The trade deadline is probably the most exciting time of the regular season. Contending teams acquire big name players such as how the Chicago Cubs traded for right-hander Jose Quintana, or how the New York Yankees acquired third baseman Todd Frazier from the Chicago White Sox. While it’s fun to watch contending teams gear up for a play off push, struggling teams on the other hand are dealing away their talent in hopes for a better future. Today the Miami Marlins began dealing away their talent by trading reliever David Phelps to the Seattle Mariners.
Miami Marlins Trade David Phelps to Seattle
The full trade saw the Marlins part ways with David Phelps, while the Mariners dealt four prospects: center fielder Brayan Hernandez, and relievers Pablo Lopez, Brandon Miller, and Lukas Schiraldi.
All four prospects going to south beach are currently in High-A ball, so they are years away from making their major league debuts.
By acquiring Phelps, the Mariners may be responding to Houston Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa going to the disabled list. David Phelps, who is in his age 30 season, has posted a 3.45 ERA, with a 1.34 WHIP in 44 games with the Marlins. This year is the first year Phelps is pitching exclusively out of the bullpen after splitting time between the pen and starting his first five years of his major league career. Since April, Phelps has 2.19 ERA including only allowing just one run through eight innings this month. Seattle will be paying Phelps the rest of his $4.6 million dollar contract this year, and will qualify for arbitration for the last time in 2018.
New Miami center field prospect Brayan Hernandez, who has a slash line of .252/.306/.406, signed for $1.85 million in 2014. Before moving to Miami, MLB Pipeline ranked Hernandez as the number six prospect in the Mariners system.
Brandon Miller was a sixth round pick after playing division-two college ball. Miller has low 90s fastball and an above average slider. He was used as a starter in Low-A Clintion and posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Miller is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Mariners 16th best prospect in the Mariners farm system.
Lukas Schiraldi posted a 4.58 ERA with a 150 WHIP in 28 relief appearances during the 2017 season in Modesto. Lukas has struck out 15.2 batters per nine innings and has walked 6.5 per nine innings.
Pablo Lopez signed as a international amateur out of Venezuela in 2012, but missed the 2014 season when he had Tommy John surgery. Lopez did not make his debut until 2016. Lopez however did post a 5.48 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. Lopez averages less than one walk every 7.5 innings.
The Mariners, who are now 15.5 games back from the Astros, and will try to make run at the division leaders while Correa is injured. The door is still open, or at least ajar, for the Mariners, but let’s see what Seattle does with Correa injured and Phelps going to the pacific northwest.
