The Miami Marlins are sitting at 52-45 at the All-Star break, and that record puts them in a spot few would have predicted. Now comes the part where a surprising season has to be backed up with a real move at the trade deadline.
The clearest place to look is the back end of the bullpen. Miami could use help in the rotation, and the club could always use more right-handed power, but the late innings stand out as the area most in need of reinforcement over the next couple of months.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan floated some big names as possible fits, and the most intriguing one for Miami is Boston Red Sox left-hander Aroldis Chapman. The fastest pitch in MLB history - a 105.8 mph fastball thrown on Sept. 24, 2010 - still comes with the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that can change a game in a hurry. Chapman is 38, but he remains an elite weapon against hitters.
The question is whether Boston actually moves him. The Red Sox have surged back toward relevance over the last couple of weeks, which gives them a reason to hold onto Chapman if that momentum continues. For the Marlins, that creates a problem, because there are not many high-end lefties available who can strengthen the late innings.
If Chapman stays put, Houston Astros reliever Josh Hader would be the dream alternative. The same uncertainty applies there, though.
Houston is currently on the outside looking in, but the crowded and mediocre American League leaves plenty of room for a quick climb back into the race. A strong week could be enough to convince the Astros that dealing Hader is not the right call.
Miami does not need a bullpen upgrade to define its season, but it would matter. Adding a left-handed arm to the back end would give the Marlins a better shot at getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2023.
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