Before the Marlins opened their series against the Braves, radio play-by-play man Jack McMullen caught up with Peter Bendix to discuss the team’s deadline decisions and the road ahead.
It was a merry-go-round Monday for the Miami Marlins as they navigated the MLB trade deadline, with all moves needing to be finalized by 6 p.m. ET.
Marlins Radio play-by-play voice Jack McMullen sat down with Marlins President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix in the dugout at Truist Park on Tuesday before the series opener against the Atlanta Braves to discuss each of Miami’s four deadline moves.
"There's almost always going to be more buyers than sellers at the deadline with the way that baseball is with the amount of playoff teams there are right now," Bendix said.
Although the Marlins, at 58-56, currently find themselves outside the playoff picture, sitting two games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final National League Wild Card spot, Bendix believes the club’s newest acquisitions can help put the team in position to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
With Liam Hicks, whom the Marlins sent to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Rays minor league prospects Jacob Kisting, Adriana Santana, and Brayden Taylor.
Kisting, 23, is ranked is ranked as the Rays' No. 26 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and leads the club with a 1.67 ERA.
Santana, 21, is ranked as the Rays’ No. 27 prospect and was born in Hialeah, Florida.
Taylor, 24, is ranked as the Rays' No. 16 prospect.
"It's three very legitimate players with real upside, as well as a pretty good chance of helping us soon," Bendix said.
Bendix did say that Taylor will begin the season in Triple-A Jacksonville.
Regarding left-hander Braxton Garrett, who had been with the club since 2016, Bendix said the Chicago Cubs “offered us enough that we had to do it.”
Bendix noted that he really likes right-hander Jace Beck, the Cubs’ No. 28 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Marlins right-handed reliever Lake Bachar in exchange for right-hander Brandon Bidios, infielder Hyun Seung Lee, and outfielder Brian Sánchez.
"Brandon Bidios has stuff you can't teach," Bendix said.
Bidios, 25, made his Major League debut with the Pirates on May 13 against the Rockies.
The final trade saw the Marlins send infielder Connor Norby and minor league right-hander Aiden May to Colorado in exchange for Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik, who made his Marlins debut Tuesday.
"We do think it's a pitcher that helps fill in for Lake really nicely," Bendix said.
Vodnik threw 26 pitches in his Marlins debut, topping out at 99.5 mph.
