Miami Marlins Trade Rumors: Tracking Hot Updates, News and Reaction

The Miami Marlins stayed busy this past offseason in an effort to put themselves in position to contend in 2015, but now that things aren't going as planned, they may look to shake things up at the July 31 trade deadline.

Miami is well under .500 and faces a double-digit deficit in the wild-card race. While there is still a long way to go, the team faces an uphill battle and may decide to look toward the future.

The Marlins have plenty of young talent to build around, both in the rotation and in the lineup. Knowing that, the club could decide to deal some of its veteran players in order to add some more young pieces.

Check in throughout July to see what rumors the Marlins are involved in and what deals they make before the trade deadline passes.

All stats via MLB.com.

Done Deals

Don Boomer/Associated Press

July 15: Acquired LHP Chris Reed from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for LHP Grant Dayton

July 24: Traded RHP Steve Cishek to St. Louis in exchange for RHP Kyle Barraclough

July 30: Traded RHP Mat Latos and 1B/OF Michael Morse to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for RHP Jeff Brigham, RHP Kevin Guzman and RHP Victor Araujo

July 31: Traded RHP Dan Haren to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for SS Elliot Soto and RHP Ivan Pineyro

July 31: Traded RHP Sam Dyson to the Texas Rangers in exchange for C Tomas Telis and LHP Cody Ege

July 31: Trade Dan Haren to Cubs

John Minchillo/Associated Press

The Miami Marlins have traded right-hander Dan Haren to the Chicago Cubs, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Per Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Cubs will send shortstop Elliot Soto and right-hander Ivan Pineyro to the Marlins. 

Haren has posted a 3.42 ERA and a 1.093 WHIP in 21 starts this season. 

The pitcher's solid season was good news for the Marlins. There was interest for the veteran pitcher on the market, so when the team realized it was time to sell, it was able find a taker.

The 34-year-old Haren is in the final year of his contract and was not in the team's long-term plans. As a result, he finds himself on his fifth team in four years.

July 30: Trade Mat Latos and Michael Morse

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The Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers have completed a trade.

Here are the details of the trade, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:

• Dodgers get: RHP Mat Latos, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Bronson Arroyo, 1B/OF Michael Morse, INF Jose Peraza and LHP Luis Avilan
• Braves get: INF Hector Olivera, RHP Zachary Bird, LHP Paco Rodriguez and a competitive balance pick
• Marlins get: RHP Jeff Brigham, RHP Kevin Guzman and RHP Victor Araujo

Latos was an offseason acquisition who was supposed to help lead the Marlins into the playoffs. Now that the club is seemingly out of contention, it may try to trade the right-hander to bring in some young players who could be a part of the team's future.

The right-hander went 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.245 WHIP in 16 starts in his half-season in Miami. While he has been a workhorse in the past, he is only averaging 5.1 innings this season.

While interested teams may be concerned about his struggles, the main thing that will hurt his trade value is the fact that he has dealt with several injuries this season. Knee inflammation sent him to the disabled list earlier this season, and he is currently dealing with a foot injury that has caused him to miss one start (so far). He has also undergone elbow surgery and knee surgery in recent years.

The 27-year-old is in the final year of his contract and will have the opportunity to hit free agency after the season. 

Morse was hitting just .214 with four home runs, four doubles and 12 RBI in 52 games this season. That's not the type of production the Marlins were expecting when they signed the slugger to a two-year, $16 million deal this past offseason.

Realizing that these two moves did not make the club contenders, Miami decided to deal the players.

This move allows the Marlins to save quite a bit of money. Per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers will pay the remaining money on Latos' $9.4 million salary and the remaining money on Morse's contract (remained of the $7 million salary in '15 and $8 million in '16).

While the players brought back in this deal could wind up making an impact in the majors someday, the short-term benefit of saving money certainly was a key for the organization.

Potential Trade Candidate: RHP Carter Capps

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The New York Yankees are interested in Carter Capps, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.

Capps has posted a 1.21 ERA and a 0.742 WHIP in 28 games this season.

July 24: Traded RHP Steve Cishek to Cardinals

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The Miami Marlins have traded Steve Cishek to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for right-hander Kyle Barraclough, per Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.

Cishek, who has racked up 94 career saves for the Marlins, has had his struggles this season. He has a 4.50 ERA in 32 outings and batters are hitting .291 off him, with right-handers hitting .309. The 29-year-old struggled so mightily early on this season that the Marlins sent him to the minor leagues—all the way down to Double-A. 

By trading their former closer, the Marlins were able to save some money, as Cishek is making $6.65 million this season.

Barraclough has shown promise since being drafted by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2012 draft. The 25-year-old has posted a 2.27 ERA and a 1.437 WHIP in 34 innings between two levels of the minor leagues this season. In High-A, he posted a 0.60 ERA and a 1.2 WHIP in 11 games. In Double-A, the right-hander has posted a 3.28 ERA in 23 games.

His overall numbers are helped by his ability to strike batters out. He has 167 strikeouts in 136.2 career innings, which equates to a strong 11 strikeouts per nine innings.

Barraclough has shown the ability early in his career to close out games, picking up 25 saves in four seasons.

This trade allows the Marlins to save some money and pick up a promising young arm.

Trade Candidate: UT Martin Prado

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Miami will consider trading Martin Prado—if the price is right.

In 73 games this season, Prado is hitting .273 with four home runs, 14 doubles and one triple. He is a career .290 hitter.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman recently reported that the Marlins had no interest in trading the 31-year-old utility man. However, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported that the club would do a deal for the right price, which would be a "big" return. Fox Sports' Jon Morosi reported that the Kansas City Royals have interest in Prado.

Prado is making $11 million this season and will make $11 million next season, with the New York Yankees paying $3 million of the salary each season.

Trade Candidate: LHP Brad Hand

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

While Mat Latos and Dan Haren will get the most attention, Brad Hand is another pitcher Miami will be looking to deal. 

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins are looking to move Hand, who is out of options.

Although Hand has been both a starter and a reliever this season, most of his appearances have been from out of the bullpen. The southpaw is 0-1 with a 5.28 ERA in 21 relief appearances this season. In three starts this year, he is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in 11.2 innings.

The former second-round pick has struggled no matter what his role has been. Given that he can't be optioned, the club has had to keep him on the 25-man roster and hope that he figures it out. That just hasn't happened. 

The 25-year-old Hand is still young enough to turn things around, so there may be a team out there willing to take a chance on him.

Trade Candidate: INF Jeff Baker

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Miami will be listening to offers for infielder Jeff Baker, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.

Baker is slashing .208/.288/.375 and has three home runs and three doubles. He is a career .264 hitter but has seen his average drop in each of the past two seasons.

The 34-year-old Baker is in the final year of his contract.