MLB Trade Rumors: 5 best fits for Brandon Phillips
By Greg Patuto
2. Miami Marlins
The Marlins are a huge surprise in the MLB with a record of 53-45 and just four and a half games back of the leading Nationals. They currently sit in the second wild card spot. First year manager Don Mattingly and first year hitting coach Barry Bonds has this team playing with passion and one thing on their minds, the playoffs.
They have the players to do it. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton provides the power, young studs Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich provide protection in the lineup and veterans Martin Prado and Ichiro Suzuki give the team leaders on and off the field. Oh and one of the best pitchers in the game Jose Fernandez keeps the pitching staff in check.
While the Marlins missed out on trading for Aroldis Chapman, Brandon Phillips is still available. If you remember, reigning NL batting champion Dee Gordon was suspended 80 games for PED use back in April. While he is set to return this season, Phillips can provide help up the middle and at the top of the batting order until Gordon is set to come back. When he does, Phillips and be a great guy off the bench who can play some third base as well when players need a day off.
The Marlins are a team that is not close to contending for a championship and don’t expect them to keep up this pace which will allow the Mets to pass them. But they keep fighting and have a group of young players that can be good for awhile. It would not be crazy for Phillips to finish out his career in Miami with these young players and in one of the best cities in the country.
Next: 1. St. Louis Cardinals