With a playoff appearance looking more and more remote, the Florida Marlins are reportedly considering trading a few of their pitchers before the July 31 trade deadline.
According to CBSSports.com, the Fish are amenable to dealing starter Javier Vazquez and relievers Leo Nunez and Randy Choate.
Vazquez signed a one-year deal with the Marlins earlier this year and has a no-trade clause which he would need to waive for a deal to go through. He struggled early in the season, but is sporting a 1.39 ERA in his last 5 starts, helped by extra velocity on his fastball as of late.
Nunez will be arbitration-eligible next year, and the Marlins may not wish to pay the $5 million to $6 million salary he could win in arbitration. He has 26 saves already this season along with 41 strikeouts in 43 innings of work.
The Texas Rangers have looked into acquiring Nunez, though it appears talks have stalled between the Rangers and Marlins on that front.
Choate is the kind of left-handed specialist attractive to playoff teams. He has faced 57 left-handed hitters this season and allowed only 5 hits and 1 walk, striking out 23. The New York Yankees inquired about Choate earlier this month.
Starters Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez are off the table, though, as the Marlins want to "build around" the trio as they move into their new stadium next season.
One club has inquired about Nolasco, but "We were told 'no way'" on the right-hander, according to CBSSports.
David Hill is a Miami native and co-founder of Marlins Diehards, the only Florida Marlins blog with perspective on the eccentricities of Marlins fandom.
