The Miami Marlins have played their way into a spot where buying at the trade deadline makes sense, and one name now in the mix is a familiar one: Aroldis Chapman.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield pointed to the Boston Red Sox closer as a fit for Miami, arguing the club could use help at the back end of games. “The red-hot Marlins are suddenly in the rare position of adding at the deadline.
They could use power, but closer Pete Fairbanks has a 6.84 ERA and has been homer-prone, leading to nine different relievers picking up saves," Schoenfield wrote. "[Aroldis] Chapman would solve the ninth-inning issues.”
That kind of move would make sense for a team that has forced its way into the conversation. Miami went 20-6 in June, outscoring opponents 133-80 along the way, and the standings have them looking like legitimate postseason contenders.
The breakout seasons of shortstop Otto Lopez and right-hander Max Meyer have helped fuel that surge, and with the Marlins sitting in position to chase one of the three NL Wild Card spots, the front office has reason to be active.
Chapman, an eight-time All-Star, is still getting it done at age despite the mileage. The left-hander has given up just six earned runs over 24.2 innings this season and is striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings.
If Miami were to land him, the payoff would be obvious. Chapman would give the Marlins a real weapon for late-game innings in October, while also allowing Fairbanks to shift into a setup role and take some pressure off while he works through his struggles.
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