or so to break out of his season-long malaise, otherwise Dane Myers could take over as the club's main third baseman. Mish says there's an extremely high likelihood of the Marlins using their first-round draft pick on a hitter. Summing up the difference in clubhouse culture between 2022 and 2023, "everyone can just be who they are" under Skip Schumaker.Elsewhere around the majors, Shohei Ohtani blasted his MLB-leading 26th home run. Spencer Strider (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K) had one of his best starts of the season. The Mets lost again for the 16th time in their last 21 contests.Daniel Rodriguez was victorious on our . Tonight, we're back with the usual Fish On First LIVE series preview show, streaming tonight at 6:00 p.m. ET on /Twitch/Twitter. Super Subscribers, submit your series predictions before first pitch. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here! The Marlins have a 47.6% chance to win their series opener against the Red Sox, per FanGraphs. DSL Miami (11:00 a.m. ET) is at home, while DSL Marlins (11:00 a.m. ET) and FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) are on the road.Phase 2 of MLB All-Star voting continues until Thursday at noon ET. Luis Arraez and Ozzie Albies are the finalists to start at second base for the National League. Jorge Soler's path to making the NL roster as a reserve becomes much clearer if J.D. Martinez wins the designated hitter vote over Bryce Harper (Harper will likely miss the game entirely if he isn't fan-elected), so consider supporting Martinez on your ballot. FOCO released a new Charlie Brown Marlins bobblehead, available to pre-order for $65.Graphic courtesy of Miami Marlins

Today's Marlins news roundup also includes details about Phase 2 of MLB All-Star voting.Sunday's Gameshttps://fishonfirst.com/game-coverage/marlins-eury-perez-highlights-quotes-pirates/https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/25/992acb03-0413ff31-eec05724-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Marlins Podcast Episodes Sunday's Marlins MiLB notes: After a 4-for-5 performance, Dane Myers (Jacksonville) is now slashing .482/.525./.778 through 15 games played at the Triple-A level. Jacob Berry (Beloit) completed his best week as a pro with four multi-hit games and only one strikeout during the Sky Carp's series against Cedar Rapids. That raised his OPS above .600 for the first time since early April. Jupiter's Karson Milbrandt, Yeremin Lara and Evan Taylor combined for a seven-inning shutout. Taylor is tied for the Marlins MiLB lead with 10 saves this season.Jazz Chisholm Jr. has arrived in Boston. All indications are that he'll be reinstated from the injured list on Tuesday after missing six-and-a-half weeks due to turf toe. The Marlins went 26-13 without him.Eury Pérez continues to prevent runs at a historic rate. His 0.32 earned run average in June was the lowest posted in any month in Marlins history for anybody with at least 20 innings pitched.Grant Kiefer hosted a lengthy State of the Fish Twitter Space reacting to all of that and more. Become a Super Subscriber to get speaking priority on future State of the Fish episodes!Phase 2 of MLB All-Star voting begins today at noon ET. Luis Arraez and Ozzie Albies are the finalists to start at second base for the National League. Jorge Soler's path to making the NL roster as a reserve becomes much clearer if J.D. Martinez wins the designated hitter vote over Bryce Harper (Harper will likely miss the game entirely if he isn't fan-elected), so consider supporting Martinez on your ballot. Elsewhere around the majors, the Cubs and Cardinals split the two-game London Series. National League Cy Young award contender Marcus Stroman exited his start early due to a blister. The Orioles are calling up top position player prospect Jordan Westburg (who Kevin Barral wrote about recently as a potential trade target). The Braves joined the Rays as the only MLB teams to reach 50 wins.Fish On First LIVE is back with a new Marlins Jeopardy trivia competition, streaming tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on /Twitch/Twitter. Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase will serve as guest host. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here! Entering this new week, the Marlins have a season-best 59.1% odds of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs. DSL Miami (11:00 a.m. ET) and FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) are at home, while DSL Marlins (11:00 a.m. ET) are on the road. analyzes what has made Braxton Garrett so outstanding since adding a cutter to his pitch mix.FOCO released a new Charlie Brown Marlins bobblehead, available to pre-order for $65.Contribute to Adopt A Minor Leaguer's fundraiser to create a plaque honoring Jeff Lindgren's MLB debut.Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

