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After the MLB Trade Deadline came to a close, it is abundantly clear that the Miami Marlins front office does not know what it means to be buyers.
For three summers since taking over as president of baseball operations, Peter Bendix has only been a seller or a holder.
He’s great at selling. It’s the only time Marlins Twitter erupts in excitement.
In 2024, the Marlins turned a handful of bullpen arms and Trevor Rogers into Kyle Stowers and Jacob Marsee. Jazz Chisholm became a rookie catcher who hit over 20 home runs.
Bendix has also proven to be good at finding diamonds in the rough. For much of this season, the Marlins were led by a shortstop claimed off waivers and a backup catcher picked up via a Rule 5 Draft.
But when it’s time to add to a young team with clear weakness but within striking distance of the postseason, Bendix reverted to what he does best.
By the time the MLB trade deadline passed Monday night, the Marlins sent away Liam Hicks and Lake Bachar, gave up on Braxton Garrett and Connor Norby, and got back twice that number in prospects and a Colorado reliever whom Miami terrorized plenty of times this season.
The Marlins did nothing to make the 2026 team better but because they made 2027 and 2028 appear brighter, media and fans alike sang Bendix’s praises.
The only way the Marlins don’t appear worse because of these trades in the short term is either Jonathan Long gets a chance in Miami and becomes their first baseman of the future, or Agustin Ramirez comes back and demonstrates a transformation similar to what happened to Heriberto Hernandez when he came back from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Otherwise, the Marlins took their 58-55 record for granted and decided to sacrifice a little bit of today for a brighter tomorrow.
Kyle Stowers and Sandy Alcantara remaining with the club is good news but that shouldn’t be the cause of celebration. The fan base of a playoff contender shouldn’t have to spend the meat of the trade deadline worrying about losing their All-Stars for a bunch of nameless minor leaguers.
The Marlins buy low and sell high. That mentality gets you a Stowers on the rise but it also nets money wasters such as Chris Paddack and Christopher Morel.
Bendix is proving that he can build a contender organically with young talent. Talent that seemingly no one else can identify.
But when it’s time to add to the Major League roster, to upgrade for the present when everyone else around them is, can they do that?
In this same situation, the previous Marlins general manager brought in Jake Burger in the middle of a 34-homer season for much less than what it cost the Tampa Bay Rays to land Hicks. Kim Ng understood what was at stake.
These Marlins are going to have to continue to overachieve their way into the postseason.
Continue reading...
For three summers since taking over as president of baseball operations, Peter Bendix has only been a seller or a holder.
He’s great at selling. It’s the only time Marlins Twitter erupts in excitement.
In 2024, the Marlins turned a handful of bullpen arms and Trevor Rogers into Kyle Stowers and Jacob Marsee. Jazz Chisholm became a rookie catcher who hit over 20 home runs.
Bendix has also proven to be good at finding diamonds in the rough. For much of this season, the Marlins were led by a shortstop claimed off waivers and a backup catcher picked up via a Rule 5 Draft.
But when it’s time to add to a young team with clear weakness but within striking distance of the postseason, Bendix reverted to what he does best.
By the time the MLB trade deadline passed Monday night, the Marlins sent away Liam Hicks and Lake Bachar, gave up on Braxton Garrett and Connor Norby, and got back twice that number in prospects and a Colorado reliever whom Miami terrorized plenty of times this season.
The Marlins did nothing to make the 2026 team better but because they made 2027 and 2028 appear brighter, media and fans alike sang Bendix’s praises.
The only way the Marlins don’t appear worse because of these trades in the short term is either Jonathan Long gets a chance in Miami and becomes their first baseman of the future, or Agustin Ramirez comes back and demonstrates a transformation similar to what happened to Heriberto Hernandez when he came back from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Otherwise, the Marlins took their 58-55 record for granted and decided to sacrifice a little bit of today for a brighter tomorrow.
Kyle Stowers and Sandy Alcantara remaining with the club is good news but that shouldn’t be the cause of celebration. The fan base of a playoff contender shouldn’t have to spend the meat of the trade deadline worrying about losing their All-Stars for a bunch of nameless minor leaguers.
The Marlins buy low and sell high. That mentality gets you a Stowers on the rise but it also nets money wasters such as Chris Paddack and Christopher Morel.
Bendix is proving that he can build a contender organically with young talent. Talent that seemingly no one else can identify.
But when it’s time to add to the Major League roster, to upgrade for the present when everyone else around them is, can they do that?
In this same situation, the previous Marlins general manager brought in Jake Burger in the middle of a 34-homer season for much less than what it cost the Tampa Bay Rays to land Hicks. Kim Ng understood what was at stake.
These Marlins are going to have to continue to overachieve their way into the postseason.
Continue reading...
