Braves trade targets to the Miami Marlins
Although it’s usually too early to discuss trades six weeks into the season, a few teams have already raised the white flag. It was reported earlier this week that the White Sox have already agreed to hold a fire sale during the upcoming several months. Not even eight months after entering the playoffs, the Marlins have already begun their season, sending their finest player, Luis Arraez, to the Padres.
Although intra-divisional deals are uncommon, it’s funny to play like the Marlins maneuver like the other teams in the league. They have recently made a number of trades inside the division; in 2021, they even sent Adam Duvall to the Braves, who went on to win the World Series. Miami is likewise about to undergo a thorough reconstruction. Once more…
Although I feel bad for their supporters, the Marlins front office shouldn’t be too worried about these guys’ futures because they won’t be competitive for a long time.
Jesús Luzardo
With elbow tightness, Luzardo was placed on a 15-day injured list at the end of April. It’s unclear if he’ll be well enough to trade before deadline. Given that he will not be inexpensive, the Braves may not be interested in a pitcher with such a long history of arm issues. Luzardo is the best player the Marlins have to offer, having said that. He is a front-line starter when healthy, yet he won’t be able to sign a free agent contract until 2027. With more concerns than answers surrounding the Braves rotation going forward, they might choose to place their money on Luzardo and his dubious injury history rather than trust that players like Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver will develop to their full potential.
Tanner Scott
The Braves bullpen has been the best in baseball, especially the high-leverage players. However, with Spencer Strider out for the season, the Braves should consider adding as many quality arms as they can, whether they be relievers or starters. A team can never have too many pitchers. Tanner Scott had a 2.31 ERA, 0.987 WHIP, 2.8 fWAR, and 12.0 K/9 last season, making him one of the finest relievers in baseball. This season, he may be most remembered by Braves fans for allowing Marcell Ozuna to hit the game-winning home run in the ninth inning. That was returned on April 14. Since then, Scott has made eight straight appearances without giving up a run, lowering his season ERA to 2.57.
Edward Cabrera
The Marlins probably won’t trade any of their top young pitchers, but Edward Cabrera seems like a risk worth considering. Though his talent is impressive and he has had some success in the past—he posted a 3.01 ERA across 14 starts in 2022—the 26-year-old has a 6.05 ERA in four starts this season. Also, Cabrera won’t be able to sign a free agent contract until 2029. He shouldn’t need top prospects in a deal, and the Braves could be able to use some of that potential.
Anthony Bender
Bender has wicked stuff and was once a fairly good reliever for the Fish, but he had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season. Now that he’s back, his 7.07 ERA over 15 games is not good, but his 3.14 FIP and 3.60 xFIP indicate that he may have just been unlucky. Bender is another arm that could be useful to the Braves for a few seasons as he is also under contract through 2028.
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