Marlins Trade Deadline Needs Made Clear After Walk-off Loss

The Miami Marlins were on the cusp of snapping their losing streak on Sunday. 

All they needed was two more outs. 

Pete Fairbanks had William Contreras on a 1-2 count, but the star catcher took an 87.6 mph cutter to centerfield to secure a 3-1 walk-off victory for the Milwaukee Brewers. 

“When you do it in the ninth inning, it is a blessing and a curse,” Fairbanks told MLB.com after the game. “There's nowhere to hide. You are going to be a scapegoat.”

The Marlins (52-48), who have now lost six straight games and swept twice in a row for the first time all season, are still tied for the third National League wild card spot because the St. Louis Cardinals also suffered a walk-off loss. 

The Marlins squandered a shutout performance by Eury Pérez, who went six innings with one hit allowed and nine strikeouts to drop his ERA to 3.53 on the season. 

Like most managers, Clayton McCullough defended Fairbanks during his postgame press conference, saying his 32-year-old closer has “no other choice” but to “continue to go.”

“I still have a ton of confidence in Pete,” McCullough said. “Going to continue to put him out there in those spots. Believe in the back of the card, and he's been doing this for a long time. No one's more frustrated than Pete right now that it just seems like any mistake he makes, guys aren't missing.”

The trade deadline needs are right in front of them. When they are on the road, they do not have a closer. 

The Marlins spent more money on Fairbanks than on any other reliever in team history. What they received is a pitcher with a 10.00 difference in ERA between appearances at home (3.72) and on the road (13.91). 

“If I didn't want to break my hand, I would have hit quite a few things,” Fairbanks said. 

Fairbanks has given up hits in nine straight appearances. He has given up more home runs this season than at any other time in his career. His ERA jumped back up to 7.42 and it doesn’t seem to be going down anytime soon.  

“This is the most trying three-month stretch I've ever had in the game of baseball,” Fairbanks said. 

What used to be a strength has become a weakness for the Marlins. After suffering injuries to Anthony Bender, John King, and Trevor Phillips, moving into the rotation, the bullpen needs an upgrade. 

Aroldis Chapman was a logical target for the Marlins, but the Boston Red Sox have surged through with 13 straight wins to return to playoff contention. With the closer market quite dull, the Marlins might be stuck with what they currently have. 

The Marlins travel to Houston to take on the Astros. Miami will send RHP Jason Junk (4-5, 4.57) to the mound on Monday while veteran RHP Ronel Blanco makes his season debut for the Astros.

Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.

Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!