Marlins Have Big Fish For Trade Bait

RHP Leo Núñez, who is having an excellent season that will likely lead to a a sizable raise in arbitration, and utility infielder Omar Infante have been mentioned as prospective Marlins trading chips as we move closer to the July 31st trade deadline.

According to ESPN Insider’s Jason A. Churchill however, those aren’t the biggest Fish that could be moved from the pond before the deadline. It appears RHP Anibal Sánchez may be on the market as well. Sánchez would command a great deal of talent in return as the young starter would likely be the most coveted arm on the market.

The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are two obvious fits if Sánchez indeed is made available and teams feel Sanchez is worth the hefty price that the Marlins righty will command.

It remains to be seen if talks will heat up for Sánchez as the Marlins now currently view the 6 game winner as one of their future cornerstones as they prepare to move into a new ballpark in 2012, along with the injured Josh Johnson.

Impact starting pitching, which has been had only at a premium on the trade market in years past, has only gone up in value. The San Francisco Giants proved that a team can win a World Series with a marginal lineup as long as the team marches out a dynamic set of starters and a reliable bullpen.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers have both instituted their own version of the 2010 Giants World Series blueprint in 2011. The Marlins hope to have a young version of the blueprint in Sánchez, Johnson, and RHP Ricky Nolasco

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