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Today's Marlins news roundup also includes an updated Luis Arraez batting average projection.Thursday's Gameshttps://fishonfirst.com/game-coverage/marlins-pirates-braxton-garrett-cooper-highlights/https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/22/975cbe65-dc8186bb-9b97dab1-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Marlins Podcast Episodes Thursday's Marlins MiLB notes: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Jacksonville) went 1-for-2 with two walks and an amazing catch in his second rehab game. Johnny Cueto got stretched out to 79 pitches, but pitched awfully in the process (4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 HR). Cueto's four-seam fastball averaged 88.8 miles per hour. Kahlil Watson and Jacob Berry (Beloit) hit back-to-back home runs. Ike Buxton (Jupiter) pitched five near-perfect innings, allowing one walk and nothing else, while Torin Montgomery has now reached base safely in 19 straight starts. Kendry Feliz (DSL Miami) recorded a walk-off RBI double.While Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium undergoes expansive renovations, the Jupiter Hammerheads will move to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches beginning on July 25.Braxton Garrett became the first left-handed pitcher in Marlins history—you read that correctly—to strike out 13 batters in a game.A.J. Puk secured his 10th save of the season. When's the last time the Marlins had a closer as great as Puk? Tons of Fish On First Twitter followers weighed in.Phase 1 of MLB All-Star voting concluded and, no surprise, Luis Arraez is a finalist to start at second base along with Ozzie Albies of the Braves. Phase 2 of the voting begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday.Elsewhere around the majors, the Braves took advantage of a 10th-inning Kyle Schwarber error to beat the Phillies and extend their winning streak to eight. Minnesota's Joe Ryan threw a shoutout against the Red Sox, allowing only three singles along the way.The latest episode of covered Sandy Alcantara's baffling struggles and potential corresponding moves to make when Chisholm comes off the injured list. We'll be back on Monday's off day with a Marlins Jeopardy trivia competition. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here! The Marlins have a 61.3% chance to win their next game against the Pirates, per FanGraphs. Low-A Jupiter (6:30 p.m. ET) and DSL Miami (11:00 a.m. ET) are at home, while Triple-A Jacksonville (7:05 p.m. ET), Double-A Pensacola (7:00 p.m. ET), High-A Beloit (7:35 p.m. ET), FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) and DSL Marlins (11:00 a.m. ET) are on the road.Daily Luis Arraez batting average update: he enters today at .397. Arraez has never faced Pittsburgh's Luis Ortiz before. Additionally, Arraez is hitting .428 in home games this season and .389 in night games.https://bit.ly/42sdJmBPensacola broadcaster Erik Bremer joined us to discuss the Double-A team's successful first half of the season with analysis of many key prospects who are either still on the roster or have since been promoted.ZiPS only gives Arraez a 2.9% chance of sustaining a .400 average for the entire season with a median projection of .364.Christina De Nicola of MLB.com spoke to Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly about returning to Miami for the first time since leaving the organization. Glenn Geffner's View from the Bleachers tries to make sense of how the 2023 Marlins are winning so many more games than Mattingly's 2022 crew. Subscribe to his daily Substack to read more.FOCO released a new Charlie Brown Marlins bobblehead, available to pre-order for $65.Happy 24th birthday to Dale Stanavich. Miami's eighth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Stanavich began this season on the injured list. In four Low-A relief appearances since then, the left-hander hasn't allowed a run.

Ely and Kevin get a ton of valuable insight from the voice of the Marlins' Double-A Pensacola affiliate.Pensacola Blue Wahoos broadcaster Erik Bremer joins Ely Sussman and Kevin Barral to break down the thrilling first half of the team's 2023 season. Erik gives us quick hits on the following players: Eury Pérez, Dane Myers, Troy Johnston, José Devers, Nasim Nuñez, Patrick Monteverde, Evan Fitterer, Will Banfield and Jake Eder. We also get his thoughts on Luis Arraez's pursuit of .400. Enjoy Episode #199! Erik Bremer is in his second season broadcasting Blue Wahoos games after previous stops with the Biloxi Shuckers, Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Potomac Nationals and Fredericksburg Nationals. In addition to his time at every full-season level of the minors, he has called games in the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Australian Baseball League. In 2022, the Blue Wahoos won the Southern League championship. In 2023, they'll have an opportunity to repeat after clinching the first-half South division title on Wednesday. Through 65 games, the Blue Wahoos have a .600 winning percentage and lead all Marlins MiLB affiliates with 39 wins. They rank first in the Southern League in both runs scored (359) and batting average (.250). Pérez, of course, has already matriculated to Miami's active roster and more of these guys could follow suit by season's end. Follow Erik (@Erik_Bremer), Kevin (@kevin_barral), Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, Swimming Upstream, State of the Fish and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

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Limited-edition collectible of Charlie Brown in Marlins gear now available for pre-order.Get ready to celebrate America's favorite pastime with a touch of nostalgia as FOCO, a leading manufacturer of officially licensed sports and entertainment merchandise, announces the release of an exciting new collection: Peanuts Charlie Brown MLB Team Themed Bobbleheads. This collaboration brings together the beloved Peanuts characters and the iconic teams of Major League Baseball in a charming and collectible form. Fans of both Peanuts and baseball are in for a treat as they witness the timeless charm of Charlie Brown and his friends coming to life in the form of bobbleheads. The Peanuts Charlie Brown MLB Team Themed Bobbleheads collection features a bobblehead for each MLB team, meticulously designed to incorporate the essence of Peanuts and the respective MLB team. Charlie Brown dons the Marlins colors and logo and is positioned with a baseball bat in hand and a Marlins hat. He stands atop a thematic team base with his name displayed in front and the Marlins logo on the bottom. As with any highly sought-after collectible, FOCO understands the importance of exclusivity. The Peanuts Charlie Brown MLB Team Themed Bobbleheads collection is a limited-edition release, with just 150 units for each one. This limited availability creates a sense of urgency among collectors, enhancing the excitement surrounding the release. It also retails for $65 and stands close to 10in tall. The Peanuts Charlie Brown MLB Team Themed Bobbleheads collection will be available through FOCO.com, FOCO’s official website. As demand is expected to be high, it is recommended that fans act swiftly to secure their favorite team's bobblehead. The release of the Peanuts Charlie Brown MLB Team Themed Bobbleheads collection by FOCO marks an exciting moment for fans of Peanuts and Major League Baseball alike. By intertwining the timeless charm of Charlie Brown and his friends with the tradition and passion of baseball, FOCO has created a unique and collectible experience that will be cherished by fans for years to come. Don't miss the opportunity to own a piece of this exceptional collaboration. Add one to your collection here!