The Miami Marlins have lost 11 straight games after a torrid stretch from June through the early stages of July, and now, their MLB trade deadline plans may have changed.
Zachary Rotman of FanSided recently examined one player from each of the 30 clubs who appears most likely to be on the move, and when it came to the Marlins, he felt that Pete Fairbanks — not Sandy Alcantara — was the name most likely to be dealt before Aug. 3.
Rotman’s logic is based on Alcantara still being under contract for one more season (he has a $21 million club options for 2027), so the Marlins — who remain in playoff contention despite their recent slide — may not be entirely motivated to move him.
Fairbanks, on the other hand, is another story.
The former Tampa Bay Rays closer is only on a one-year deal in Miami and has struggled mightily, posting a 7.42 ERA. In short, he has not been contributing to the Marlins’ wins in any meaningful way.
For a team whose contention window appears to be closing, moving a struggling high-leverage arm on an expiring contract makes clear sense. And to be quite frank, the Fish may look to move Fairbanks regardless of their place in the standings.
Contending clubs still seeking bullpen help late in July may view Fairbanks as a low-risk addition with prior success in high-pressure situations, even if his current form is far from ideal.
Fairbanks has been a terrific reliever in the past and is one year removed from posting a 2.83 ERA with the Rays. He is also averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine inning this season and owns a lifetime 11.4 K/9.
From Miami’s perspective, any return in the form of prospects or controllable young players would represent an upgrade over watching Fairbanks continue to absorb innings that have not helped the club.
The broader context of the Marlins’ season only reinforces the logic. A prolonged losing streak has shifted the focus from adding pieces for a playoff run to maximizing the value of assets that will not be part of the longer-term picture. Fairbanks fits that description almost perfectly.
Whether he ultimately draws significant interest or simply becomes a piece of a larger package remains to be seen, but the case for moving him before the deadline is among the clearer ones Rotman outlines in his league-wide assessment.
We’ll see what Miami decides to do over the next week.
