The Miami Marlins appear to be in sales mode. As the team continues to fight to move toward relevancy in the National League East, several teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles, have inquired about acquiring shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.
Per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, No deal is considered imminent, but that could change depending on if an agreement can be reached.
Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan first reported on Thursday that Hechavarria will be traded within a few days. The Miami Herald reported the Cardinals also have interest. The move means the Marlins will move forward with JT Riddle in the lineup. Riddle was called up by the Miami Marlins twice this season to help fill in while several players have spent time on the disabled list. He is considered the team’s shortstop of the future.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly didn’t offer specifics on if the slick-fielding shortstop could be moved.
“Not a lot to say about anything like that,” Manager Don Mattingly said before the Marlins faced the Cubs at Marlins Park on Thursday. “Most teams are looking at all their guys and what can you do and how you build and where you go. Any kind of rumors like that, you let it work out.”
Hechavarria was added to the team’s 25-man roster this past week after working on a rehab assignment, most recently in Jacksonville, the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate.
The 28-year-old signed a 4-year, $10 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. On November 19, 2012, Hechavarria was traded to the Miami Marlins along with Henderson Alvarez, Jeff Mathis, Yunel Escobar, Jake Marisnick, Anthony DeSclafani, and Justin Nicolino, in exchange for Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, José Reyes, John Buck, and Emilio Bonifacio.
This might not be the only move the Miami Marlins make. They could be active before the MLB trade deadline, unloading some of its core players in return for minor league prospects. The Chicago Cubs are one team that could be interesting in playing “Let’s Make A Deal” with Miami. Sources have confirmed the team has interest in outfielder Christian Yelich, who was the Miami Marlins first round pick in the 2010 MLB Draft.
Frisaro reports that Hechavarria is making $4.35 million in arbitration, and he isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2018 season. Trading Hechavarria would get his salary off the books and would likely bring in a prospect in return.