Fueling a historic turnaround, Miami pivots to buyer status. Peter Bendix now hunts for infield depth and pitching reinforcements to solidify the surging Marlins as legitimate championship contenders.
As the Miami Marlins are nearing a playoff push for the first time since 2023, owner Bruce Sherman has given Peter Bendix the green light to act as a "buyer" at the trade deadline.
Miami is seven games over .500, two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for second place in the National League East and four games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place. The club finished one game short of matching its 53 first-half victories from 2023.
The Marlins are entering the second half of the season as one of the best teams in MLB. They are ranked eighth in the latest power rankings and a historic June has everything to do with their ascension.
Manager Clayton McCullough's squad entered the month at 26-34 and exited 46-40. It was a complete turnaround led by Otto Lopez's league-leading batting average (.334) and dominant pitching from Sandy Alcantara, who became the Marlins' all-time leader in strikeouts, and Max Meyer, who picked up four straight wins in five starts.
Such a turnaround has prompted Sherman to let Bendix work his magic at the trade deadline. He expressed complete trust in his president of baseball operations and what moves he'll make to strengthen the roster as World Series contenders.
"I know that Peter will do a very, very thorough job," Sherman told Fish on First’s Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral. "I'm relying on Peter Bendix. I'm not relying on Bruce Sherman's instincts."
Bendix has a list of positions to check off by the deadline. Miami could use a third baseman, back-end starting pitcher and high-leverage reliever.
Addressing those needs could position Miami to contend despite carrying one of baseball's lowest payrolls. The trade candidates linked to the Marlins are also low-salary players.
Baltimore Orioles’ Blaze Alexander, Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran, Cleveland Guardians’ Gabriel Arias and Los Angeles Angels’ Oswald Peraza could be some third basemen on Bendix's radar.
Those players could also come at a relatively modest acquisition cost. The Marlins most likely wouldn't have to trade valuable rotation players or prospects, which helps them improve without gutting their depth.
Depth is important for a team pushing for playoff contention, and it's what Miami is chasing. The injury bug has hit some players, like Eury Pérez (right gracilis strain) and Janson Junk (right shin bone inflammation), who have missed extended time.
Bendix has his work cut out for him in the second half. The Marlins kick off their fifth-hardest remaining strength of schedule against the Milwaukee Brewers, the second-best team in MLB. Aug. 3 is the trade deadline, in the midst of a gauntlet.
The trade deadline is a crucial make-or-break event for Miami, as the team chases playoff glory.
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